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Cambridge University Press eBooks

Phase-space distributions

P. D. Drummond, Mark S. Hillery

Published Mar 27, 2014• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In this chapter, we will develop methods for mapping operator equations to equivalent c-number equations. This results in a continuous phase-space representation of a many-body quantum system, using phase-space distributions instead of density matrices. In order to do this, we will first find c-number representations of operators. We have already seen one such representation, the Glauber–Sudarshan P -representation for the density matrix. We now introduce several more such representations. The main focus will be on the truncated Wigner representation, valid at large photon number, and the positive P -representation, which uses a double-dimensional phase space and exists as a positive probability for all quantum density matrices. Phase-space techniques have a great advantage over conventional matrix-type solutions to the Schrödinger equation, in that they do not have an exponential growth in complexity with mode and particle number. Instead, the equations that describe the dynamics of these c-number representations of the density matrix are Fokker–Planck equations. These have equivalent stochastic differential equations, which behave as c-number analogs of Heisenberg-picture equations of motion. This means that problems that would be essentially impossible to solve using conventional number-state representations can be transformed into readily soluble differential equations. In many cases, no additional approximations, such as perturbation theory or factorization assumptions, are needed.

DOI
10.1017/cbo9780511783616.009

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•Nov 13, 2014•1 citation
In this chapter, we will develop methods for mapping operator equations to equivalent c-number equations. This results in a continuous phase-space representation of a many-body quantum system, using phase-space distributions instead of density matrices. In order to do this, we will first find c-number representations of operators. We have already seen one such representation, the Glauber–Sudarshan P -representation for the density matrix. We now introduce several more such representations. The main focus will be on the truncated Wigner representation, valid at large photon number, and the positive P -representation, which uses a double-dimensional phase space and exists as a positive probability for all quantum density matrices. Phase-space techniques have a great advantage over conventional matrix-type solutions to the Schrödinger equation, in that they do not have an exponential growth in complexity with mode and particle number. Instead, the equations that describe the dynamics of these c-number representations of the density matrix are Fokker–Planck equations. These have equivalent stochastic differential equations, which behave as c-number analogs of Heisenberg-picture equations of motion. This means that problems that would be essentially impossible to solve using conventional number-state representations can be transformed into readily soluble differential equations. In many cases, no additional approximations, such as perturbation theory or factorization assumptions, are needed.
In this paper the equations for quantum optical pulse propagation in nonlinear and dispersive single-mode fibers are presented in terms of two phase-space formulations based on the positive-P and the Wigner distributions. Included are the effects due to the coupling of the electromagnetic modes to the vibrational states of a vitreous silica fiber. By making use of the well-known equivalence of Fokker-Planck and Ito stochastic equations, we demonstrate two alternative methods for formulating the equations of motion as coupled stochastic c-number equations for the propagating field. The first method involves a representation of the density operator in terms of the positive P distribution function. This leads to exact stochastic equations of motion. The second method makes use of the Wigner distribution function. This method, which requires truncation of third-order derivative terms in the corresponding Fokker-Planck equation, is necessarily approximate. However, we discuss certain advantages to the Wigner approach that have made it the preferable method for exploratory work.
Abstract This chapter provides an overview of the phase space method for treating the physics of systems of bosons and fermions in regimes where quantum degeneracy occurs. Key concepts such as modes, creation and annihilation operators, distribution functions in phase space depending on c-number (bosons) or Grassmann (fermions) phase space variables, quantum correlation functions, and phase space integrals are introduced, together with how the dynamics of the system density operator as described via Liouville–von Neumann or master equations is translated into Fokker–Planck equations for the distribution function, and then how phase space integrals for quantum correlation functions can be determined via Langevin stochastic equations that are equivalent to the Fokker–Planck equations, and which involve stochastic phase space variables. The extension of the phase space approach to systems with large mode numbers, involving field annihilation and creation operators, distribution functionals, and functional Fokker–Planck and Langevin stochastic field equations is also reviewed.
A number of physically intuitive results for the calculation of multi-time correlations in phase-space representations of quantum mechanics are obtained. They relate time-dependent stochastic samples to multi-time observables, and rely on the presence of derivative-free operator identities. In particular, expressions for time-ordered normal-ordered observables in the positive-P distribution are derived which replace Heisenberg operators with the bare time-dependent stochastic variables, confirming extension of earlier such results for the Glauber-Sudarshan P. Analogous expressions are found for the anti-normal-ordered case of the doubled phase-space Q representation, along with conversion rules among doubled phase-space s-ordered representations. The latter are then shown to be readily exploited to further calculate anti-normal and mixed-ordered multi-time observables in the positive-P, Wigner, and doubled-Wigner representations. Which mixed-order observables are amenable and which are not is indicated, and explicit tallies are given up to 4th order. Overall, the theory of quantum multi-time observables in phase-space representations is extended, allowing non-perturbative treatment of many cases. The accuracy, usability, and scalability of the results to large systems is demonstrated using stochastic simulations of the unconventional photon blockade system and a related Bose-Hubbard chain. In addition, a robust but simple algorithm for integration of stochastic equations for phase-space samples is provided.
In Paper I of this investigation a new calculus for functions of noncommuting operators was developed, based on the notion of mapping of operators onto ccc-number functions. With the help of this calculus, a general theory is formulated, in the present paper, of phase-space representation of quantum-mechanical systems. It is shown that there is a whole class of such representations, one associated with each type of mapping, the simplest one being the well-known representation due to Weyl. For each representation, the quantum-mechanical expectation value of an operator is found to be expressible in the form of a phase-space average of classical statistical mechanics. The phase-space distribution functions are, however, not true probabilities, in general. The phase-space forms of the main quantum-mechanical equations of motion are obtained and are found to have the form of a generalized Liouville equation. The phase-space form of the Bloch equation for the density operator of a quantum system in thermal equilibrium is also derived. The generalized characteristic functions of boson systems are defined and their main properties are studied. The equations of motion for the characteristic functions are also derived. As an illustration of the theory, a generalized stochastic description of a quantized electromagnetic field is obtained.
Inspired by the continued-fraction technique to solve the classical Fokker-Planck equation, we develop continued-fraction methods to solve quantum master equations in phase space (Wigner representation of the density matrix). The approach allows to study several classes of nonlinear quantum systems subjected to environmental effects (fluctuations and dissipation), with the only limitations that the starting master equations may have. We illustrate the method with the canonical problem of quantum Brownian motion in periodic potentials.
Abstract This chapter formally presents the representation of the quantum density operator by phase space distribution functions of phase space variables, leading to expressions for quantum correlation functions in terms of phase space integrals in which phase space variables for each mode—c-numbers for bosons, Grassmann numbers for fermions—replace mode annihilation and creation operators. The emphasis is on double-phase-space normally ordered (positive P type) normalised distribution functions, with distinct phase space variables for annihilation and creation operators; however, symmetrically ordered (Wigner type) distribution functions are also considered, along with unnormalised B distribution functions, which lead to phase space integrals for Fock state populations and coherences. Characteristic functions are first defined and then shown to be related to distribution functions via phase space integrals. The existence and symmetry properties of distribution functions—which are non-unique and non-analytic for bosons—is demonstrated using Bargmann coherent-state projectors.