A quantum mechanical spin-half system may be characterized abstractly as having a set of two-valued observables which generate infinitesimal rotations in three dimensions. We consider a concrete realization of such a two-level system within the formalism of ensembles on configuration space, an approach which is not only capable of describing quantum mechanical systems but allows also for theories that are generalizations of quantum theory. Such a spin-half system may be called a rotational bit or robit, to distinguish it from the standard quantum qubit. After reviewing ensembles on configuration space and examining the example of constructing representations of the Galilean Lie algebra for the free particle, we construct probabilistic models for ensembles that consist of one and two spin-half systems. In the case of a single spin-half system, there are two main requirements: the configuration space must be a discrete set, labeling the outcomes of two-valued spin observables, and these observables must provide an algebraic representation of so (3). The case of a pair of spin-half systems is more complicated, in that additional physical requirements concerning locality and subsystem independence must also be taken into account and now the observables must provide an algebraic representation of so (3) ⊕ so (3). We compare the resulting theories to the corresponding quantum mechanical systems.
Abstract A novel representation of spin 1/2 combines in a single geometric object the standard Pauli spin operator and spin state. Under the spin-position decoupling approximation it consists of the sum of three orthogonal vectors comprising a gauge phase. In the one-spin case the representation: (1) is Hermitian; (2) endowed with handedness; (3) yields all standard results, including the total spin angular momentum; (4) relates basis spins by proper rotations, thus preserving handedness; (5) allows formalizing irreversibility in spin measurement. In the bipartite case: (1) entangled spins have precisely related gauge phases and opposite handedness; (2) maximally entangled spins relate by one of the four improper rotations in 3D: plane-reflections (triplets) and inversion (singlet); (3) the full spin expressions yield the standard total two-spin angular momentum; (4) all standard expected values for bipartite observations follow. Depending on whether spin operations act one – or two – sided, the formalism appears in two complementary forms, the ‘spinor’ or the ‘vector’ form, respectively. The proposed scheme provides a clear geometric picture of spin transformations and correlations in the 3D physical orientation space.
Abstract A novel representation of spin 1/2 combines in a single geometric object the roles of the standard Pauli spin vector and spin state. Under the spin-position decoupling approximation it consists of the ordered sum of three orthonormal vectors comprising a gauge phase. In the one-particle case the representation: (1) is Hermitian; (2) is oriented due to ordering; (3) reproduces all standard expectation values, including the total one-particle spin modulus A; (4) constrains basis opposite spins to have same orientation; (5) allows to formalize irreversibility in spin measurement. In the two-particle case: (1) entangled spin pairs have opposite orientation and precisely related gauge phases; (2) the dimensionality of the spin space doubles due to variation of orientation; (3) the four maximally entangled states are naturally defined by the four improper rotations in 3D: reflections onto the three orthogonal frame planes (triplets) and inversion (singlet). The cross-product terms in the expression for the squared total spin of two particles relates to experiment and they yield all standard expectation values after measurement. Here spin is directly defined and transformed in 3D orientation space, without use of eigen algebra and tensor product as in the standard formulation. The formalism allows working with whole geometric objects instead of only components, thereby helping keep a clear geometric picture of ‘on paper’ (controlled gauge phase) and ‘on lab’ (uncontrolled gauge phase) spin transformations.
Abstract A novel representation of spin 1/2 combines in a single geometric object the roles of the standard Pauli spin vector operator and spin state. Under the spin-position decoupling approximation it consists of three orthonormal vectors comprising a gauge phase. In the one-particle case the representation: (1) is Hermitian; (2) shows handedness; (3) reproduces all standard expectation values, including the total one-particle spin modulus 𝑆tot = (ℏ/2)√3; (4) constrains basis opposite spins to have same handedness; (5) allows to formalize irreversibility in spin measurement. In the two-particle case: (1) entangled pairs have precisely related gauge phases; (2) the dimensionality of the spin space doubles due to variation of handedness; (3) the four maximally entangled states are naturally defined by the four improper rotations in 3D: reflections onto the three orthogonal frame planes (triplets) and inversion (singlet). Cross-product terms in the expression for the squared total spin of two particles relate to experiment and they yield all standard expectation values after measurement. Here spin is directly defined and transformed in 3D orientation space, without use of eigen algebra and tensor product as done in the standard formulation. The formalism allows working with whole geometric objects instead of only components, thereby helping keep a clear geometric picture of ‘on paper’ (controlled gauge phase) and ‘on lab’ (uncontrolled gauge phase) spin transformations.
A novel representation of spin 1/2 combines in a single geometric object the standard Pauli spin operator and spin state. Under the spin-position decoupling approximation it consists of the sum of three orthogonal vectors comprising a gauge phase. In the one-spin case the representation: (1) is Hermitian; (2) endowed with handedness; (3) yields all standard results, including the total spin angular momentum S=(√3 ℏ)⁄2; (4) relates basis spins by proper rotations, thus preserving handedness; (5) allows formalizing irreversibility in spin measurement. In the bipartite case: (1) entangled spins have precisely related gauge phases and opposite handedness; (2) maximally entangled spins relate by one of the four improper rotations in 3D: plane-reflections (triplets) and inversion (singlet); (3) the full spin expressions yield the standard total two-spin angular momentum; (4) all standard expected values for bipartite observations follow. Depending on whether spin operations act one – or two – sided, the formalism appears in two complementary forms, the ‘spinor’ or the ‘vector’ form, respectively. The proposed scheme provides a clear geometric picture of spin transformations and correlations in the 3D physical orientation space.
Abstract A novel representation of spin 1/2 combines in a single geometric object the roles of the standardPauli spin vector operator and spin state. Under the spin-position decoupling approximation it consists ofthree orthonormal vectors comprising a gauge phase. In the one-particle case the representation: (1) isHermitian; (2) shows handedness; (3) reproduces all standard expectation values, including the total one particlespin modulus 𝑆tot = √3ℏ/2; (4) constrains basis opposite spins to have same handedness; (5)allows to formalize irreversibility in spin measurement. In the two-particle case: (1) entangled pairs haveprecisely related gauge phases and can be of same or opposite handedness; (2) the dimensionality of the spinspace doubles due to variation of handedness; (3) the four maximally entangled states are naturally definedby the four improper rotations in 3D: reflections onto the three orthogonal frame planes (triplets) andinversion (singlet). The cross-product terms in the expression for the squared total spin of two particlesrelates to experiment and they yield all standard expectation values after measurement. Here spin is directlydefined and transformed in 3D orientation space, without use of eigen algebra and tensor product as in thestandard formulation. The formalism allows working with whole geometric objects instead of onlycomponents, thereby helping keep a clear geometric picture of ‘on paper’ (controlled gauge phase) and ‘onlab’ (uncontrolled gauge phase) spin transformations.
The quantum dynamics of arbitrary
N-level systems, including dissipative systems, are modeled exactly here by the dynamics of classical coupled oscillators. A one-to-one correspondence is established between the quantum states and the positions of the oscillators. Quantum coherence, expectation values, and measurement probabilities for system observables can therefore be realized from the corresponding classical states. Although the well-known equivalence [SU(2), SO(3) homomorphism] of two-level quantum dynamics to a rotation in real, physical space cannot be generalized to arbitrary
N-level systems, the representation of quantum dynamics by a system of coupled harmonic oscillators in one physical dimension
is general for any
N. The time evolution of an
N-level system [generated by a complex element of the SU(
N) group], is first represented as the rotation of a real state vector in (unphysical) hyperspace, as previously known for density matrix states and also extended here to include Schr\"odinger states. The resulting rotor in
n Euclidean dimensions [the rotation group SO(
n)] is then mapped directly to
n oscillators in one physical dimension, which significantly reduces the level of abstraction required to visualize quantum dynamics compared to vector models or generalized Bloch spheres in higher dimensions. The number of such oscillators needed to represent
N-level systems scales as
N2 for the density matrix formalism but increases only linearly with
N for Schr\"odinger states. Values for the classical coupling constants are readily derived from the system Hamiltonian, allowing construction of classical mechanical systems that provide insight into the dynamics of abstract quantum systems (new dynamical invariants) as well as a metric for characterizing the interface between quantum and classical mechanics. A distinctive attribute of the quantum-classical connection as presented here is the necessity for both positive and negative couplings and, in the case of dissipative systems, antisymmetric couplings.