Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Annalen der Physik

Derivation and application of quantum Hamilton equations of motion

Jeanette Köppe, Wilfried Grecksch, Wolfgang Paul

Published Dec 13, 2016• 14 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Non‐relativistic quantum systems are analyzed theoretically or by numerical approaches using the Schrödinger equation. Compared to the options available to treat classical mechanical systems this is limited, both in methods and in scope. However, based on Nelson's stochastic mechanics, the mathematical structure of quantum mechanics has in some aspects been developed into a form analogous to classical analytical mechanics. We show here that finding the Nash equilibrium for a stochastic optimal control problem, which is the quantum equivalent to Hamilton's principle of least action, allows to derive two things: i) the Schrödinger equation as the Hamilton‐Jacobi‐Bellman equation of this optimal control problem and ii) a set of quantum dynamical equations which are the generalization of Hamilton's equations of motion to the quantum world. We derive their general form for the non‐stationary and the stationary case. For the harmonic oscillator, the stationary equations lead to the coherent states, and we establish a numerical procedure to solve for the ground state properties without using the Schrödinger equation. image

DOI
10.1002/andp.201600251

Related papers

Quantum Hamilton equations of motion for bound states of one-dimensional quantum systems

Jeanette Köppe, Markus Patzold, Wilfried Grecksch +1 more

On the basis of Nelson’s stochastic mechanics derivation of the Schrödinger equation, a formal mathematical structure of non-relativistic quantum mechanics equivalent to the one in classical analytical mechanics has been established in the literature. We recently were able to augment this structure by deriving quantum Hamilton equations of motion by finding the Nash equilibrium of a stochastic optimal control problem, which is the generalization of Hamilton’s principle of classical mechanics to quantum systems. We showed that these equations allow a description and numerical determination of the ground state of quantum problems without using the Schrödinger equation. We extend this approach here to deliver the complete discrete energy spectrum and related eigenfunctions for bound states of one-dimensional stationary quantum systems. We exemplify this analytically for the one-dimensional harmonic oscillator and numerically by analyzing a quartic double-well potential, a model of broad importance in many areas of physics. We furthermore point out a relation between the tunnel splitting of such models and mean first passage time concepts applied to Nelson’s diffusion paths in the ground state.

Journal of Mathematical Physics•Jun 1, 2018•6 citations

Quantum Hamilton equations for multidimensional systems

Michael Beyer, Markus Patzold, Wilfried Grecksch +1 more

Within a stochastic picture quantum systems can be described in terms of kinematic and dynamic equations where the particles follow a conservative diffusion process. Pavon has shown that these equations and the Schrödinger equation can be derived from a quantum Hamilton principle, generalizing the Hamilton principle from classical mechanics. As shown recently by Köppe et al for the one-dimensional case, the reformulation of the quantum Hamilton principle as a stochastic optimal control problem leads to quantum Hamilton equations of motion which can be seen as a non relativistic generalization of Hamilton's equations of motion to the quantum world. In this report we will extend this to higher dimensional problems and derive, by incorporating the concept of supersymmetric quantum mechanics, a general scheme that allows the determination of all bound states within the stochastic framework. Physical principles from classical mechanics like the decoupling of the center-of-mass motion in multi-particle systems or the solution of the Kepler problem, as a special case of the two-body problem, using space-time symmetries, are translated to this formulation of quantum mechanics. We will present numerical results for the ground state and lower excited states of the hydrogen atom in Cartesian coordinates, and, additionally, we will show that for spherically symmetric potentials the solution of the two-body problem can be reduced to a system of equations concerning only the radial part.

Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical•Mar 1, 2019•4 citations

Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equations for quantum optimal feedback control

John Edward Gough, V. P. Belavkin, Oleg Georgievich Smolyanov

We exploit the separation of the filtering and control aspects of quantum feedback control to consider the optimal control as a classical stochastic problem on the space of quantum states. We derive the corresponding Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations using the elementary arguments of classical control theory and show that this is equivalent, in the Stratonovich calculus, to a stochastic Hamilton-Pontryagin setup. We show that, for cost functionals that are linear in the state, the theory yields the traditional Bellman equations treated so far in quantum feedback.

arXiv:quant-ph/0502155•Journal of Optics B Quantum and Semiclassical Optics•Sep 14, 2005•62 citations

Hamilton-jacobi-bellman equations for quantum optimal control

John Edward Gough, V.A. Belavkin, Oleg Georgievich Smolyanov

One develops a Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation and a stochastic Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation for quantum optimal feedback control. In this paper we do not discuss in details how to find the optimal control functions; we would like to notice only that the corresponding generalizations of the classical Pontryagin maximum principle can be obtained and used

Days on Diffraction•Jan 1, 2006•2 citations

On the Stochastic Mechanics Foundation of Quantum Mechanics

Michael Beyer, Wolfgang Paul

Among the famous formulations of quantum mechanics, the stochastic picture developed since the middle of the last century remains one of the less known ones. It is possible to describe quantum mechanical systems with kinetic equations of motion in configuration space based on conservative diffusion processes. This leads to the representation of physical observables through stochastic processes instead of self-adjoint operators. The mathematical foundations of this approach were laid by Edward Nelson in 1966. It allows a different perspective on quantum phenomena without necessarily using the wave-function. This article recaps the development of stochastic mechanics with a focus on variational and extremal principles. Furthermore, based on recent developments of optimal control theory, the derivation of generalized canonical equations of motion for quantum systems within the stochastic picture are discussed. These so-called quantum Hamilton equations add another layer to the different formalisms from classical mechanics that find their counterpart in quantum mechanics.

Universe•May 27, 2021•14 citations

“A call to action”: Schrödinger's representation of quantum mechanics via Hamilton's principle

Michele Marrocco

A few years ago, one of the former Editors of this journal launched “a call to action” (E. F. Taylor, Am. J. Phys. 71, 423–425 (2003)) for a revision of teaching methods in physics in order to emphasize the importance of the principle of least action. In response, we suggest the use of Hamilton's principle of stationary action to introduce the Schrödinger equation. When considering the geometric interpretation of the Hamilton–Jacobi theory, the real part of the action S defines the phase of the wave function exp iS/ℏ, and requiring the Hamilton–Jacobi wave function to obey wave-front propagation (i.e., Re(S) is a constant of the motion) yields the Schrödinger equation.

American Journal of Physics•Jan 23, 2023•2 citations
Non‐relativistic quantum systems are analyzed theoretically or by numerical approaches using the Schrödinger equation. Compared to the options available to treat classical mechanical systems this is limited, both in methods and in scope. However, based on Nelson's stochastic mechanics, the mathematical structure of quantum mechanics has in some aspects been developed into a form analogous to classical analytical mechanics. We show here that finding the Nash equilibrium for a stochastic optimal control problem, which is the quantum equivalent to Hamilton's principle of least action, allows to derive two things: i) the Schrödinger equation as the Hamilton‐Jacobi‐Bellman equation of this optimal control problem and ii) a set of quantum dynamical equations which are the generalization of Hamilton's equations of motion to the quantum world. We derive their general form for the non‐stationary and the stationary case. For the harmonic oscillator, the stationary equations lead to the coherent states, and we establish a numerical procedure to solve for the ground state properties without using the Schrödinger equation. image
On the basis of Nelson’s stochastic mechanics derivation of the Schrödinger equation, a formal mathematical structure of non-relativistic quantum mechanics equivalent to the one in classical analytical mechanics has been established in the literature. We recently were able to augment this structure by deriving quantum Hamilton equations of motion by finding the Nash equilibrium of a stochastic optimal control problem, which is the generalization of Hamilton’s principle of classical mechanics to quantum systems. We showed that these equations allow a description and numerical determination of the ground state of quantum problems without using the Schrödinger equation. We extend this approach here to deliver the complete discrete energy spectrum and related eigenfunctions for bound states of one-dimensional stationary quantum systems. We exemplify this analytically for the one-dimensional harmonic oscillator and numerically by analyzing a quartic double-well potential, a model of broad importance in many areas of physics. We furthermore point out a relation between the tunnel splitting of such models and mean first passage time concepts applied to Nelson’s diffusion paths in the ground state.
Within a stochastic picture quantum systems can be described in terms of kinematic and dynamic equations where the particles follow a conservative diffusion process. Pavon has shown that these equations and the Schrödinger equation can be derived from a quantum Hamilton principle, generalizing the Hamilton principle from classical mechanics. As shown recently by Köppe et al for the one-dimensional case, the reformulation of the quantum Hamilton principle as a stochastic optimal control problem leads to quantum Hamilton equations of motion which can be seen as a non relativistic generalization of Hamilton's equations of motion to the quantum world. In this report we will extend this to higher dimensional problems and derive, by incorporating the concept of supersymmetric quantum mechanics, a general scheme that allows the determination of all bound states within the stochastic framework. Physical principles from classical mechanics like the decoupling of the center-of-mass motion in multi-particle systems or the solution of the Kepler problem, as a special case of the two-body problem, using space-time symmetries, are translated to this formulation of quantum mechanics. We will present numerical results for the ground state and lower excited states of the hydrogen atom in Cartesian coordinates, and, additionally, we will show that for spherically symmetric potentials the solution of the two-body problem can be reduced to a system of equations concerning only the radial part.
We exploit the separation of the filtering and control aspects of quantum feedback control to consider the optimal control as a classical stochastic problem on the space of quantum states. We derive the corresponding Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations using the elementary arguments of classical control theory and show that this is equivalent, in the Stratonovich calculus, to a stochastic Hamilton-Pontryagin setup. We show that, for cost functionals that are linear in the state, the theory yields the traditional Bellman equations treated so far in quantum feedback.
Among the famous formulations of quantum mechanics, the stochastic picture developed since the middle of the last century remains one of the less known ones. It is possible to describe quantum mechanical systems with kinetic equations of motion in configuration space based on conservative diffusion processes. This leads to the representation of physical observables through stochastic processes instead of self-adjoint operators. The mathematical foundations of this approach were laid by Edward Nelson in 1966. It allows a different perspective on quantum phenomena without necessarily using the wave-function. This article recaps the development of stochastic mechanics with a focus on variational and extremal principles. Furthermore, based on recent developments of optimal control theory, the derivation of generalized canonical equations of motion for quantum systems within the stochastic picture are discussed. These so-called quantum Hamilton equations add another layer to the different formalisms from classical mechanics that find their counterpart in quantum mechanics.
A few years ago, one of the former Editors of this journal launched “a call to action” (E. F. Taylor, Am. J. Phys. 71, 423–425 (2003)) for a revision of teaching methods in physics in order to emphasize the importance of the principle of least action. In response, we suggest the use of Hamilton's principle of stationary action to introduce the Schrödinger equation. When considering the geometric interpretation of the Hamilton–Jacobi theory, the real part of the action S defines the phase of the wave function exp iS/ℏ, and requiring the Hamilton–Jacobi wave function to obey wave-front propagation (i.e., Re(S) is a constant of the motion) yields the Schrödinger equation.