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AIP conference proceedings

The Wigner distribution function ‐ experiments and applications

Hartmut O. Bartelt, Karl‐Heinz Brenner

Published Jan 1, 1980• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The Wigner Distribution Function (WDF), defined for a phase space representation in quantum mechanics, offers an alternate form for representing signals simultaneously in Fourier reciprocal variables such as time, and frequency. A purely nonnegative function that is closely related to the WDF, is the so‐called ’’spectrogram’’. In this paper we describe three types of optical setups for the production of the spectrogram. They use coherent, partially coherent or temporally incoherent light as illumination. As application example speech signals are processed for a speaker verification.

DOI
10.1063/1.32258

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The Wigner Distribution Function (WDF), defined for a phase space representation in quantum mechanics, offers an alternate form for representing signals simultaneously in Fourier reciprocal variables such as time, and frequency. A purely nonnegative function that is closely related to the WDF, is the so‐called ’’spectrogram’’. In this paper we describe three types of optical setups for the production of the spectrogram. They use coherent, partially coherent or temporally incoherent light as illumination. As application example speech signals are processed for a speaker verification.
The paper presents a review of some applications of the Wigner distribution function to optics. The Wigner distribution function F(x,u) of a signal describes the signal in space x and spatial frequency u, simultaneously, and can be considered as a local spatial frequency spectrum of the signal. Although derived in terms of Fourier optics, the description of a signal by means of its Wigner distribution function closely resembles the ray concept in geometrical optics. Some examples are given to show this resemblance. Properties of the Wigner distribution function are discussed, showing, for instance, its relation to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle and to some well‐known radiometric quantities. The concept of the Wigner distribution function is not restricted to deterministic signals; it can easily be extended to stochastic signals. Some examples of stochastic signals are considered. The propagation of signals through linear systems can readily be expressed in terms of Wigner distribution functions. Again, the description of systems by Wigner distribution functions can be interpreted directly in terms of geometrical optics: for Luneburg’s first‐order system, for instance, such a description immediately yields the ray transformation matrix of the system, and the relation between the input and the output Wigner distributioin function reads Fo(x,u) = Fi(Ax+Bu,Cx+Du). Transport equations for the Wigner distribution function in a general linear medium are derived. In the Liouville approximation they take the form of a first‐order partial differential equation, which allows, once more, a geometric‐optical interpretation: along the path of a geometric‐optical light ray the Wigner distribution function has a constant value.
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The concept of the Wigner distribution function is applied to stochastic signals, in particular to partially coherent light. Relations between the Wigner distribution function, the power spectrum and related subjects are formulated. Some inequalities for the Wigner distribution function are derived; one of these inequalities leads to the definition of an overall degree of coherence. The overall degree of coherence of a stochastic signal remains invariant when the signal propagates through a lossless linear system.
The concept of the Wigner distribution function is applied to stochastic signals, in particular to partially coherent light. Relations between the Wigner distribution function, the power spectrum and related subjects are formulated. Some inequalities for the Wigner distribution function are derived; one of these inequalities leads to the definition of an overall degree of coherence. The overall degree of coherence of a stochastic signal remains invariant when the signal propagates through a lossless linear system.
We discuss two sets of conditions that are necessary and sufficient for a function defined on phase space to be a Wigner distribution function (WDF). The first set is well known and involves the function itself; the second set is less familiar and involves the function's ``symplectic'' Fourier transform. After explaining why these two sets are equivalent, we explore some properties and applications of the second one. Among other things, we show that that set includes the position-momentum uncertainty relations as a special case, and in doing so we give a new derivation of them. This derivation itself serves as the starting point for the discussion of a quantum-mechanical moment problem. It also enables us to exhibit a real-valued phase-space function that obeys the uncertainty relations but that is not a WDF.