Abstract The Moyal equation describes the evolution of the Wigner function of a quantum system in the phase space. The right-hand side of the equation contains an infinite series with coefficients proportional to powers of the Planck constant. There is an interpretation of the Moyal equation as a quantum analogue of the classical Liouville equation. Indeed, if one uses the notion of the classical passage to the limit as the Planck constant tends to zero, then formally the right-hand side of the Moyal equation tends to zero. As a result, the Moyal equation becomes the classical Liouville equation for the distribution function. In this paper, we show that the right side of the Moyal equation does not explicitly depend on the Planck constant, and all terms of the series can make a significant contribution. The transition between the classical and quantum descriptions is related not to the Planck constant, but to the spatial scale. For a model quantum system with a potential in the form of a «quadratic funnel», an exact 3D solution of the Schrödinger equation is found and the corresponding Wigner function is constructed in the paper. Using trajectory analysis in the phase space, based on the representation of the right-hand side of the Moyal equation, it is shown that on the spatial microscale there is an infinite number of «trajectories» of the particle motion (thereby the concept of a trajectory is indefinite), and when passing to the macroscale, all «trajectories» concentrate around the classical trajectory.

arXiv:2307.16316Journal of Statistical Mechanics Theory and ExperimentSep 1, 20238 citations

Koopman von Neumann mechanics, Koopman operator, Curl Forces and Jacobi Last Multiplier

Partha Guha

The Koopman–von Neumann (KvN) formulation recasts deterministic classical mechanics in a Hilbert-space operator framework analogous to quantum mechanics. In this approach, the Liouville equation is expressed as a Schrödinger-type evolution equation generated by a Hermitian operator, yielding unitary propagation for phase-space-volume-preserving dynamics. We first clarify the relationship among the Koopman, Perron–Frobenius, and Liouville operators through an explicit example. Wilczek's construction shows that the KvN formalism is not only restricted to canonical Hamiltonian mechanics but this can be generalized any first-order classical dynamical system. Wilczek shows how a general autonomous first-order system can be generated by a Hermitian temporal-evolution operator after the introduction of auxiliary conjugate variables. We develop the KvN description of systems driven by Hamiltonian curl forces–position-dependent, non-conservative forces that are non-dissipative and preserve phase-space volume. Finally, we extend the KvN formalism to non-Hamiltonian systems using the Jacobi Last Multiplier and examine its connection to the Boltzmann H-theorem.

International Journal of Geometric Methods in Modern PhysicsOct 28, 20260 citations