Discrete-time path distributions on a Hilbert space

K. Kowalski

Yusuke Ide, Norio Konno, Etsuo Segawa

Arthur Gretton

Mathieu Beau, T. C. Dorlas

We construct a path distribution representing the kinetic part of the Feynman path integral at discrete times similar to that defined by Thomas [1], but on a Hilbert space of paths rather than a nuclear sequence space. We also consider different boundary conditions and show that the discrete-time Feynman path integral is well-defined for suitably smooth potentials.

Leonardo A. Pachon, Andres D. Gomez

We develop a path integral representation for the dynamics of quantum systems with a finite-dimensional Hilbert space, formulated entirely within a discrete phase space. Starting from the discrete Wigner function on ${\mathbb{Z}_d} \times {\mathbb{Z}_d}$ ($d$ an odd prime) and the associated Weyl transform built from generalized displacement operators, we derive an exact kernel that propagates the discrete Wigner function in time and, by iterating its composition law through a short-time approximation, obtain a sum-over-paths expression weighted by a discrete phase-space action -- the natural finite-dimensional counterpart of Marinov's functional. For Hamiltonians linear in the phase-space coordinates and at times strictly commensurate with the lattice, the fluctuation sum collapses to a deterministic shift, realizing the discrete analog of classical Hamiltonian flow. Applying the formalism to one and to two interacting qutrits ($d=3$), we show that the full entanglement dynamics -- captured by a closed-form linear entropy valid for all times -- requires the coherent contribution of all fluctuation sectors; the boundary-term (mean-field) sector alone fails to reproduce it. For a non-stabilizer Hamiltonian, where the short-time kernel is only approximate, the time-sliced path integral converges to the exact dynamics, including the dynamical generation of Wigner negativity. We discuss implications for the semiclassical simulation of many-body spin systems and for the characterization of non-classicality through Wigner negativity.

Mathieu Beau, T. C. Dorlas

We construct a path distribution representing the kinetic part of the Feynman path integral at discrete times similar to that defined by Thomas [1], but on a Hilbert space of paths rather than a nuclear sequence space. We also consider different boundary conditions and show that the discrete-time Feynman path integral is well-defined for suitably smooth potentials.