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1 Almost Complete Coherent State Subsystems and Partial Reconstruction of Wave Functions in the Fock-Bargmann Phase-Number Representation

Manuel Calixto, Julio Guerrero, J. C. Sánchez-Monreal

Published Aug 17, 2016• 2 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

We provide (partial) reconstruction formulas and discrete Fourier transforms for wave functions in standard Fock-Bargmann (holomorphic) phase-number representation from a finite number N of phase samples {θ k = 2πk/N } N -1 k=0 for a given mean number p of particles.The resulting Coherent State (CS) subsystem S = {|z k = p 1 2 e iθ k } is complete (a frame) for truncated Hilbert spaces (finite number of particles) and reconstruction formulas are exact.For an unbounded number of particles, S is "almost complete" (a pseudo-frame) and partial reconstruction formulas are provided along with an study of the accuracy of the approximation, which tends to be exact when p < N and/or N → ∞.

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Almost complete coherent state subsystems and partial reconstruction of wavefunctions in the Fock–Bargmann phase-number representation

M Calixto, J Guerrero, J C Sánchez-Monreal

We provide (partial) reconstruction formulas and discrete Fourier transforms for wave functions in standard Fock-Bargmann (holomorphic) phase-number representation from a finite number $N$ of phase samples $\{θ_k=2πk/N\}_{k=0}^{N-1}$ for a given mean number $p$ of particles. The resulting Coherent State (CS) subsystem ${\cal S}=\{|z_k=p^{1/2}e^{iθ_k}>\}$ is complete (a frame) for truncated Hilbert spaces (finite number of particles) and reconstruction formulas are exact. For an unbounded number of particles, ${\cal S}$ is "almost complete" (a \textit{pseudo-frame}) and partial reconstruction formulas are provided along with an study of the accuracy of the approximation, which tends to be exact when $p

arXiv:1109.2171•Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical•May 30, 2012•3 citations

Completeness of coherent state subsystems

Karlheinz Gröchenig, Antti Haimi, José Luis Romero

We investigate the completeness of coherent states subsystems with respect to several classes of states on rational lattices. Our main results show that the phase-space shifts of every finite linear combination of Hermite functions with respect to a rational lattice are complete in L^2(R), thus generalizing a remark of von Neumann (and proved by Bargmann, Perelomov et al.). An analogous result is proven for windows that factor into certain rational functions and the Gaussian. The results are also interesting from a conceptual point of view since they show a vast difference between the completeness and the frame property of a discrete set of coherent states.

•Jul 8, 2015•1 citation

Bosonic Coherent States

Didier Robert, Monique Combescure

In a first part we give a brief presentation of general Fock space setting to describe quantum field theory. Bosons are quantum particles with integer spin and have symmetric wave functions; Fermions are quantum particles with half-integer spin and are represented by anti-symmetric wave functions. The functional setting is given by a symmetric or anti-symmetric tensor product of Hilbert spaces. We describe these spaces and transformations between these spaces. We shall follow the references [23, 42]. Coherent states are defined by translating the vacuum states with the Weyl operators. This is easily done here for bosons. We shall see in the next chapter how to deal with fermions. In a second part we give an interesting application of bosonic coherent states to the study of the classical limit as \(\hbar \searrow 0\) of non-relativistic boson systems with two body interaction in the neighborhood of a solution of the classical system (here the Hartree equation). The classical limit corresponds here to the mean-field limit as the number of particles goes to infinity. As we have done for finite systems, we use here Hepp’s method, which is a linearization procedure of the quantum Hamiltonian around the classical field. The fluctuations around this solution are controlled by a purely quadratic Hamiltonian. In a series of several important papers [114–116] Ginibre and Velo have proven an asymptotic expansion and remainder estimates for these quantum fluctuations. Finally, following the paper [225] one can show that, in the limit \(\hbar \rightarrow 0\), the marginal distribution of the time-evolved coherent states tends in trace-norm to the projector onto the solution of the classical fields equation (Hartree equation) with a uniform remainder estimates in time.

Theoretical and mathematical physics•Jan 1, 2021•0 citations

Pseudo-Boson Coherent and Fock States

D. A. Trifonov

Coherent states (CS) for non-Hermitian systems are introduced as eigenstates of pseudo-Hermitian boson annihilation operators. The set of these CS includes two subsets which form bi-normalized and bi-overcomplete system of states. The subsets consist of eigenstates of two complementary lowering pseudo-Hermitian boson operators. Explicit constructions are provided on the example of one-parameter family of pseudo-boson ladder operators. The wave functions of the eigenstates of the two complementary number operators, which form a bi-orthonormal system of Fock states, are found to be proportional to new polynomials, that are bi-orthogonal and can be regarded as a generalization of standard Hermite polynomials.

arXiv:0902.3744•Feb 21, 2009•0 citations

Pseudo-Boson Coherent and Fock States

D. A. Trifonov

Coherent states (CS) for non-Hermitian systems are introduced as eigenstates of pseudo-Hermitian boson annihilation operators. The set of these CS includes two subsets which form bi-normalized and bi-overcomplete system of states. The subsets consist of eigenstates of two complementary lowering pseudo-Hermitian boson operators. Explicit constructions are provided on the example of one-parameter family of pseudo-boson ladder operators. The wave functions of the eigenstates of the two complementary number operators, which form a bi-orthonormal system of Fock states, are found to be proportional to new polynomials, that are bi-orthogonal and can be regarded as a generalization of standard Hermite polynomials.

•Feb 21, 2009•0 citations

Coherent states: a contemporary panorama

S. Twareque Ali, Jean-Pierre Antoine, Fabio Bagarello +1 more

Coherent states (CS) of the harmonic oscillator (also called canonical CS) were introduced in 1926 by Schrödinger in answer to a remark by Lorentz on the classical interpretation of the wave function. They were rediscovered in the early 1960s, first (somewhat implicitly) by Klauder in the context of a novel representation of quantum states, then by Glauber and Sudarshan for the description of coherence in lasers. Since then, CS have grown into an extremely rich domain that pervades almost every corner of physics and have also led to the development of several flourishing topics in mathematics. Along the way, a number of review articles have appeared in the literature, devoted to CS, notably the 1985 reprint volume of Klauder and Skagerstam [1], the 1990 review paper by Zhang et al [2], the 1993 Oak Ridge Conference [3] and the 1995 review paper by Ali et al [4]. Textbooks also have been published, among which one might mention the ground breaking text of Perelomov [5] focusing on the group-theoretical aspects, that of Ali et al [6] 1 analyzing systematically the mathematical structure beyond the group-theoretical approach and also the relation to wavelet analysis, that of Dodonov and Man'ko [7] mostly devoted to quantum optics, that of Gazeau [8] more oriented towards the physical, probabilistic and quantization aspects, and finally the very recent one by Combescure and Robert [9]. In retrospect, one can see that the development of CS has gone through a two-phase transition. First, the (simultaneous) discovery in 1972 by Gilmore and Perelomov that CS were rooted in group theory, then the realization that CS can be defined in a purely algebraic way, as an eigenvalue problem or by a series expansion (Malkin and Man'ko 1969, Barut and Girardello 1971, Gazeau and Klauder 1999; references to the original articles may be found in the textbooks quoted above). Both facts resulted in an explosive expansion of the CS literature. We thought, therefore, that the time was ripe to devote a special issue of Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical to CS. However, because of limitations of space and time, it would have been impossible to get a fully representative cross-section of papers, covering all the different facets of the subject. Consequently, we have selected 37 articles, including some by a few of the originators of the field. We thank all the authors for submitting their up-to-date thoughts on this fascinating subject. The contents of this special issue are subdivided into five categories: (1) review papers; (2) physics-oriented CS; (3) physics and quantum information; (4) mathematics, general topics; and (5) mathematics, particular problems. (1) Review papers We start with five review papers. The first paper, by Klauder, surveys the many possible applications of affine variables, both in classical and quantum physics. The second, by Sanders, proposes a grand tour of entangled CS, which are present in many fields, such as quantum optics, quantum information processing, etc. The next paper, by Rowe, surveys the field of vector CS and the attendant group representation problems (including induced representations). Then Oriti et al describe a particular class of CS relevant to (loop) quantum gravity. Finally, Combescure and Robert present a comprehensive review of fermionic CS, including all mathematical details. (2) Physics-oriented CS The six contributions in this section deal with specific physical problems: (i) Dajka–Luczka study Gazeau–Klauder cat states associated with a nonlinear Kerr oscillator, instead of the usual canonical CS leading to Schrödinger cat states; (ii) Angelova et al discuss squeezed CS associated with a 1D Morse potential, used in molecular physics; (iii) Bagrov et al study CS in a magnetic solenoid field and prove their completeness; (iv) Blasone–Jizba treat Nambu–Goldstone dynamics in spontaneously broken symmetries, using CS functional integrals; (v) Calixto et al describe accelerated relativistic particles in the context of spontaneous breakdown of conformal SU(2,2) symmetry, using SU(2,2) CS; and (vi) Mortazavi–Tavassoly study f -deformed charge CS and their physical properties (nonclassical features, sub-Poissonian statistical behavior, etc). (3) Physics and quantum information The second group of physically related CS contains four contributions with a distinct quantum information theoretic flavor. First, Thilagam describes the dynamical behavior of entanglement of a pair of qubits (excitons), using a CS basis. Next, Lavoie–de Guise study SU(3) intelligent states (i.e., minimal uncertainty states), of interest in the quantum information community. Then Muñoz constructs discrete CS for n qubits. Finally, Wagner–Kendon explore the continuous variable Deutsch–Jozsa algorithm known in quantum computing in a discrete formulation. (4) Mathematics, general topics In this subgroup, there are eight papers dealing with general properties of CS, independently of any particular system or application. A whole series discusses the interaction between CS and various mathematical objects: pseudodifferential operators and Weyl calculus (Unterberger); induced representations of the affine group and intertwining operators (Elmabrok–Hutnik); measure-free CS and reproducing kernels (Horzela–Szafraniec); extremal POV measures (Heinosaari–Pellonpää); Hilbert W*-modules (Bhattacharyya–Roy); Toeplitz operators (Hutníková–Hutník); and operator localization and homogeneous structure of nilpotent Lie groups (Kisil). In addition, Balazs et al consider multipliers for continuous frames, including CS or wavelet frames. (5) Mathematics, particular problems The second group of mathematically oriented papers contains 14 contributions, devoted to CS in particular systems. We start with a paper by Gilmore, which explores the (sometimes chaotic) evolution of atomic CS under a time-periodic driving field, using sphere maps S 2 → S 2 . Next, we include a paper on CS on the 2-sphere in a magnetic field (Hall–Mitchell); a paper on CS for a quantum particle on a Möbius strip (Cirilo–Lombardo); a discussion of quantization on the circle (Chadzitaskos et al ); SUSY CS for Pöschl–Teller potentials (Bergeron et al ); generalized Bargmann functions and von Neumann lattices (Vourdas et al ); partial reconstruction for a finite CS system, using the Fock–Bargmann representation (Calixto et al ); phase operators for SU(3) irreps, thus for finite quantum systems (de Guise); semiclassical CS in periodic potentials (Carles–Sparber); complexified CS with non-Hermitian Hamiltonians (Graefe–Schubert); minimal uncertainty states in the context of (semisimple) group representation theory (Oszmaniec); localization operators in the time-frequency domain, i.e., in Gabor analysis (Muzhikyan–Avanesyan); and, finally, two papers about fermionic CS (Daoud–Kibler and Trifonov). This brief description illustrates perfectly the extreme versatility of the CS concept. As already stressed, coherent states constitute nowadays a flourishing research topic, with applications to a wide spectrum of domains. Indeed, CS are everywhere in physics: condensed matter physics, atomic physics, nuclear and particle physics, quantum optics, dynamics—both quantum and classical potentials—quantum gravity, quantization and quantum information theory. On the other hand, CS have grown into a fully-fledged domain in mathematics, incorporating many tools such as group representations, POV measures, frames, holomorphic functions, orthogonal polynomials and so on. Interestingly enough, the majority of contributions to this special issue (22 out of 37) are mathematically minded, demonstrating the widespread interest CS have generated in various areas of mathematics. A third field related to CS (but almost not represented in the present collection) is signal processing. Indeed both Gabor analysis and wavelet analysis derive in the first place from CS theory, namely, CS associated to the Weyl–Heisenberg and the ax + b group, respectively. Here too, a tremendous development has taken place in recent years, another testimony to the richness of the notion of CS. We leave it to the jury of public opinion to judge whether the call for a special issue of the journal, devoted to coherent states, has been justified. References [1] Klauder J R and Skagerstam B S 1985 Coherent States—Applications in Physics and Mathematical Physics (Singapore: World Scientific) [2] Zhang W-M, Feng D H and Gilmore R 1990 Coherent states: theory and some applications Rev. Mod. Phys. 62 867–927 [3] Feng D H, Klauder J R and Strayer M (ed) 1994 Coherent States: Past, Present and Future (Singapore: World Scientific) [4] Ali S T, Antoine J-P, Gazeau J-P and Mueller U A 1995 Coherent states and their generalizations: a mathematical overview Rev. Math. Phys. 7 1013–104 [5] Perelomov A M 1986 Generalized Coherent States and Their Applications (New York: Springer) [6] Ali S T, Antoine J-P and Gazeau J-P 2000 Coherent States, Wavelets and Their Generalizations (New York: Springer) [7] Dodonov V V and Man'ko V I (ed) 2003 Theory of Nonclassical States of Light (London: Taylor & Francis) [8] Gazeau J-P 2009 Coherent States in Quantum Physics (Berlin: Wiley) [9] Combescure M and Robert D 2012 Coherent States and Applications in Mathematical Physics (New York: Springer) 1 A second edition of that volume is in preparation.

Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical•May 30, 2012•9 citations
We provide (partial) reconstruction formulas and discrete Fourier transforms for wave functions in standard Fock-Bargmann (holomorphic) phase-number representation from a finite number N of phase samples {θ k = 2πk/N } N -1 k=0 for a given mean number p of particles.The resulting Coherent State (CS) subsystem S = {|z k = p 1 2 e iθ k } is complete (a frame) for truncated Hilbert spaces (finite number of particles) and reconstruction formulas are exact.For an unbounded number of particles, S is "almost complete" (a pseudo-frame) and partial reconstruction formulas are provided along with an study of the accuracy of the approximation, which tends to be exact when p < N and/or N → ∞.
We provide (partial) reconstruction formulas and discrete Fourier transforms for wave functions in standard Fock-Bargmann (holomorphic) phase-number representation from a finite number NNN of phase samples {θk=2πk/N}k=0N−1\{θ_k=2πk/N\}_{k=0}^{N-1}{θk​=2πk/N}k=0N−1​ for a given mean number ppp of particles. The resulting Coherent State (CS) subsystem S={∣zk=p1/2eiθk>}{\cal S}=\{|z_k=p^{1/2}e^{iθ_k}>\}S={∣zk​=p1/2eiθk​>} is complete (a frame) for truncated Hilbert spaces (finite number of particles) and reconstruction formulas are exact. For an unbounded number of particles, S{\cal S}S is "almost complete" (a \textit{pseudo-frame}) and partial reconstruction formulas are provided along with an study of the accuracy of the approximation, which tends to be exact when $p
We investigate the completeness of coherent states subsystems with respect to several classes of states on rational lattices. Our main results show that the phase-space shifts of every finite linear combination of Hermite functions with respect to a rational lattice are complete in L^2(R), thus generalizing a remark of von Neumann (and proved by Bargmann, Perelomov et al.). An analogous result is proven for windows that factor into certain rational functions and the Gaussian. The results are also interesting from a conceptual point of view since they show a vast difference between the completeness and the frame property of a discrete set of coherent states.
In a first part we give a brief presentation of general Fock space setting to describe quantum field theory. Bosons are quantum particles with integer spin and have symmetric wave functions; Fermions are quantum particles with half-integer spin and are represented by anti-symmetric wave functions. The functional setting is given by a symmetric or anti-symmetric tensor product of Hilbert spaces. We describe these spaces and transformations between these spaces. We shall follow the references [23, 42]. Coherent states are defined by translating the vacuum states with the Weyl operators. This is easily done here for bosons. We shall see in the next chapter how to deal with fermions. In a second part we give an interesting application of bosonic coherent states to the study of the classical limit as ℏ↘0\hbar \searrow 0ℏ↘0 of non-relativistic boson systems with two body interaction in the neighborhood of a solution of the classical system (here the Hartree equation). The classical limit corresponds here to the mean-field limit as the number of particles goes to infinity. As we have done for finite systems, we use here Hepp’s method, which is a linearization procedure of the quantum Hamiltonian around the classical field. The fluctuations around this solution are controlled by a purely quadratic Hamiltonian. In a series of several important papers [114–116] Ginibre and Velo have proven an asymptotic expansion and remainder estimates for these quantum fluctuations. Finally, following the paper [225] one can show that, in the limit ℏ→0\hbar \rightarrow 0ℏ→0, the marginal distribution of the time-evolved coherent states tends in trace-norm to the projector onto the solution of the classical fields equation (Hartree equation) with a uniform remainder estimates in time.
Coherent states (CS) for non-Hermitian systems are introduced as eigenstates of pseudo-Hermitian boson annihilation operators. The set of these CS includes two subsets which form bi-normalized and bi-overcomplete system of states. The subsets consist of eigenstates of two complementary lowering pseudo-Hermitian boson operators. Explicit constructions are provided on the example of one-parameter family of pseudo-boson ladder operators. The wave functions of the eigenstates of the two complementary number operators, which form a bi-orthonormal system of Fock states, are found to be proportional to new polynomials, that are bi-orthogonal and can be regarded as a generalization of standard Hermite polynomials.
Coherent states (CS) for non-Hermitian systems are introduced as eigenstates of pseudo-Hermitian boson annihilation operators. The set of these CS includes two subsets which form bi-normalized and bi-overcomplete system of states. The subsets consist of eigenstates of two complementary lowering pseudo-Hermitian boson operators. Explicit constructions are provided on the example of one-parameter family of pseudo-boson ladder operators. The wave functions of the eigenstates of the two complementary number operators, which form a bi-orthonormal system of Fock states, are found to be proportional to new polynomials, that are bi-orthogonal and can be regarded as a generalization of standard Hermite polynomials.
Coherent states (CS) of the harmonic oscillator (also called canonical CS) were introduced in 1926 by Schrödinger in answer to a remark by Lorentz on the classical interpretation of the wave function. They were rediscovered in the early 1960s, first (somewhat implicitly) by Klauder in the context of a novel representation of quantum states, then by Glauber and Sudarshan for the description of coherence in lasers. Since then, CS have grown into an extremely rich domain that pervades almost every corner of physics and have also led to the development of several flourishing topics in mathematics. Along the way, a number of review articles have appeared in the literature, devoted to CS, notably the 1985 reprint volume of Klauder and Skagerstam [1], the 1990 review paper by Zhang et al [2], the 1993 Oak Ridge Conference [3] and the 1995 review paper by Ali et al [4]. Textbooks also have been published, among which one might mention the ground breaking text of Perelomov [5] focusing on the group-theoretical aspects, that of Ali et al [6] 1 analyzing systematically the mathematical structure beyond the group-theoretical approach and also the relation to wavelet analysis, that of Dodonov and Man'ko [7] mostly devoted to quantum optics, that of Gazeau [8] more oriented towards the physical, probabilistic and quantization aspects, and finally the very recent one by Combescure and Robert [9]. In retrospect, one can see that the development of CS has gone through a two-phase transition. First, the (simultaneous) discovery in 1972 by Gilmore and Perelomov that CS were rooted in group theory, then the realization that CS can be defined in a purely algebraic way, as an eigenvalue problem or by a series expansion (Malkin and Man'ko 1969, Barut and Girardello 1971, Gazeau and Klauder 1999; references to the original articles may be found in the textbooks quoted above). Both facts resulted in an explosive expansion of the CS literature. We thought, therefore, that the time was ripe to devote a special issue of Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical to CS. However, because of limitations of space and time, it would have been impossible to get a fully representative cross-section of papers, covering all the different facets of the subject. Consequently, we have selected 37 articles, including some by a few of the originators of the field. We thank all the authors for submitting their up-to-date thoughts on this fascinating subject. The contents of this special issue are subdivided into five categories: (1) review papers; (2) physics-oriented CS; (3) physics and quantum information; (4) mathematics, general topics; and (5) mathematics, particular problems. (1) Review papers We start with five review papers. The first paper, by Klauder, surveys the many possible applications of affine variables, both in classical and quantum physics. The second, by Sanders, proposes a grand tour of entangled CS, which are present in many fields, such as quantum optics, quantum information processing, etc. The next paper, by Rowe, surveys the field of vector CS and the attendant group representation problems (including induced representations). Then Oriti et al describe a particular class of CS relevant to (loop) quantum gravity. Finally, Combescure and Robert present a comprehensive review of fermionic CS, including all mathematical details. (2) Physics-oriented CS The six contributions in this section deal with specific physical problems: (i) Dajka–Luczka study Gazeau–Klauder cat states associated with a nonlinear Kerr oscillator, instead of the usual canonical CS leading to Schrödinger cat states; (ii) Angelova et al discuss squeezed CS associated with a 1D Morse potential, used in molecular physics; (iii) Bagrov et al study CS in a magnetic solenoid field and prove their completeness; (iv) Blasone–Jizba treat Nambu–Goldstone dynamics in spontaneously broken symmetries, using CS functional integrals; (v) Calixto et al describe accelerated relativistic particles in the context of spontaneous breakdown of conformal SU(2,2) symmetry, using SU(2,2) CS; and (vi) Mortazavi–Tavassoly study f -deformed charge CS and their physical properties (nonclassical features, sub-Poissonian statistical behavior, etc). (3) Physics and quantum information The second group of physically related CS contains four contributions with a distinct quantum information theoretic flavor. First, Thilagam describes the dynamical behavior of entanglement of a pair of qubits (excitons), using a CS basis. Next, Lavoie–de Guise study SU(3) intelligent states (i.e., minimal uncertainty states), of interest in the quantum information community. Then Muñoz constructs discrete CS for n qubits. Finally, Wagner–Kendon explore the continuous variable Deutsch–Jozsa algorithm known in quantum computing in a discrete formulation. (4) Mathematics, general topics In this subgroup, there are eight papers dealing with general properties of CS, independently of any particular system or application. A whole series discusses the interaction between CS and various mathematical objects: pseudodifferential operators and Weyl calculus (Unterberger); induced representations of the affine group and intertwining operators (Elmabrok–Hutnik); measure-free CS and reproducing kernels (Horzela–Szafraniec); extremal POV measures (Heinosaari–Pellonpää); Hilbert W*-modules (Bhattacharyya–Roy); Toeplitz operators (Hutníková–Hutník); and operator localization and homogeneous structure of nilpotent Lie groups (Kisil). In addition, Balazs et al consider multipliers for continuous frames, including CS or wavelet frames. (5) Mathematics, particular problems The second group of mathematically oriented papers contains 14 contributions, devoted to CS in particular systems. We start with a paper by Gilmore, which explores the (sometimes chaotic) evolution of atomic CS under a time-periodic driving field, using sphere maps S 2 → S 2 . Next, we include a paper on CS on the 2-sphere in a magnetic field (Hall–Mitchell); a paper on CS for a quantum particle on a Möbius strip (Cirilo–Lombardo); a discussion of quantization on the circle (Chadzitaskos et al ); SUSY CS for Pöschl–Teller potentials (Bergeron et al ); generalized Bargmann functions and von Neumann lattices (Vourdas et al ); partial reconstruction for a finite CS system, using the Fock–Bargmann representation (Calixto et al ); phase operators for SU(3) irreps, thus for finite quantum systems (de Guise); semiclassical CS in periodic potentials (Carles–Sparber); complexified CS with non-Hermitian Hamiltonians (Graefe–Schubert); minimal uncertainty states in the context of (semisimple) group representation theory (Oszmaniec); localization operators in the time-frequency domain, i.e., in Gabor analysis (Muzhikyan–Avanesyan); and, finally, two papers about fermionic CS (Daoud–Kibler and Trifonov). This brief description illustrates perfectly the extreme versatility of the CS concept. As already stressed, coherent states constitute nowadays a flourishing research topic, with applications to a wide spectrum of domains. Indeed, CS are everywhere in physics: condensed matter physics, atomic physics, nuclear and particle physics, quantum optics, dynamics—both quantum and classical potentials—quantum gravity, quantization and quantum information theory. On the other hand, CS have grown into a fully-fledged domain in mathematics, incorporating many tools such as group representations, POV measures, frames, holomorphic functions, orthogonal polynomials and so on. Interestingly enough, the majority of contributions to this special issue (22 out of 37) are mathematically minded, demonstrating the widespread interest CS have generated in various areas of mathematics. A third field related to CS (but almost not represented in the present collection) is signal processing. Indeed both Gabor analysis and wavelet analysis derive in the first place from CS theory, namely, CS associated to the Weyl–Heisenberg and the ax + b group, respectively. Here too, a tremendous development has taken place in recent years, another testimony to the richness of the notion of CS. We leave it to the jury of public opinion to judge whether the call for a special issue of the journal, devoted to coherent states, has been justified. References [1] Klauder J R and Skagerstam B S 1985 Coherent States—Applications in Physics and Mathematical Physics (Singapore: World Scientific) [2] Zhang W-M, Feng D H and Gilmore R 1990 Coherent states: theory and some applications Rev. Mod. Phys. 62 867–927 [3] Feng D H, Klauder J R and Strayer M (ed) 1994 Coherent States: Past, Present and Future (Singapore: World Scientific) [4] Ali S T, Antoine J-P, Gazeau J-P and Mueller U A 1995 Coherent states and their generalizations: a mathematical overview Rev. Math. Phys. 7 1013–104 [5] Perelomov A M 1986 Generalized Coherent States and Their Applications (New York: Springer) [6] Ali S T, Antoine J-P and Gazeau J-P 2000 Coherent States, Wavelets and Their Generalizations (New York: Springer) [7] Dodonov V V and Man'ko V I (ed) 2003 Theory of Nonclassical States of Light (London: Taylor & Francis) [8] Gazeau J-P 2009 Coherent States in Quantum Physics (Berlin: Wiley) [9] Combescure M and Robert D 2012 Coherent States and Applications in Mathematical Physics (New York: Springer) 1 A second edition of that volume is in preparation.