This paper defines path integrals in phase space without using a time-division approach followed by a limiting process, thereby generalizing a similar procedure used in configuration space. This is useful since the path integral approach cannot always be formulated in configuration space (e.g., when the Hamiltonian is arbitrary) but can always be formulated in phase space. The most general Gaussian measure, absorbing the quadratic portion of the functional to be integrated, is constructed, and large classes of path integrals are evaluated with respect to it. Applications are given to the perturbation expansion and the semiclassical (WKB) expansion for arbitrary Hamiltonians.This paper defines path integrals in phase space without using a time-division approach followed by a limiting process, thereby generalizing a similar procedure used in configuration space. This is useful since the path integral approach cannot always be formulated in configuration space (e.g., when the Hamiltonian is arbitrary) but can always be formulated in phase space. The most general Gaussian measure, absorbing the quadratic portion of the functional to be integrated, is constructed, and large classes of path integrals are evaluated with respect to it. Applications are given to the perturbation expansion and the semiclassical (WKB) expansion for arbitrary Hamiltonians.

Journal of Mathematical PhysicsJan 1, 197854 citations

The semiclassical expansion

Cécile DeWitt-Morette

Annals of PhysicsApr 1, 1976143 citations

Wigner-Kirkwood expansions

Y. Fujiwara, T. A. Osborn, S. F. J. Wilk

This paper constructs a general method for obtaining series expansions of the logarithm of the configuration function $F$ . For an $N$ -body quantum system with Hamiltonian $H$ and inverse temperature $\ensuremath{\beta}$, the configuration function is the ratio of the exact to the free coordinate-space heat kernels: $F=\frac{〈\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{x}}|{e}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\beta}H}|{\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{x}}}^{\ensuremath{'}}〉}{〈\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{x}}|{e}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\beta}{H}_{0}}|{\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{x}}}^{\ensuremath{'}}〉}$. Expansion of $\mathrm{ln}F$ in Planck's constant $h$ leads to the semiclassical expansion of Wigner and Kirkwood, whereas the series in the variable $\ensuremath{\beta}$ provides the high-temperature expansion. By the introduction of an appropriate linked-graph method, it is shown how to obtain explicit formulas for the coefficient functions that enter either of these two series. Further, it is established that the same results can be derived by using the Feynman-Kac path-integral description of the partition function.This paper constructs a general method for obtaining series expansions of the logarithm of the configuration function $F$. For an $N$-body quantum system with Hamiltonian $H$ and inverse temperature $\ensuremath{\beta}$, the configuration function is the ratio of the exact to the free coordinate-space heat kernels: $F=\frac{〈\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{x}}|{e}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\beta}H}|{\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{x}}}^{\ensuremath{'}}〉}{〈\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{x}}|{e}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\beta}{H}_{0}}|{\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{x}}}^{\ensuremath{'}}〉}$. Expansion of $\mathrm{ln}F$ in Planck's constant $h$ leads to the semiclassical expansion of Wigner and Kirkwood, whereas the series in the variable $\ensuremath{\beta}$ provides the high-temperature expansion. By the introduction of an appropriate linked-graph method, it is shown how to obtain explicit formulas for the coefficient functions that enter either of these two series. Further, it is established that the same results can be derived by using the Feynman-Kac path-integral description of the partition function.

Physical Review AJan 1, 1982100 citations

Wigner-Kirkwood expansion for semi-infinite quantum fluids

Ladislav Šamaj, B. Jancovici

For infinite (bulk) quantum fluids of particles interacting via pairwise sufficiently smooth interactions, the Wigner-Kirkwood formalism provides a semiclassical expansion of the Boltzmann density in configuration space in even powers of the thermal de Broglie wavelength $\lambda$ . This result permits one to generate an analogous $\lambda$ -expansion for the bulk free energy and many-body densities. The present paper brings a technically nontrivial generalization of the Wigner-Kirkwood technique to semi-infinite quantum fluids, constrained by a plane hard wall impenetrable to particles. In contrast to the bulk case, the resulting Boltzmann density involves also position-dependent terms of type $\exp(-2x^2/\lambda^2)$ ( $x$ denotes the distance from the wall boundary) which are non-analytic in $\lambda$ . Under some condition, the analyticity in $\lambda$ is restored by integrating the Boltzmann density over configuration space; however, in contrast to the bulk free energy, the semiclassical expansion of the surface part of the free energy (surface tension) contains odd powers of $\lambda$ , too. Explicit expressions for the leading quantum corrections in the presence of the boundary are given for the one-body and two-body densities. As model systems for explicit calculations, we use Coulomb fluids, in particular the one-component plasma defined in the $\nu$ -dimensional (integer $\nu\ge 2$ ) space.For infinite (bulk) quantum fluids of particles interacting via pairwise sufficiently smooth interactions, the Wigner-Kirkwood formalism provides a semiclassical expansion of the Boltzmann density in configuration space in even powers of the thermal de Broglie wavelength $\lambda$. This result permits one to generate an analogous $\lambda$-expansion for the bulk free energy and many-body densities. The present paper brings a technically nontrivial generalization of the Wigner-Kirkwood technique to semi-infinite quantum fluids, constrained by a plane hard wall impenetrable to particles. In contrast to the bulk case, the resulting Boltzmann density involves also position-dependent terms of type $\exp(-2x^2/\lambda^2)$ ($x$ denotes the distance from the wall boundary) which are non-analytic in $\lambda$. Under some condition, the analyticity in $\lambda$ is restored by integrating the Boltzmann density over configuration space; however, in contrast to the bulk free energy, the semiclassical expansion of the surface part of the free energy (surface tension) contains odd powers of $\lambda$, too. Explicit expressions for the leading quantum corrections in the presence of the boundary are given for the one-body and two-body densities. As model systems for explicit calculations, we use Coulomb fluids, in particular the one-component plasma defined in the $\nu$-dimensional (integer $\nu\ge 2$) space.

Jan 1, 20073 citations

Perturbation Theory, Semiclassical

Andrea Sacchetti

Springer eBooksOct 19, 20110 citations

This paper constructs a general method for obtaining series expansions of the logarithm of the configuration function

F

. For an

N

-body quantum system with Hamiltonian

H

and inverse temperature $\ensuremath{\beta}$, the configuration function is the ratio of the exact to the free coordinate-space heat kernels: $F=\frac{〈\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{x}}|{e}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\beta}H}|{\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{x}}}^{\ensuremath{'}}〉}{〈\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{x}}|{e}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\beta}{H}_{0}}|{\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{x}}}^{\ensuremath{'}}〉}$. Expansion of

\mathrm{ln}F

in Planck's constant

h

leads to the semiclassical expansion of Wigner and Kirkwood, whereas the series in the variable $\ensuremath{\beta}$ provides the high-temperature expansion. By the introduction of an appropriate linked-graph method, it is shown how to obtain explicit formulas for the coefficient functions that enter either of these two series. Further, it is established that the same results can be derived by using the Feynman-Kac path-integral description of the partition function.

\lambda

. This result permits one to generate an analogous

\lambda

-expansion for the bulk free energy and many-body densities. The present paper brings a technically nontrivial generalization of the Wigner-Kirkwood technique to semi-infinite quantum fluids, constrained by a plane hard wall impenetrable to particles. In contrast to the bulk case, the resulting Boltzmann density involves also position-dependent terms of type

\exp(-2x^2/\lambda^2)

(

x

denotes the distance from the wall boundary) which are non-analytic in

\lambda

. Under some condition, the analyticity in

\lambda

is restored by integrating the Boltzmann density over configuration space; however, in contrast to the bulk free energy, the semiclassical expansion of the surface part of the free energy (surface tension) contains odd powers of

\lambda

, too. Explicit expressions for the leading quantum corrections in the presence of the boundary are given for the one-body and two-body densities. As model systems for explicit calculations, we use Coulomb fluids, in particular the one-component plasma defined in the

\nu

-dimensional (integer

\nu\ge 2

) space.