Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Coherent States

Bryan J. Dalton, John Jeffers, Stephen Mark Barnett

Published Nov 13, 2014• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract This chapter defines and determines the properties of the important (though non-physical) boson and fermion coherent states, which are specified in terms of c-number (bosons) or Grassmann (fermions) variables and their complex conjugates, and defined via unitary displacement operators acting on the vacuum state. Important non-orthogonality, overcompleteness and coherence properties of coherent states are obtained. Coherent states are shown to be eigenstates of mode annihilation operators, with eigenvalues given by the c-number or Grassmann variable specifying the state. Related (unnormalised) Bargmann states are defined, depending only on the variable and not its complex conjugate, and are used to obtain useful representations of physical states and canonical forms for operators in terms of Bargmann state projectors, as well as obtaining important results such as for traces of operator products in terms of phase space integrals. Mode creation operators acting on Bargmann states are shown as equivalent to differentiation.

DOI
10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199562749.003.0005

Related papers

Complex fermion coherent states

Tomáš Tyc, Brett Hamilton, Barry C. Sanders +1 more

Whereas boson coherent states provide an elegant, intuitive and useful representation, we show that the desirable features of boson coherent states do not carry over very well to fermion fields unless one is prepared to use exotic approaches such as Grassmann fields. Specifically, we identify four appealing properties of boson coherent states (eigenstate of annihilation operator, displaced vacuum state, preservation of product states under linear coupling, and factorization of correlators) and show that fermion coherent states, and approximations to fermion coherent states, defined over the complex field, do not behave well for any of these four criteria.

•Jul 18, 2005•0 citations

Phase Space Distributions

Bryan J. Dalton, John Jeffers, Stephen Mark Barnett

Abstract This chapter formally presents the representation of the quantum density operator by phase space distribution functions of phase space variables, leading to expressions for quantum correlation functions in terms of phase space integrals in which phase space variables for each mode—c-numbers for bosons, Grassmann numbers for fermions—replace mode annihilation and creation operators. The emphasis is on double-phase-space normally ordered (positive P type) normalised distribution functions, with distinct phase space variables for annihilation and creation operators; however, symmetrically ordered (Wigner type) distribution functions are also considered, along with unnormalised B distribution functions, which lead to phase space integrals for Fock state populations and coherences. Characteristic functions are first defined and then shown to be related to distribution functions via phase space integrals. The existence and symmetry properties of distribution functions—which are non-unique and non-analytic for bosons—is demonstrated using Bargmann coherent-state projectors.

•Nov 13, 2014•1 citation

States and Operators

Bryan J. Dalton, John Jeffers, Stephen Mark Barnett

Abstract This chapter sets out the second-quantisation treatment for systems of identical bosons or fermions. Key features such as the symmetrisation principle and super-selection rules are presented. Orthogonality and completeness requirements for mode functions are set out, and Fock states are defined in terms of mode occupancy, leading to the definitions of mode annihilation and creation operators and the determination of their commutation (bosons) or anticommutation (fermions) rules. Important two-mode states such as binomial states and relative-phase eigenstates are considered. Field creation and annihilation operators are defined and related to multi-particle position eigenstates. The Hamiltonian is expressed in terms of both mode operators and field operators, state dynamics being treated via Liouville–von Neumann, master or Matsubara equations for the density operator. Normal ordering is introduced and applied to expressions for the vacuum state projector. Multi-particle position probabilities are considered and related to normally ordered quantum correlation functions.

•Nov 13, 2014•0 citations

Fermionic Coherent States

Didier Robert, Monique Combescure

This chapter is an introduction to some computation techniques for fermionic states. After defining Grassmann algebras it is possible to get a classical analogue for the fermionic degrees of freedom in a quantum system. Following the basic work of Berezin [23, 26], we show that we can compute with Grassmann numbers as we do with complex numbers: derivation, integration, Fourier transform. After that we show that we have quantization formula for fermionic observables. In particular there exists a Moyal product formula. As an application we consider explicit computations for propagators with quadratic Hamiltonians in annihilation and creation operators.

Theoretical and mathematical physics•Jan 1, 2021•1 citation

Nonlinear fermions and coherent states

D A Trifonov

Nonlinear fermions of degree n ( n -fermions) are introduced as particles with creation and annihilation operators obeying the simple nonlinear anticommutation relation AA † + A † n A n = 1. The ( n + 1)th-order nilpotency of these operators follows from the existence of unique A -vacuum. Supposing appropriate ( n + 1)th-order nilpotent para-Grassmann variables and integration rules the sets of n -fermion number states, 'right' and 'left' ladder operator coherent states (CS) and displacement-operator-like CS are constructed. The ( n + 1) × ( n + 1) matrix realization of the related para-Grassmann algebra is provided. General ( n + 1)th-order nilpotent ladder operators of finite-dimensional systems are expressed as polynomials in terms of n -fermion operators. Overcomplete sets of (normalized) 'right' and 'left' eigenstates of such general ladder operators are constructed and their properties are briefly discussed. This article is part of a special issue of Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical devoted to 'Coherent states: mathematical and physical aspects'.

arXiv:1207.6242•Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical•May 30, 2012•8 citations

Coherent States

Lukong Cornelius Fai

This chapter shows how to construct path integral representation using a closure relation based on the eigenstates of the creation or the annihilation operators. It examines how coherent states are used to obtain a path integral representation of the partition function as well as calculating directly the trace defining the partition function. The chapter explores quantum field theory using the Feynman functional and diagrammatic techniques as foundations to apply Quantum Field Theory to a broad range of topics in physics. The minimum uncertainty wave packets for the harmonic oscillator were published as coherent states by Schrodinger. Coherent states have played an important role in many branches of physics and, in particular, quantum field theory and quantum optics. The most important property of coherent states is their overcompleteness in the Fock space, which implies that any vector of the Fock space can be expanded in terms of coherent states.

CRC Press eBooks•Jun 20, 2019•0 citations
Abstract This chapter defines and determines the properties of the important (though non-physical) boson and fermion coherent states, which are specified in terms of c-number (bosons) or Grassmann (fermions) variables and their complex conjugates, and defined via unitary displacement operators acting on the vacuum state. Important non-orthogonality, overcompleteness and coherence properties of coherent states are obtained. Coherent states are shown to be eigenstates of mode annihilation operators, with eigenvalues given by the c-number or Grassmann variable specifying the state. Related (unnormalised) Bargmann states are defined, depending only on the variable and not its complex conjugate, and are used to obtain useful representations of physical states and canonical forms for operators in terms of Bargmann state projectors, as well as obtaining important results such as for traces of operator products in terms of phase space integrals. Mode creation operators acting on Bargmann states are shown as equivalent to differentiation.
Whereas boson coherent states provide an elegant, intuitive and useful representation, we show that the desirable features of boson coherent states do not carry over very well to fermion fields unless one is prepared to use exotic approaches such as Grassmann fields. Specifically, we identify four appealing properties of boson coherent states (eigenstate of annihilation operator, displaced vacuum state, preservation of product states under linear coupling, and factorization of correlators) and show that fermion coherent states, and approximations to fermion coherent states, defined over the complex field, do not behave well for any of these four criteria.
Abstract This chapter formally presents the representation of the quantum density operator by phase space distribution functions of phase space variables, leading to expressions for quantum correlation functions in terms of phase space integrals in which phase space variables for each mode—c-numbers for bosons, Grassmann numbers for fermions—replace mode annihilation and creation operators. The emphasis is on double-phase-space normally ordered (positive P type) normalised distribution functions, with distinct phase space variables for annihilation and creation operators; however, symmetrically ordered (Wigner type) distribution functions are also considered, along with unnormalised B distribution functions, which lead to phase space integrals for Fock state populations and coherences. Characteristic functions are first defined and then shown to be related to distribution functions via phase space integrals. The existence and symmetry properties of distribution functions—which are non-unique and non-analytic for bosons—is demonstrated using Bargmann coherent-state projectors.
Abstract This chapter sets out the second-quantisation treatment for systems of identical bosons or fermions. Key features such as the symmetrisation principle and super-selection rules are presented. Orthogonality and completeness requirements for mode functions are set out, and Fock states are defined in terms of mode occupancy, leading to the definitions of mode annihilation and creation operators and the determination of their commutation (bosons) or anticommutation (fermions) rules. Important two-mode states such as binomial states and relative-phase eigenstates are considered. Field creation and annihilation operators are defined and related to multi-particle position eigenstates. The Hamiltonian is expressed in terms of both mode operators and field operators, state dynamics being treated via Liouville–von Neumann, master or Matsubara equations for the density operator. Normal ordering is introduced and applied to expressions for the vacuum state projector. Multi-particle position probabilities are considered and related to normally ordered quantum correlation functions.
This chapter is an introduction to some computation techniques for fermionic states. After defining Grassmann algebras it is possible to get a classical analogue for the fermionic degrees of freedom in a quantum system. Following the basic work of Berezin [23, 26], we show that we can compute with Grassmann numbers as we do with complex numbers: derivation, integration, Fourier transform. After that we show that we have quantization formula for fermionic observables. In particular there exists a Moyal product formula. As an application we consider explicit computations for propagators with quadratic Hamiltonians in annihilation and creation operators.
Nonlinear fermions of degree n ( n -fermions) are introduced as particles with creation and annihilation operators obeying the simple nonlinear anticommutation relation AA † + A † n A n = 1. The ( n + 1)th-order nilpotency of these operators follows from the existence of unique A -vacuum. Supposing appropriate ( n + 1)th-order nilpotent para-Grassmann variables and integration rules the sets of n -fermion number states, 'right' and 'left' ladder operator coherent states (CS) and displacement-operator-like CS are constructed. The ( n + 1) × ( n + 1) matrix realization of the related para-Grassmann algebra is provided. General ( n + 1)th-order nilpotent ladder operators of finite-dimensional systems are expressed as polynomials in terms of n -fermion operators. Overcomplete sets of (normalized) 'right' and 'left' eigenstates of such general ladder operators are constructed and their properties are briefly discussed. This article is part of a special issue of Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical devoted to 'Coherent states: mathematical and physical aspects'.
This chapter shows how to construct path integral representation using a closure relation based on the eigenstates of the creation or the annihilation operators. It examines how coherent states are used to obtain a path integral representation of the partition function as well as calculating directly the trace defining the partition function. The chapter explores quantum field theory using the Feynman functional and diagrammatic techniques as foundations to apply Quantum Field Theory to a broad range of topics in physics. The minimum uncertainty wave packets for the harmonic oscillator were published as coherent states by Schrodinger. Coherent states have played an important role in many branches of physics and, in particular, quantum field theory and quantum optics. The most important property of coherent states is their overcompleteness in the Fock space, which implies that any vector of the Fock space can be expanded in terms of coherent states.