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Physics

Group SU(2) Irreducible Representations and Probability Distributions Describing the Density Matrices of Qubit States

Margarita A. Man’ko, Vladimir I. Man’ko

Published Jul 3, 2026• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The general problem of describing quantum states not only by wave functions and density operators but also by probability distribution functions is discussed in this paper. The qubit-state density-matrix elements expressed in terms of probability distributions are connected with the irreducible representation of group SU(2). The transform of the probability distributions corresponding to the unitary transform of the qubit state of the spin-1/2 system is obtained and expressed in terms of matrix elements of the group SU(2). The possibility to extend the introduced formalism to other quantum states is suggested. For qubit systems, the notion of density operators algebra and the relation with the probability representation of quantum states are discussed. The Schrödinger equation for qubit states is obtained as an equation for probabilities.

DOI
10.3390/physics8030057

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The general problem of describing quantum states not only by wave functions and density operators but also by probability distribution functions is discussed in this paper. The qubit-state density-matrix elements expressed in terms of probability distributions are connected with the irreducible representation of group SU(2). The transform of the probability distributions corresponding to the unitary transform of the qubit state of the spin-1/2 system is obtained and expressed in terms of matrix elements of the group SU(2). The possibility to extend the introduced formalism to other quantum states is suggested. For qubit systems, the notion of density operators algebra and the relation with the probability representation of quantum states are discussed. The Schrödinger equation for qubit states is obtained as an equation for probabilities.
In view of the probabilistic quantizer–dequantizer operators introduced, the qubit states (spin-1/2 particle states, two-level atom states) realizing the irreducible representation of the S U ( 2 ) symmetry group are identified with probability distributions (including the conditional ones) of classical-like dichotomic random variables. The dichotomic random variables are spin-1/2 particle projections m = ± 1 / 2 onto three perpendicular directions in the space. The invertible maps of qubit density operators onto fair probability distributions are constructed. In the suggested probability representation of quantum states, the Schrödinger and von Neumann equations for the state vectors and density operators are presented in explicit forms of the linear classical-like kinetic equations for the probability distributions of random variables. The star-product and quantizer–dequantizer formalisms are used to study the qubit properties; such formalisms are discussed for photon tomographic probability distribution and its correspondence to the Heisenberg–Weyl symmetry properties.
Review of probability representation of quantum mechanics where the system states are identified with fair probability distributions is presented. Examples of qubits and qutrits are given in detail. The explicit expressions of the qubit density matrices and qubit state vectors in terms of probabilities of dichotomic random variables are discussed. The wave function of a qubit state, and its phase which is not contained in the density matrix of the state, are expressed in terms of the dichotomic probabilities. The generalisation of the probability representation to the case of qudit state is considered. The Schrödinger–like equation for spectra of Hermitian and non Hermitian Hamiltonians is written in the new form of equation for the dichotomic probabilities.
The review of new formulation of conventional quantum mechanics where the quantum states are identified with probability distributions is presented. The invertible map of density operators and wave functions onto the probability distributions describing the quantum states in quantum mechanics is constructed both for systems with continuous variables and systems with discrete variables by using the Born's rule and recently suggested method of dequantizer-quantizer operators. Examples of discussed probability representations of qubits (spin-1/2, two-level atoms), harmonic oscillator and free particle are studied in detail. Schrödinger and von Neumann equations, as well as equations for the evolution of open systems, are written in the form of linear classical-like equations for the probability distributions determining the quantum system states. Relations to phase-space representation of quantum states (Wigner functions) with quantum tomography and classical mechanics are elucidated.
The quantizer–dequantizer method is employed. Using the construction of probability distributions describing density operators of a quantum system states, the connection between the Feynman path integral and the time evolution of the density operator (Landau density matrix) as well as the wave function of the stateconsidered. For single–mode systems with continuous variables, a tomographic propagator is introduced in the probability representation of quantum mechanics. An explicit expression for the probability in terms of the Green function of the Schrödinger equation is obtained. Equations for the Green functions defined by arbitrary integrals of motion are derived. Examples of probability distributions describing the evolution of state of a free particle, as well as states of systems with integrals of motion that depend on time (oscillator type) are discussed.
We present a new formulation of conventional quantum mechanics, in which the notion of a quantum state is identified via a fair probability distribution of the position measured in a reference frame of the phase space with rotated axes. In this formulation, the quantum evolution equation as well as the equation for finding energy levels are expressed as linear equations for the probability distributions that determine the quantum states. We also give the integral transforms relating the probability distribution (called the tomographic-probability distribution or the state tomogram) to the density matrix and the Wigner function and discuss their connection with the Radon transform. Qudit states are considered and the invertible map of the state density operators onto the probability vectors is discussed. The tomographic entropies and entropic uncertainty relations are reviewed. We demonstrate the uncertainty relations for the position and momentum and the entropic uncertainty relations in the tomographic-probability representation, which is suitable for an experimental check of the uncertainty relations.
The Jordan–Schwinger map allows us to go from a matrix representation of any arbitrary Lie algebra to an oscillator (bosonic) representation. We show that any Lie algebra can be considered for this map by expressing the algebra generators in terms of the oscillator creation and annihilation operators acting in the Hilbert space of quantum oscillator states. Then, to describe quantum states in the probability representation of quantum oscillator states, we express their density operators in terms of conditional probability distributions (symplectic tomograms) or Husimi-like probability distributions. We illustrate this general scheme by examples of qubit states (spin-1/2 su(2)-group states) and even and odd Schrödinger cat states related to the other representation of su(2)-algebra (spin-j representation). The two-mode coherent-state superpositions associated with cyclic groups are studied, using the Jordan–Schwinger map. This map allows us to visualize and compare different properties of the mentioned states. For this, the su(2) coherent states for different angular momenta j are used to define a Husimi-like Q representation. Some properties of these states are explicitly presented for the cyclic groups C2 and C3. Also, their use in quantum information and computing is mentioned.