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arXiv:math-ph/0012005 · Journal of Mathematical Physics

To what extent do the classical equations of motion determine the quantization scheme?

J. Cislo, J. Lopuszański

Published Nov 1, 2001• 12 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

A simple example of one particle moving in a (1+1) space–time is considered. As an example we take the harmonic oscillator. We confirm the statement that the classical equations of motion do not determine at all the quantization scheme. To this aim we use two inequivalent Lagrange functions, yielding Euler–Lagrange equations, having the same set of solutions. We present in detail the calculations of both cases to emphasize the differences occuring between them.

DOI
10.1063/1.1405125

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A simple example of one particle moving in a (1+1) space–time is considered. As an example we take the harmonic oscillator. We confirm the statement that the classical equations of motion do not determine at all the quantization scheme. To this aim we use two inequivalent Lagrange functions, yielding Euler–Lagrange equations, having the same set of solutions. We present in detail the calculations of both cases to emphasize the differences occuring between them.
One classical theory, as determined by an equation of motion or set of classical trajectories, can correspond to many unitarily {\em in}equivalent quantum theories upon canonical quantization. This arises from a remarkable ambiguity, not previously investigated, in the construction of the classical (and hence the quantized) Hamiltonian or Lagrangian. This ambiguity is illustrated for systems with one degree of freedom: An arbitrary function of the constants of motion can be introduced into this construction. For example, the nonrelativistic and relativistic free particles follow identical classical trajectories, but the Hamiltonians or Lagrangians, and the canonically quantized versions of these descriptions, are inequivalent. Inequivalent descriptions of other systems, such as the harmonic oscillator, are also readily obtained.
This work starts with classical equations of motion and sets very general quantization conditions (commutation relations). It is proved that these conditions imply that the equations of motion are equivalent to the Euler–Lagrange equations of a Lagrangian L. The result is a generalization of work by Feynman, recently reported by Dyson [Am. J. Phys. 58, 209–211 (1990)]. The Lagrangian L need not be unique. Examples are given, including classical equations that do not come from a Lagrangian and therefore cannot be quantized consistently.
The Classical Newton-Lagrange equations of motion represent the fundamental physical law of mechanics. Their traditional Lagrangian and/or Hamiltonian precursors when available are essential in the context of quantization. However, there are situations that lack Lagrangian and/or Hamiltonian settings. This paper discusses a description of classical dynamics and presents some irresponsible speculations about its quantization by introducing a certain canonical two-form ?. By its construction ? embodies kinetic energy and forces acting within the system (not their potential). A new type of variational principle employing differential two-form ? is introduced. Variation is performed over “umbilical surfaces“ instead of system histories. It provides correct Newton-Lagrange equations of motion. The quantization is inspired by the Feynman path integral approach. The quintessence is to rearrange it into an “umbilical world-sheet“ functional integral in accordance with the proposed variational principle. In the case of potential-generated forces, the new approach reduces to the standard quantum mechanics. As an example, Quantum Mechanics with friction is analyzed in detail.
Noncanonical quantization schemes have been proposed in quantum physics long time ago. Recalling some of them I associate these investigations to the quantum mechanical im-plications of the canonically inequivalent Hamilton formula-tions of classical Newtonian dynamics. As the simplest illus-tration of such alternative Hamiltonian descriptions I consider one dimensional system of two particles interacting harmoni-cally. Description of the motion of their center of mass is stan-dard and guarantees the Galilean covariance but the internal motion is described as a noncanonical oscillator for which the Hamiltonian and the total energy are not related by a simple proportionality. Alternative Hamiltonians lead to alternative Poisson structures which may be considered as classical ana-logues of the noncanonical quantum commutation rules. Gen-Concepts of Physics, Vol. I (2004) 11 erated alternative quantizations are consistent with the same Heisenberg equations of motion, i.e., they satisfy the Wigner principle of quantization. For the one dimensional harmonic oscillator the simplest noncanonical algebraic description is given in terms of the Lie algebra so(p, q), p+ q = 3. In such a case the Hamiltonian is still a linear function while the energy is a quadratic polynomial of the main quantum number. This leads to nonstandard termodynamical properties obeyed by such a noncanonical oscillator. The 3-dimensional harmonic oscillator also has a noncanonical description given in terms of the simple Lie algebra, so(p, q), p+ q = 5 in the case under consideration. The most important physical consequence of such a description is the noncommutativity of the coordinate operators, interpreted to be an implication of the noncommu-tative geometry of the underlying spacetime.
It is well known that to quantize any dynamical system it is necessary for a generator of the classical motion to exist in the form of a Hamiltonian function. It is shown, by using the example of a damped harmonic oscillator, that a particular class of inequivalent classical Hamiltonians exist which make quantization of the system ambiguous. Hence it is conclued that it is not sufficient for the Hamiltonian to merely generate the motion, but it must also be necessarily related via a canonical transformation to the total energy of the system.