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

arXiv:quant-ph/0208163 · American Journal of Physics

Deformation quantization in the teaching of quantum mechanics

Allen C. Hirshfeld, Peter Henselder

Published May 1, 2002• 101 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We discuss the deformation quantization approach for the teaching of quantum mechanics. This approach has certain conceptual advantages that make its consideration worthwhile. In particular, it sheds new light on the relation between classical and quantum mechanics. We demonstrate how it can be used to solve specific problems and clarify its relation to conventional quantization and path integral techniques. We also discuss its recent applications in relativistic quantum field theory.

DOI
10.1119/1.1450573

Related papers

Path Integral Quantization

Mark S. Swanson

This book is a self-contained and concise introduction to the techniques and applications of path integral quantization and functional techniques, aimed at students and practitioners. The first half of the text focuses on quantum mechanics, including a review of the action formulation of classical mechanics and quantum mechanics in the Dirac operator and state formalism, and further examination of the path integral. The second part examines relativistic field theories, reviewing special relativity, as well as derivation of the path integral representation of the vacuum transition element for quantized scalar, spinor, and vector fields from the coherent state representation of the respective field theories

Institute of Physics eBooks•Jul 29, 2020•1 citation

Critical Review of Path Integral Formulation

Takehisa Fujita

The path integral formulation in quantum mechanics corresponds to the first quantization since it is just to rewrite the quantum mechanical amplitude into many dimensional integrations over discretized coordinates $x_n$. However, the path integral expression cannot be connected to the dynamics of classical mechanics, even though, superficially, there is some similarity between them. Further, the field theory path integral in terms of many dimensional integrations over fields does not correspond to the field quantization. We clarify the essential difference between Feynman's original formulation of path integral in QED and the modern version of the path integral method prevailing in lattice field theory calculations, and show that the former can make a correct second quantization while the latter cannot quantize fields at all and its physical meaning is unknown.

arXiv:0801.1933•Jan 13, 2008•1 citation

Path integral quantization

Michele Maggiore

Abstract Until now we have used canonical quantization, that is, we have promoted the classical fields to quantum operators. In this chapter we present an alternative formulation of quantum mechanics and of QFT, due to Feynman (who elaborated on work of Dirac) and known as path integral quantization, in which the coordinates in quantum mechanics (QM), and the fields in QFT, remain ordinary functions rather than operators.

•Nov 25, 2004•1 citation

Quantum Mechanics

Shabnam Siddiqui

Quantum mechanics is one of the most challenging subjects to learn. It is challenging because quantum phenomenon is counterintuitive, and the mathematics used to explain such a phenomenon is very abstract, and difficult to grasp. This textbook is an attempt to overcome these challenges. Every chapter presents quantum ideas step- by- step in a structured way with a comparison between quantum and classical concepts. It provides a clear distinction between classical and quantum logic. Conceptual questions are provided after every important section so that the reader can test their understanding at every step. Such an approach aids in preventing misconceptions. Problem solving is not restricted to solving differential equations and integration. But it requires to systematically and creatively analyze a problem, to apply the new and powerful concepts for finding a solution and to understand the physical meaning of the solution. The tutorials on special topics are an effort to teach problem solving by actively engaging the reader in a thinking process, to apply the concepts and to understand the physical meaning of the solution. The simulations are provided for some of the topics. The simulations aid in the visualization of the quantum phenomenon, and for meaningful understanding of the mathematics. This approach may lead to development of "quantum mechanical intuition "as well as learning mathematical techniques for problem solving. Most importantly, the book is not flooded with numerous topics that makes the reader confused and distracted, rather the most important topics are discussed at a deeper level. The understanding of quantum mechanics is incomplete without understanding the early ideas and experiments that lead to the development of the quantum theory. Thus, the first two chapters of the book are dedicated to such topics. The key features of this book are: A simplified, structured, and step-by-step introduction to quantum mechanics. The simplification is attained through use of two-level system, step- by- step discussion of important topics in a simplified language at a deeper level, analogies, and visualization using illustrations and simulations A systematic arrangement of topics, and numerous worked- out examples. The presentation of the structure in the mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics provides clarity in understanding complicated and abstract mathematics. It also helps to understand the distinction between the quantum mechanical and classical approaches Conceptual questions at the end of every important section. The conceptual questions can be used in a classroom as a point of discussion between an instructor and students Tutorials on special topics. Simulations on special topics aid in the visualization of the physical phenomenon, and demonstration of the application of mathematics An in-depth discussion of the wave-particle duality, measurement problem, and their philosophical implications in Chapter 2 provides an understanding of the broader meaning of quantum mechanics

CRC Press eBooks•Oct 10, 2018•1 citation

A short course on quantum mechanics and methods of quantization

Elisa Ercolessi

These notes collect the lectures given by the author to the "XXIII International Workshop on Geometry and Physics" held in Granada (Spain) in September 2014. The first part of this paper aims at introducing a mathematical oriented reader to the realm of Quantum Mechanics (QM) and then to present the geometric structures that underline the mathematical formalism of QM which, contrary to what is usually done in Classical Mechanics (CM), are usually not taught in introductory courses. The mathematics related to Hilbert spaces and Differential Geometry are assumed to be known by the reader. In the second part, we concentrate on some quantization procedures, that are founded on the geometric structures of QM — as we have described them in the first part — and represent the ones that are more operatively used in modern theoretical physics. We will discuss first the so-called Coherent State Approach which, mainly complemented by "Feynman Path Integral Technique", is the method which is most widely used in quantum field theory. Finally, we will describe the "Weyl Quantization Approach" which is at the origin of modern tomographic techniques, originally used in optics and now in quantum information theory.

International Journal of Geometric Methods in Modern Physics•Jun 2, 2015•4 citations

Structure behind Mechanics

Ono, Toshihiko

This paper proposes a basic theory on physical reality, and a new foundation for quantum mechanics and classical mechanics. It does not only solve the problem of the arbitrariness on the operator ordering for the quantization procedure, but also clarifies how the classical-limit occurs. It further compares the new theory with the known quantization methods, and proposes a self-consistent interpretation for quantum mechanics. It also provides the internal structure inducing half-integer spin of a particle, the sense of the regularization in the quantum field theory, the quantization of a phenomenological system, the causality in quantum mechanics and the origin of the thermodynamic irreversibility under the new insight.

arXiv:quant-ph/9906130•Jun 30, 1999•0 citations
We discuss the deformation quantization approach for the teaching of quantum mechanics. This approach has certain conceptual advantages that make its consideration worthwhile. In particular, it sheds new light on the relation between classical and quantum mechanics. We demonstrate how it can be used to solve specific problems and clarify its relation to conventional quantization and path integral techniques. We also discuss its recent applications in relativistic quantum field theory.
This book is a self-contained and concise introduction to the techniques and applications of path integral quantization and functional techniques, aimed at students and practitioners. The first half of the text focuses on quantum mechanics, including a review of the action formulation of classical mechanics and quantum mechanics in the Dirac operator and state formalism, and further examination of the path integral. The second part examines relativistic field theories, reviewing special relativity, as well as derivation of the path integral representation of the vacuum transition element for quantized scalar, spinor, and vector fields from the coherent state representation of the respective field theories
The path integral formulation in quantum mechanics corresponds to the first quantization since it is just to rewrite the quantum mechanical amplitude into many dimensional integrations over discretized coordinates xnx_nxn​. However, the path integral expression cannot be connected to the dynamics of classical mechanics, even though, superficially, there is some similarity between them. Further, the field theory path integral in terms of many dimensional integrations over fields does not correspond to the field quantization. We clarify the essential difference between Feynman's original formulation of path integral in QED and the modern version of the path integral method prevailing in lattice field theory calculations, and show that the former can make a correct second quantization while the latter cannot quantize fields at all and its physical meaning is unknown.
Quantum mechanics is one of the most challenging subjects to learn. It is challenging because quantum phenomenon is counterintuitive, and the mathematics used to explain such a phenomenon is very abstract, and difficult to grasp. This textbook is an attempt to overcome these challenges. Every chapter presents quantum ideas step- by- step in a structured way with a comparison between quantum and classical concepts. It provides a clear distinction between classical and quantum logic. Conceptual questions are provided after every important section so that the reader can test their understanding at every step. Such an approach aids in preventing misconceptions. Problem solving is not restricted to solving differential equations and integration. But it requires to systematically and creatively analyze a problem, to apply the new and powerful concepts for finding a solution and to understand the physical meaning of the solution. The tutorials on special topics are an effort to teach problem solving by actively engaging the reader in a thinking process, to apply the concepts and to understand the physical meaning of the solution. The simulations are provided for some of the topics. The simulations aid in the visualization of the quantum phenomenon, and for meaningful understanding of the mathematics. This approach may lead to development of "quantum mechanical intuition "as well as learning mathematical techniques for problem solving. Most importantly, the book is not flooded with numerous topics that makes the reader confused and distracted, rather the most important topics are discussed at a deeper level. The understanding of quantum mechanics is incomplete without understanding the early ideas and experiments that lead to the development of the quantum theory. Thus, the first two chapters of the book are dedicated to such topics. The key features of this book are: A simplified, structured, and step-by-step introduction to quantum mechanics. The simplification is attained through use of two-level system, step- by- step discussion of important topics in a simplified language at a deeper level, analogies, and visualization using illustrations and simulations A systematic arrangement of topics, and numerous worked- out examples. The presentation of the structure in the mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics provides clarity in understanding complicated and abstract mathematics. It also helps to understand the distinction between the quantum mechanical and classical approaches Conceptual questions at the end of every important section. The conceptual questions can be used in a classroom as a point of discussion between an instructor and students Tutorials on special topics. Simulations on special topics aid in the visualization of the physical phenomenon, and demonstration of the application of mathematics An in-depth discussion of the wave-particle duality, measurement problem, and their philosophical implications in Chapter 2 provides an understanding of the broader meaning of quantum mechanics
These notes collect the lectures given by the author to the "XXIII International Workshop on Geometry and Physics" held in Granada (Spain) in September 2014. The first part of this paper aims at introducing a mathematical oriented reader to the realm of Quantum Mechanics (QM) and then to present the geometric structures that underline the mathematical formalism of QM which, contrary to what is usually done in Classical Mechanics (CM), are usually not taught in introductory courses. The mathematics related to Hilbert spaces and Differential Geometry are assumed to be known by the reader. In the second part, we concentrate on some quantization procedures, that are founded on the geometric structures of QM — as we have described them in the first part — and represent the ones that are more operatively used in modern theoretical physics. We will discuss first the so-called Coherent State Approach which, mainly complemented by "Feynman Path Integral Technique", is the method which is most widely used in quantum field theory. Finally, we will describe the "Weyl Quantization Approach" which is at the origin of modern tomographic techniques, originally used in optics and now in quantum information theory.
This paper proposes a basic theory on physical reality, and a new foundation for quantum mechanics and classical mechanics. It does not only solve the problem of the arbitrariness on the operator ordering for the quantization procedure, but also clarifies how the classical-limit occurs. It further compares the new theory with the known quantization methods, and proposes a self-consistent interpretation for quantum mechanics. It also provides the internal structure inducing half-integer spin of a particle, the sense of the regularization in the quantum field theory, the quantization of a phenomenological system, the causality in quantum mechanics and the origin of the thermodynamic irreversibility under the new insight.