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arXiv:quant-ph/9505003 · Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics

Schrödinger problem, Lévy processes, and noise in relativistic quantum mechanics

Piotr Garbaczewski, John R. Klauder, Robert Olkiewicz

Published May 1, 1995• 41 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

The main purpose of the paper is an essentially probabilistic analysis of relativistic quantum mechanics. It is based on the assumption that whenever probability distributions arise, there exists a stochastic process that is either responsible for the temporal evolution of a given measure or preserves the measure in the stationary case. Our departure point is the so-called Schr\"odinger problem of probabilistic evolution, which provides for a unique Markov stochastic interpolation between any given pair of boundary probability densities for a process covering a fixed, finite duration of time, provided we have decided a priori what kind of primordial dynamical semigroup transition mechanism is involved. In the nonrelativistic theory, including quantum mechanics, Feynman-Kac-like kernels are the building blocks for suitable transition probability densities of the process. In the standard ``free'' case (Feynman-Kac potential equal to zero) the familiar Wiener noise is recovered. In the framework of the Schr\"odinger problem, the ``free noise'' can also be extended to any infinitely divisible probability law, as covered by the L\'evy-Khintchine formula. Since the relativistic Hamiltonians \ensuremath{\Vert}\ensuremath{\nabla}\ensuremath{\Vert} and \ensuremath{\surd}-\ensuremath{\Delta}+${\mathit{m}}^{2}$ -m are known to generate such laws, we focus on them for the analysis of probabilistic phenomena, which are shown to be associated with the relativistic wave (D'Alembert) and matter-wave (Klein-Gordon) equations, respectively. We show that such stochastic processes exist and are spatial jump processes. In general, in the presence of external potentials, they do not share the Markov property, except for stationary situations. A concrete example of the pseudodifferential Cauchy-Schr\"odinger evolution is analyzed in detail. The relativistic covariance of related wave equations is exploited to demonstrate how the associated stochastic jump processes comply with the principles of special relativity.

DOI
10.1103/physreve.51.4114

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The main purpose of the paper is an essentially probabilistic analysis of relativistic quantum mechanics. It is based on the assumption that whenever probability distributions arise, there exists a stochastic process that is either responsible for the temporal evolution of a given measure or preserves the measure in the stationary case. Our departure point is the so-called Schr"odinger problem of probabilistic evolution, which provides for a unique Markov stochastic interpolation between any given pair of boundary probability densities for a process covering a fixed, finite duration of time, provided we have decided a priori what kind of primordial dynamical semigroup transition mechanism is involved. In the nonrelativistic theory, including quantum mechanics, Feynman-Kac-like kernels are the building blocks for suitable transition probability densities of the process. In the standard free'' case (Feynman-Kac potential equal to zero) the familiar Wiener noise is recovered. In the framework of the Schr\"odinger problem, the free noise'' can also be extended to any infinitely divisible probability law, as covered by the L'evy-Khintchine formula. Since the relativistic Hamiltonians \ensuremath{\Vert}\ensuremath{\nabla}\ensuremath{\Vert} and \ensuremath{\surd}-\ensuremath{\Delta}+m2{\mathit{m}}^{2}m2 -m are known to generate such laws, we focus on them for the analysis of probabilistic phenomena, which are shown to be associated with the relativistic wave (D'Alembert) and matter-wave (Klein-Gordon) equations, respectively. We show that such stochastic processes exist and are spatial jump processes. In general, in the presence of external potentials, they do not share the Markov property, except for stationary situations. A concrete example of the pseudodifferential Cauchy-Schr"odinger evolution is analyzed in detail. The relativistic covariance of related wave equations is exploited to demonstrate how the associated stochastic jump processes comply with the principles of special relativity.
The main purpose of the paper is an essentially probabilistic analysis of relativistic quantum mechanics. It is based on the assumption that whenever probability distributions arise, there exists a stochastic process that is either responsible for temporal evolution of a given measure or preserves the measure in the stationary case. Our departure point is the so-called Schrödinger problem of probabilistic evolution, which provides for a unique Markov stochastic interpolation between any given pair of boundary probability densities for a process covering a fixed, finite duration of time, provided we have decided a priori what kind of primordial dynamical semigroup transition mechanism is involved. In the nonrelativistic theory, including quantum mechanics, Feyman-Kac-like kernels are the building blocks for suitable transition probability densities of the process. In the standard "free" case (Feynman-Kac potential equal to zero) the familiar Wiener noise is recovered. In the framework of the Schrödinger problem, the "free noise" can also be extended to any infinitely divisible probability law, as covered by the Lévy-Khintchine formula. Since the relativistic Hamiltonians ∣∇∣|\nabla |∣∇∣
We invert the well-developed strategy of studying dynamics in terms of probability densities and investigate the problem of the most likely microscopic propagation scenario, which is consistent with the given priori (possibly phenomenological) input-output statistics data for the process taking place in a finite-time interval. A solution of this so-called Schr\"odinger problem is known to provide an adequate probabilistic framework for the measure preserving dynamics which is Markovian. We pay particular attention to the subclass of nonstationary solutions, determined by unitary-wave-packet evolution (Schr\"odinger wave mechanics). The existence of the pertinent Markovian diffusion is known on general grounds, but no explicit demonstration (through detailed computational arguments) until now was available even in the simplest cases. We give a definitive probabilistic description of the free quantum dynamics as a stochastic process solving Schr\"odinger's interpolation problem. The Markov diffusion arised as a particular case singled out by a suitable Feynman-Kac semigroup.
Starting from the forward and backward infinitesimal generators of bilateral, time-homogeneous Markov processes, the self-adjoint Hamiltonians of the generalized Schrödinger equations are first introduced by means of suitable Doob transformations. Then, by broadening with the aid of the Dirichlet forms, the results of the Nelson stochastic mechanics, we prove that it is possible to associate bilateral, and time-homogeneous Markov processes to the wave functions stationary solutions of our generalized Schrödinger equations. Particular attention is then paid to the special case of the Lévy-Schrödinger (LS) equations and to their associated Lévy-type Markov processes, and to a few examples of Cauchy background noise.
This paper is a review of path integral representations for semigroups {exp(-t H_r/ħ)}{t≥0} where H_r's are relativistic quantum Hamiltonians. We consider three different cases: in the first one Hr is a relativistic Schrödinger operator, in the second is the Hamiltonian associated to Klein-Gordon equation and in the third is that coming from the Dirac one. The paths are trajectories of diffusion processes and, for the Dirac case, they differ from previous constructions based on jump Markov processes. All formulas describe one relativistic particle in an external static electromagnetic field therefore they are relativistic versions of the Feymann-Kac representation for Schrödinger semigroups.
There are two stochastic descriptions of relativistic quantum spinless particles. In the first one, suggested by Feynman's path integral approach to Klein-Gordon propagator, the main ingredients are diffusions in Minkowski space parametrized by some kind of proper time. The second description, on the contrary, is based upon jumb Markov processes giving the space position of the particle in the sense of Newton and Wigner with the time as parameter. In this paper we bridge the gap between these different probabilistic scenarios by constructing the space jump processes by means of space-time diffusions. We give some aplications to the nonrelativistic limit of the hamiltonian semigroup t→exp−(t/¬h)H where H=√−c 2 ¬h 2 Δ+(M 2 c 4 /¬h 2 )−Mc 2 +V(.) Il y a deux descriptions stochastiques de la mecanique quantique relativiste pour une particule sans spin. Dans la premiere, suggere par la theorie de Feynman, les ingredients principaux sont des diffusions dans l'espace de Minkowski parametrise par une sorte de temps propre. La deuxieme description, par contre, emploie des processus de Markov a sauts donnant la position de la particule dans l'espace au sens de Newton et Wigner avec le temps comme parametre. Notre papier va relier les deux prescriptions probabilistes car nous construisons les processus a sauts dans l'espace par les diffusions dans l'espace-temps. Nous donnons aussi des applications a l'etude de la limite non relativiste du semi-groupe hamiltonien t→exp−(t/¬h)H ou H=√−c 2 ¬h 2 Δ+(M 2 c 4 /¬h 2 )−Mc 2 +V(.)
Relativity and quantum mechanics are two cornerstones of modern physics, yet their unification within a single-particle path integral and a dynamical explanation of quantum measurement remain unresolved. Historically, these two problems have been treated as separate, but here we show they are intimately linked. We construct a self-consistent relativistic path integral that yields the Dirac and other standard wave equations under differetialable potentials. More importantly, we find that this propagator contains a latent, nonlocal correlation that is activated by realistic electromagnetic noise. This correlation unifies unitary evolution and wave-function collapse into a single dynamical mechanism: while differentiable potentials preserve unitary driving, nondifferentiable noise activates a bounded-martingale stochastic process that induces collapse. We show that the characteristics of quantum measurement are naturally derived from this stochastic dynamical process, thereby turning the axioms of quantum measurement from postulates into dynamical consequences. Furthermore, averaging this stochastic evolution over the noise record recovers the Gorini-Kossakowski-Sudarshan-Lindblad (GKSL) master equation, providing a first-principles derivation of decoherence free from the method of Born-Markov approximation. Extending this approach to composite systems establishes a stochastic foundation for effective non-Hermitian descriptions while preserving relativistic causality. Finally, because the noise spectrum governs the collapse process, engineering ``colored'' noise can actively accelerate or steer state reduction, suggesting new routes toward fast qubit reset and enhanced quantum control.