Structures far below the sub-Planck scale in quantum phase space through superoscillations

Abstract

In 2001, Zurek derived the generic minimum scale $a_{Z}$ for the area of structures of Wigner's quantum phase distribution. Here we show by construction, using superoscillatory functions, that the Wigner distribution can locally show regular spotty structures on scales much below Zurek's scale $a_{Z}$. The price to pay for the presence of such structures is their exponential smallness. For the case we construct there is no increased interferometric sensitivity from the presence of patches with superoscillatory structure in phase-space.