Physical Systems In Quantum Mechanics Research Articles

Framework for resource quantification in infinite-dimensional general probabilistic theories

Resource theories provide a general framework for the characterization of properties of physical systems in quantum mechanics and beyond. Here, we introduce methods for the quantification of resources in general probabilistic theories (GPTs), focusing in particular on the technical issues associated with infinite-dimensional state spaces. We define a universal resource quantifier based on the robustness measure, and show it to admit a direct operational meaning: in any GPT, it quantifies the advantage that a given resource state enables in channel discrimination tasks over all resourceless states. We show that the robustness acts as a faithful and strongly monotonic measure in any resource theory described by a convex and closed set of free states, and can be computed through a convex conic optimization problem. Specializing to continuous-variable quantum mechanics, we obtain additional bounds and relations, allowing an efficient computation of the measure and comparison with other monotones. We demonstrate applications of the robustness to several resources of physical relevance: optical nonclassicality, entanglement, genuine non-Gaussianity, and coherence. In particular, we establish exact expressions for various classes of states, including Fock states and squeezed states in the resource theory of nonclassicality and general pure states in the resource theory of entanglement, as well as tight bounds applicable in general cases.

Infinitesimal and infinite numbers as an approach to quantum mechanics

Non-Archimedean mathematics is an approach based on fields which contain infinitesimal and infinite elements. Within this approach, we construct a space of a particular class of generalized functions, ultrafunctions. The space of ultrafunctions can be used as a richer framework for a description of a physical system in quantum mechanics. In this paper, we provide a discussion of the space of ultrafunctions and its advantages in the applications of quantum mechanics, particularly for the Schrödinger equation for a Hamiltonian with the delta function potential.

The solution of differential equation with Hulthen potential in curved space

The solution of the Schrödinger equation for a physical system in quantum mechanics is of great importance, because the knowledge of wave- function and energy spectrum contain all possible information about the physical properties of a system. In this paper, we have give solution of the Schrödinger equation in three dimensional curved space with Hulthen potential on the positive constant curvature. Then we achieve the wave-function and energy spectrum for the Hulthen potential. In order to solve the corresponding Schrödinger equation, we use of Nikiforov-Uvarov (N.U) method [1]. The N.U method is based on solving the second- order linear differential equations by reducing to a generalized equation of hypergeometric type.

The physical interpretation of partial traces: Two nonstandard views

Mixed states are introduced in physics in order to express our ignorance about the actual state of a physical system and are represented in standard quantum mechanics (QM) by density operators. Such operators also appear if one considers a (pure) entangled state of a compound system $\Omega$ and performs partial traces on the projection operator representing it. Yet, they do not represent mixed states (or proper mixtures) of the subsystems in this case, but improper mixtures, since the coefficients in the convex sums expressing them never bear the ignorance interpretation. Hence, one cannot attribute states to the subsystems of a compound physical system in QM (subentity problem). We discuss here two alternative proposals that can be worked out within the Brussels and Lecce approaches. We firstly summarize the general framework provided by the former, which suggests that improper mixtures could be considered as new pure states. Then, we show that improper mixtures can be considered as true (yet nonpure) states also according to the latter. The two proposals seem to be compatible notwithstanding their different terminologies.

Non-Orthogonal Core Projectors for Modal Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics

Modal interpretations constitute a particular approach to associating dynamical variables with physical systems in quantum mechanics. Given the “quantum logical” constraints that are typically adopted by such interpretations, only certain sets of variables can be taken to be simultaneously definite-valued, and only certain sets of values can be ascribed to these variables at a given time. Moreover, each allowable set of variables and values can be uniquely specified by a single “core” projector in the Hilbert space associated with the system. In general, the core projector can be one of several possibilities at a given time. In most previous modal interpretations, the different possible core projectors have formed an orthogonal set. This paper investigates the possibility of adopting a non-orthogonal set. It is demonstrated that such non-orthogonality is required if measurements for which the outcome can be predicted with probability 1 are to reveal the pre-existing value of the variable measured, an assumption which has traditionally constituted a strong motivation for the modal approach. The existing framework for modal interpretations is generalized to explicitly accommodate non-orthogonal core projectors.

The determination of the past and the future of a physical system in quantum mechanics

The determination of the past and the future of a physical system are complementary aims of measurements. An optimal determination of the past of a system can be achieved by an informationally complete set of physical quantities. Such a set is always strongly noncommutative. An optimal determination of the future of a physical system can be obtained by a Boolean complete set of quantities. The two aims can be reconciled to a reasonable degree with using unsharp measurements.