Quantum Distribution Function Research Articles

The Wigner function of a semiconfined harmonic oscillator model with a position-dependent effective mass

We propose a phase-space representation concept in terms of the Wigner function for a quantum harmonic oscillator model that exhibits the semiconfinement effect through its mass varying with the position. The new method is used to compute the Wigner distribution function exactly for such a semiconfinement quantum system. This method suppresses the divergence of the integrand in the definition of the quantum distribution function and leads to the computation of its analytical expressions for the stationary states of the semiconfined oscillator model. For this quantum system, both the presence and absence of the applied external homogenous field are studied. Obtained exact expressions of the Wigner distribution function are expressed through the Bessel function of the first kind and Laguerre polynomials. Furthermore, some of the special cases and limits are discussed in detail.

Entropy production in a longitudinally expanding Yang–Mills field with use of the Husimi function: semiclassical approximation

Abstract We investigate the possible thermalization process of the highly occupied and weakly coupled Yang–Mills fields expanding along the beam axis through an evaluation of the entropy, particle number, and pressure anisotropy. The time evolution of the system is calculated by solving the equation of motion for the Wigner function in the semiclassical approximation with initial conditions mimicking the glasma. For the evaluation of the entropy, we adopt Husimi–Wehrl (HW) entropy, which is obtained by using the Husimi function, a positive semidefinite quantum distribution function given by smearing the Wigner function. By numerical calculations at g = 0.1 and 0.2, the entropy production is found to occur together with the particle creation in two distinct stages: In the first stage, the particle number and entropy at low longitudinal momenta grow rapidly. In the second stage, the particle number and entropy of higher longitudinal momentum modes show a slower increase. The pressure anisotropy remains in our simulation and implies that the system is still out of equilibrium.

Complex eigenvalues in Kuryshkin-Wodkiewicz quantum mechanics

One of the possible versions of quantum mechanics, known as Kuryshkin-Wodkiewicz quantum mechanics, is considered. In this version, the quantum distribution function is positive, but, as a retribution for this, the von Neumann quantization rule is replaced by a more complicated rule, in which an observed value AA is associated with a pseudodifferential operator O^(A){\hat{O}(A)}. This version is an example of a dissipative quantum system and, therefore, it was expected that the eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian should have imaginary parts. However, the discrete spectrum of the Hamiltonian of a hydrogen-like atom in this theory turned out to be real-valued. In this paper, we propose the following explanation for this paradox. It is traditionally assumed that in some state ψ{\psi} the quantity AA is equal to λ{\lambda} if ψ{\psi} is an eigenfunction of the operator O^(A){\hat{O}(A)}. In this case, the variance O^((A-λ)2)ψ{\hat{O}((A-\lambda)2)\psi} is zero in the standard version of quantum mechanics, but nonzero in Kuryshkins mechanics. Therefore, it is possible to consider such a range of values and states corresponding to them for which the variance O^((A-λ)2){\hat{O}((A-\lambda)2)} is zero. The spectrum of the quadratic pencil O^(A2)-2O^(A)λ+λ2E^{\hat{O}(A2)-2\hat{O}(A)\lambda + \lambda 2 \hat{E}} is studied by the methods of perturbation theory under the assumption of small variance D^(A)=O^(A2)-O^(A)2{\hat{D}(A) = \hat{O}(A2) - \hat{O}(A) 2} of the observable AA. It is shown that in the neighborhood of the real eigenvalue λ{\lambda} of the operator O^(A){\hat{O}(A)}, there are two eigenvalues of the operator pencil, which differ in the first order of perturbation theory by ±i⟨D^⟩{\pm i \sqrt{\langle \hat{D} \rangle}}.

Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics: Boltzmann's versus Planck's State Definitions and Counting †.

During the physical foundation of his radiation formula in his December 1900 talk and subsequent 1901 article, Planck refers to Boltzmann’s 1877 combinatorial-probabilistic treatment and obtains his quantum distribution function, while Boltzmann did not. For this, Boltzmann’s memoirs are usually ascribed to classical statistical mechanics. Agreeing with Bach, it is shown that Boltzmann’s 1868 and 1877 calculations can lead to a Planckian distribution function, where those of 1868 are even closer to Planck than that of 1877. Boltzmann’s and Planck’s calculations are compared based on Bach’s three-level scheme ‘configuration–occupation–occupancy’. Special attention is paid to the concepts of interchangeability and the indistinguishability of particles and states. In contrast to Bach, the level of exposition is most elementary. I hope to make Boltzmann’s work better known in English and to remove misunderstandings in the literature.

Landau–Kelly representation of statistical thermodynamics of a quantum plasma and electron emission from metals

We have investigated the influence of a strong magnetic field on various aspects of a quantum Fermi plasma. Due to the strong magnetic field, the distribution function becomes anisotropic. First, we consider non-degenerate quantum, Landau and Kelly distribution function. It was found that the adiabatic equation is similar to the adiabatic equation for a Maxwell distribution function, when we include the magnetic field in the energy expression. Using the Kelly distribution for a degenerate, quantum Fermi gas, parallel and perpendicular components of the pressure were derived. It was found that perpendicular component of pressure never becomes zero and three-dimensional system always stay three-dimensional. Lastly, we investigated electron emission from metals and have shown the influence of the magnetic field. We calculated thermionic emission, the so-called Richardson effect. In addition, we investigate the influence of external electromagnetic radiation on the electron current density (Hallwachs effect) from metals.

Calculation of Transition Probabilities in Quantum Mechanics with a Nonnegative Distribution Function in the Maple Computer Algebra System

In the Maple computer algebra system, an algorithm is implemented for symbolic and numerical computations for finding the transition probabilities for hydrogen-like atoms in quantum mechanics with a nonnegative quantum distribution function (QDF). Quantum mechanics with a nonnegative QDF is equivalent to the standard theory of quantum measurements. However, the presence in it of a probabilistic quantum theory in the phase space gives additional possibilities for calculating and interpreting the results of quantum measurements. The methods of computer algebra seem to be necessary for the relevant calculations. The calculation of the matrix elements of operators is necessary for determining the energy levels, oscillator strengths, and radiation transition parameters for atoms and ions with an open shell. Transition probabilities are calculated and compared with experimental data. They are calculated using the Galerkin method with the Sturm functions of the hydrogen atom as coordinate functions. The verification of the model showed good agreement between the calculated and experimentally measured transition probabilities.

Quantum Distribution Functions for Dusty Plasma in Saturn’s Rings by Using Curvilinear Coordinates

This study aims to estimate the quantum Bogoliubov-Born-Green-Kirkwood-Yvon (BBGKY) hierarchy in curvilinear coordinates. We used the results to calculate the quantum binary and triplet distribution functions in curvilinear coordinates. The analytical form of the quantum distribution functions was obtained for dusty plasma in Saturn’s rings model. We use particles-in-cell (PIC) simulations to find a visualization of dusty three-component plasma phase space in curvilinear coordinates. Our results were compared with others.

Entropy production and isotropization in Yang–Mills theory using a quantum distribution function

We investigate thermalization process in relativistic heavy ion collisions in terms of the Husimi-Wehrl (HW) entropy defined with the Husimi function, a quantum distribution function in a phase space. We calculate the semiclassical time evolution of the HW entropy in Yang-Mills field theory with the phenomenological initial field configuration known as the McLerran-Venugopalan model in a non-expanding geometry, which has instabilty triggered by initial field fluctuations. HW-entropy production implies the thermalization of the system and it reflects the underlying dynamics such as chaoticity and instability. By comparing the production rate with the Kolmogorov-Sina\"i rate, we find that the HW entropy production rate is significantly larger than that expected from chaoticity. We also show that the HW entropy is finally saturated when the system reaches a quasi-stationary state. The saturation time of the HW entropy is comparable with that of pressure isotropization, which is around $1$ fm/c in the present calculation in the non-expanding geometry.

Equation of state, universal profiles, scaling and macroscopic quantum effects in warm dark matter galaxies

The Thomas–Fermi approach to galaxy structure determines self-consistently and non-linearly the gravitational potential of the fermionic warm dark matter (WDM) particles given their quantum distribution function f(E). This semiclassical framework accounts for the quantum nature and high number of DM particles, properly describing gravitational bounded and quantum macroscopic systems as neutron stars, white dwarfs and WDM galaxies. We express the main galaxy magnitudes as the halo radius r_h , mass M_h , velocity dispersion and phase space density in terms of the surface density which is important to confront to observations. From these expressions we derive the general equation of state for galaxies, i.e., the relation between pressure and density, and provide its analytic expression. Two regimes clearly show up: (1) Large diluted galaxies for M_h gtrsim 2.3 times 10^6 ; M_odot and effective temperatures T_0 > 0.017 K described by the classical self-gravitating WDM Boltzman gas with a space-dependent perfect gas equation of state, and (2) Compact dwarf galaxies for 1.6 times 10^6 ; M_odot gtrsim M_h gtrsim M_{h,mathrm{min}} simeq 3.10 times 10^4 ; (2 , {mathrm{keV}}/m)^{! ! frac{16}{5}} ; M_odot , ; T_0 < 0.011 K described by the quantum fermionic WDM regime with a steeper equation of state close to the degenerate state. In particular, the T_0 = 0 degenerate or extreme quantum limit yields the most compact and smallest galaxy. In the diluted regime, the halo radius r_h , the squared velocity v^2(r_h) and the temperature T_0 turn to exhibit square-root of M_h scaling laws. The normalized density profiles rho (r)/rho (0) and the normalized velocity profiles v^2(r)/ v^2(0) are universal functions of r/r_h reflecting the WDM perfect gas behavior in this regime. These theoretical results contrasted to robust and independent sets of galaxy data remarkably reproduce the observations. For the small galaxies, 10^6 gtrsim M_h ge M_{h,mathrm{min}} , the equation of state is galaxy mass dependent and the density and velocity profiles are not anymore universal, accounting to the quantum physics of the self-gravitating WDM fermions in the compact regime (near, but not at, the degenerate state). It would be extremely interesting to dispose of dwarf galaxy observations which could check these quantum effects.

Entropy production from chaoticity in Yang-Mills field theory with use of the Husimi function

We investigate possible entropy production in Yang-Mills (YM) field theory by using a quantum distribution function called Husimi function $f_{\rm H}(A, E, t)$ for YM field, which is given by a coarse graining of Wigner function and non-negative. We calculate the Husimi-Wehrl (HW) entropy $S_{\rm HW}(t)=-{\rm Tr}f_H \log f_H$ defined as an integral over the phase-space, for which two adaptations of the test-particle method are used combined with Monte-Carlo method. We utilize the semiclassical approximation to obtain the time evolution of the distribution functions of the YM field, which is known to show a chaotic behavior in the classical limit. We also make a simplification of the multi-dimensional phase-space integrals by making a product ansatz for the Husimi function, which is found to give a 10-20 per cent over estimate of the HW entropy for a quantum system with a few degrees of freedom. We show that the quantum YM theory does exhibit the entropy production, and that the entropy production rate agrees with the sum of positive Lyapunov exponents or the Kolmogorov-Sinai entropy, suggesting that the chaoticity of the classical YM field causes the entropy production in the quantum YM theory.

Historical Prospective: Boltzmann’s versus Planck’s State Counting—Why Boltzmann Did Not Arrive at Planck’s Distribution Law

Why does Planck (1900), referring to Boltzmann’s 1877 probabilistic treatment, obtain his quantum distribution function while Boltzmann did not? To answer this question, both treatments are compared on the basis of Boltzmann’s 1868 three-level scheme (configuration—occupation—occupancy). Some calculations by Planck (1900, 1901, and 1913) and Einstein (1907) are also sketched. For obtaining a quantum distribution, it is crucial to stick with a discrete energy spectrum and to make the limit transitions to infinity at the right place. For correct state counting, the concept of interchangeability of particles is superior to that of indistinguishability.

Spectroscopic probes of isolated nonequilibrium quantum matter: Quantum quenches, Floquet states, and distribution functions

We investigate radio-frequency (rf) spectroscopy, metal-to-superconductor tunneling, and ARPES as probes of isolated out-of-equilibrium quantum systems, and examine the crucial role played by the nonequilibrium distribution function. As an example, we focus on the induced topological time-periodic (Floquet) phase in a 2D $p+ip$ superfluid, following an instantaneous quench of the coupling strength. The post-quench Cooper pairs occupy a linear combination of "ground" and "excited" Floquet states, with coefficients determined by the distribution function. While the Floquet bandstructure exhibits a single avoided crossing relative to the equilibrium case, the distribution function shows a population inversion of the Floquet bands at low energies. For a realization in ultracold atoms, these two features compensate, producing a bulk average rf signal that is well-captured by a quasi-equilibrium approximation. In particular, the rf spectrum shows a robust gap. The single crossing occurs because the quench-induced Floquet phase belongs to a particular class of soliton dynamics for the BCS equation. The population inversion is a consequence of this, and ensures the conservation of the pseudospin winding number. As a comparison, we compute the rf signal when only the lower Floquet band is occupied; in this case, the gap disappears for strong quenches. The tunneling signal in a solid state realization is ignorant of the distribution function, and can show wildly different behaviors. We also examine rf, tunneling, and ARPES for weak quenches, such that the resulting topological steady-state is characterized by a constant nonequilibrium order parameter. In a system with a boundary, tunneling reveals the Majorana edge states. However, the local rf signal due to the edge states is suppressed by a factor of the inverse system size, and is spatially deconfined throughout the bulk of the sample.

Quantum kinetics of spinning neutral particles: General theory and Spin wave dispersion

Plasma physics gives an example of physical system of particles with the long-range interaction. At the small velocities of particles we can consider the plasmas approximately as the systems of particles with the Coulomb interaction. The Coulomb interaction is an isotropic interaction. Systems of spinning neutral particles are involved in the spin–spin interaction, which is a long-range anisotropic interparticle interaction. Therefore they can reveal more rich properties than the Coulomb plasmas. Furthermore, to study the systems of spinning particles we can develop the kinetic and hydrodynamic methods similar to the methods applying in the plasma physics. We derive the kinetic equations by a new method, which is the generalization of the many-particle quantum hydrodynamics. Obtained set of the kinetic equations is truncated, so we have a closed set of two equations. First of them is the kinetic equation for the quantum distribution function. The second equation is the equation for the spin-distribution function, which describes the spin kinetic evolution and contributes to the time evolution of the distribution function. Our method allows one to obtain equations for both the three dimensional systems of particles and the low dimensional systems. Hence we consider the spin waves in the three- and the two-dimensional systems of neutral spinning particles.

Quantum Kinetics of Neutral Particles with Spin: Spin Wave Spectrum in a One-Dimensional System of Dipoles

A derivation of the quantum kinetic equations for a system of particles with spin is presented. This derivation is based on the definition of the quantum distribution function corresponding to the classical microscopic distribution function of point particles, constructed with Dirac delta functions. Linear excitations in a onedimensional system of neutral particles with spin are considered on the basis of the developed apparatus. The dispersion of the spin waves in a system of degenerate fermions is calculated analytically.

Plasma equilibrium in a semiclassical plasma due to non-resonant wave particle interactions

A nonresonant perturbative approach has been utilized to probe the modification of the equilibrium plasma distribution function due to plasma interaction with externally launched high-frequency large-amplitude RF waves in the presence of quantum effects. The quantum distribution function from the complete Wigner equation has been obtained for a high-frequency wave with constant amplitude. For waves with weak spatial or temporal modulation, the equilibrium distribution function has been obtained by solving the Wigner equation as an initial or boundary-value problem and retaining only lowest-order quantum effects. In the dipole approximation, a higher order diffusion has been identified in addition to quantum modified ponderomotive and quasilinear diffusion effects. Additional terms of the Wigner equation give the impression of higher order diffusion effects in the system.

Optimized hierarchical equations of motion theory for Drude dissipation and efficient implementation to nonlinear spectroscopies

Hierarchical equations of motion theory for Drude dissipation is optimized, with a convenient convergence criterion proposed in advance of numerical propagations. The theoretical construction is on the basis of a Padé spectrum decomposition that has been qualified to be the best sum-over-poles scheme for quantum distribution function. The resulting hierarchical dynamics under the a priori convergence criterion are exemplified with a benchmark spin-boson system, and also the transient absorption and related coherent two-dimensional spectroscopy of a model exciton dimer system. We combine the present theory with several advanced techniques such as the block hierarchical dynamics in mixed Heisenberg-Schrödinger picture and the on-the-fly filtering algorithm for the efficient evaluation of third-order optical response functions.

Padé spectrum decompositions of quantum distribution functions and optimal hierarchical equations of motion construction for quantum open systems

Padé spectrum decomposition is an optimal sum-over-poles expansion scheme of Fermi function and Bose function [J. Hu, R. X. Xu, and Y. J. Yan, J. Chem. Phys. 133, 101106 (2010)]. In this work, we report two additional members to this family, from which the best among all sum-over-poles methods could be chosen for different cases of application. Methods are developed for determining these three Padé spectrum decomposition expansions at machine precision via simple algorithms. We exemplify the applications of present development with optimal construction of hierarchical equations-of-motion formulations for nonperturbative quantum dissipation and quantum transport dynamics. Numerical demonstrations are given for two systems. One is the transient transport current to an interacting quantum-dots system, together with the involved high-order co-tunneling dynamics. Another is the non-Markovian dynamics of a spin-boson system.

Classical and quantum description of electron trapping during the Cherenkov beam instability in plasma

A nonlinear quantum theory of the Cherenkov instability of a nonrelativistic monoenergetic electron beam in a cold plasma is constructed. It is shown that the instability of a low-density beam is almost purely quantum in nature and results from the emission of one quantum of a plasma wave—a plasmon—by the beam electrons. The number of emitted (and absorbed) plasmons increases with beam density, so, in the limit of high-density beams, the instability becomes a classical Cherenkov beam instability in plasma. Some analytic solutions and estimates are found, detailed numerical results are obtained, and the evolution of the quantum distribution function of the beam electrons in different regimes of the beam instability is investigated.

The Number-Phase and Position-Momentum Distribution Functions

We present the relationship between the number-phase and position-momentum quantum distribution functions using the extended Liouville space. We also propose an extended Ban’s number-phase distribution function in the extended space, and show that the other distribution functions can be expressed in terms of Ban’s function. Moreover, two new number-phase distribution functions, the Born-Jordan and the Cohen distribution functions, are given in a unified manner. Subject Index: 060

Distribution function in quantal cumulant dynamics

We have derived a quantum distribution function in terms of cumulants that are expectation values of a (anti)symmetric-ordered product of position and momentum fluctuation operators. A second-order approximation leads a Gaussian distribution function, which is positive definite and has proper marginals so that the Shannon entropy can be evaluated.