Quantum Phase-space Distributions Research Articles

Some Classical Models of Particles and Quantum Gauge Theories

The article contains a review and new results of some mathematical models relevant to the interpretation of quantum mechanics and emulating well-known quantum gauge theories, such as scalar electrodynamics (Klein–Gordon–Maxwell electrodynamics), spinor electrodynamics (Dirac–Maxwell electrodynamics), etc. In these models, evolution is typically described by modified Maxwell equations. In the case of scalar electrodynamics, the scalar complex wave function can be made real by a gauge transformation, the wave function can be algebraically eliminated from the equations of scalar electrodynamics, and the resulting modified Maxwell equations describe the independent evolution of the electromagnetic field. Similar results were obtained for spinor electrodynamics. Three out of four components of the Dirac spinor can be algebraically eliminated from the Dirac equation, and the remaining component can be made real by a gauge transformation. A similar result was obtained for the Dirac equation in the Yang–Mills field. As quantum gauge theories play a central role in modern physics, the approach of this article may be sufficiently general. One-particle wave functions can be modeled as plasma-like collections of a large number of particles and antiparticles. This seems to enable the simulation of quantum phase-space distribution functions, such as the Wigner distribution function, which are not necessarily non-negative.

Study of kaon structure using the light-cone quark model

We investigate the various distributions explaining multi-dimensional structure of kaon at the level of its constituents ($u$ and $\bar{s}$) using the light-cone quark model. The overlap form of wavefunctions associated with the light-cone quark model is adopted for the calculations. The generalized parton distributions(GPDs)of $u$ and $\bar{s}$ quarks are presented for the case when the momentum transfer in the longitudinal direction is non-zero. The dependence of kaon GPDs is studied in terms of variation of quark longitudinal momentum fraction, momentum transfer in longitudinal direction and total momentum transfer to the final state of hadron. The transverse impact-parameter dependent GPDs are also studied by taking the Fourier transformation of general GPDs. Further, the quantum phase-space distributions; Wigner distributions are studied for the case of unpolarized, longitudinally-polarized and transversely-polarized parton in an unpolarized kaon. The Wigner distributions are analysed in the transverse impact-parameter plane, the transverse momentum plane and the mixed plane. Further, to get a complete picture of kaon in terms of its valence quarks, the variation of longitudinal momentum fraction carried by quark and antiquark in the generalized transverse momentum-dependent parton distributions (GTMDs) is studied for different values of transverse quark and antiquark momentum $({\bf k}_\perp)$ as well as for different values of momentum transferred to the kaon in transverse direction $({\bf \Delta}_\perp)$. This has been done for zero as well as non-zero skewedness representing respectively the absence and presence of momentum transfer to the final state of kaon in longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the possible spin-orbit correlation for $u$ and $\bar{s}$ in kaon is elaborated in context of Wigner distributions and GTMDs.

Quantum distributions for the plane rotator

Quantum phase-space distributions (Wigner functions) for the plane rotator are defined using wave functions expressed in both angle and angular momentum representations, with emphasis on the quantum superposition between the Fourier dual variable and the canonically conjugate coordinate. The standard quantization condition for angular momentum appears as necessary for consistency. It is shown that at finite temperature the time dependence of the quantum wave functions may provide classical sound waves. Non-thermal quantum entropy is associated with localization along the orbit.

Nonclassicality of Photon-Added Displaced Thermal State via Quantum Phase-Space Distributions

We introduce a new kind of nonclassical mixed state generated by adding arbitrary photons to a displaced thermal state, i.e., the photon-added displaced thermal state (PADTS), and obtain the normalization factor, which is simply related to two-variable Hermite polynomials. We also discuss the nonclassicality of the PADTS by considering quantum phase-space distributions. The results indicate that the value of the photon count statistics is maximum when the number of detected photons is equal to the number of added photons, and that the photon-added operation has a similar modulation effect with increasing displacement. Moreover, the negative volume of the Wigner function for the PADTS takes a maximal value for a specific photon-added number.

Anharmonic quantum mechanical systems do not feature phase space trajectories

Phase space dynamics in classical mechanics is described by transport along trajectories. Anharmonic quantum mechanical systems do not allow for a trajectory-based description of their phase space dynamics. This invalidates some approaches to quantum phase space studies. We first demonstrate the absence of trajectories in general terms. We then give an explicit proof for all quantum phase space distributions with negative values: we show that the generation of coherences in anharmonic quantum mechanical systems is responsible for the occurrence of singularities in their phase space velocity fields, and vice versa. This explains numerical problems repeatedly reported in the literature, and provides deeper insight into the nature of quantum phase space dynamics.

Quantum de Finetti theorems and mean-field theory from quantum phase space representations

We introduce the number-conserving quantum phase space description as a versatile tool to address fundamental aspects of quantum many-body systems. Using phase space methods we prove two alternative versions of the quantum de Finetti theorem for finite-dimensional bosonic quantum systems, which states that a reduced density matrix of a many-body quantum state can be approximated by a convex combination of product states where the error is proportional to the inverse particle number. This theorem provides a formal justification for the mean-field description of many-body quantum systems, as it shows that quantum correlations can be neglected for the calculation of few-body observables when the particle number is large. Furthermore we discuss methods to derive the exact evolution equations for quantum phase space distribution functions as well as upper and lower bounds for the ground state energy. As an important example, we consider the Bose–Hubbard model and show that the mean-field dynamics is given by a classical phase space flow equivalent to the discrete Gross–Pitaevskii equation.

Hermes results on 3D imaging of the nucleon

The study of the quantum phase-space distribution of quarks and gluons inside nucleons in terms of TMDs and GPDs has become, in the last decade, a cutting-edge research field in hadron physics. These non-perturbative objects, respectively measurable in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering and exclusive processes, allow to obtain 3-dimensional representations of the nucleon in the momentum and spatial coordinates as well as indirect insights into the still unknown parton orbital angular momentum. The HERMES experiment at HERA has been a precursor in this field. A selection of HERMES results sensitive to both TMDs and GPDs is presented.

Transform relations between squeezed coherent state representation and quantum phase space distribution functions

A new operator representation, called squeezed coherent state representation, is introduced since Husimi operator has the form of squeezed coherent state. We fisrt introduce its specific integral expression. When κ = 1, this representation is reduced to the usual P function. As an example, we calculate the squeezed coherent state representation for thermal field to illustrate a difference between P function and the squeezed coherent state representation. Especially, in order to better apply this representation to quantum optics, we reveal the integral transformations between the squeezed coherent state representation, respectively, and the following three functions: Wigner function, Q function, and Husimi function.

Bohmian and quantum phase space distribution expansions and approximations

Abstract Dias and Patra derived an expansion of the Wigner distribution and related it to the de Broglie–Bohm model. We show that the coefficients of the expansion are related to the conditional central moments and cumulants of the Wigner distribution. The even order cumulants depend only on the amplitude of the wave function and the odd order cumulants depend only on the phase. In addition, we give a different expansion of the Wigner distribution from which their expansion can be derived as a special case. Our expansion allows for different approximations for higher order terms. We also give expansions for the momentum representation. We show how the results are applicable to pulse propagation in a dispersive medium.

Probing parton orbital angular momentum in longitudinally polarized nucleon

While the total orbital angular momentum (OAM) of a definite quark flavor in a longitudinally-polarized nucleon can be obtained through a sum rule involving twist-two generalized parton distribution (GPDs), its distribution as a function of parton momentum in light-front coordinates is more complicated to define and measure because it involves intrinsically twist-three effects. In this paper, we consider two different parton OAM distributions. The first is manifestly gauge invariant, and its moments are local operators and calculable in lattice QCD. We show that it can potentially be measured through twist-three GPDs. The second is the much-debated canonical OAM distribution natural in free-field theory and light-cone gauge. We show the latter in light-cone gauge can also be related to twist-three GPDs as well as quantum phase-space Wigner distributions, both being measurable in high-energy experiments.

Non-Hydrogenic Rydberg Atoms in Magnetic Fields

The classical and quantal dynamics of non-hydrogenic Rydberg atoms in magnetic fields are investigated. Previous attempts to infer classical behaviour from quantum properties produced conflicting results: at low scaled energies (ε=−0.5) the nearest-neighbour statistics (NNS) were found to be at the chaotic (Wigner) limit while quantum phase-space distributions suggested a high degree of regularity. Here the classical limit is investigated directly by solving the equations of motion of the Diamagnetic Kepler problem (DKP) with an additional non-Coulombic model potential. It is found that typically trajectories are, over a long time-scale, ergodic. However over a shorter time-scale—in between collisions with the core—classical trajectories remain confined on the tori of the DKP. The origin of a well-known resonance in the NNS of hydrogen at ε= −0.316 is clarified by the comparison with the non-hydrogenic behaviour. However, the classical model only partially explains the quantum behaviour. The difficulties of quantizing such a system are discussed.

Local sampling of the quantum phase-space distribution of a continuous-wave optical beam

It is shown how the quantum phase-space distribution of a continuous-wave (cw) optical beam can be obtained independently at each point in phase space by a combination of unbalanced homodyne and balanced-heterodyne techniques. The unbalanced homodyning allows for the local sampling of phase space, whereas the heterodyne part, although introducing a loss of detection efficiency, provides a highly efficient reduction of 1/f excess noise that is required for the sampling of cw fields. The method complements well-known techniques for light pulses by providing a robust method for cw optical beams.

Tsallis entropy in phase-space quantum mechanics

In this paper we define the quantum version of the Tsallis entropy in terms of quantum phase space distribution functions. The quantum Tsallis entropy is compared with Kenfack's nonclassicality indicator, for different systems, such as the Schr\"odinger cat state, the thermal state, a superposition of the ground and the first excited number states, and the harmonic oscillator state. These comparisons indicate that the Wigner representation gives us complete information about the state with the nonextensivity parameter $q=1$, while the Husimi representation hides some information with the nonextensivity parameter $q<1$.

Multiphoton population transfer in systems violating the classical twist condition: A comparative study of separatrix crossing in phase space

Population transfer in Hamiltonian systems, such as between Rydberg states of atoms and vibrational modes in diatomic molecules, has been both experimentally and theoretically demonstrated. All these systems have the property that the classical frequency of the motion changes monotonically with energy. Referred to as the twist condition, this property makes it possible to transfer population both by chirping a driving field within a ladder climbing scheme and by adiabatically chirping through a multiphoton resonance connecting two bound states. In this paper, we demonstrate that the latter method for population transfer can still be made to work in a system which violates the classical twist condition. We use classical rigid rotor as an example system where the frequency changes monotonically with energy and compare the responsible separatrix crossing mechanism in phase space to that in a system which exhibits an extremum in the frequency-energy profile. We perform both one-dimensional classical and quantum simulations and find that the quantum phase-space distribution mirrors its corresponding classical counterpart.

Quantum phase-space distributions with compact support

Phase-space representations of quantum distributions such as the Wigner function and Kadanoff–Baym Green's functions do not have compact support which leads to difficulties for numerical and perturbative schemes in quantum transport simulations of nano-devices. We demonstrate that a useful complex-valued quantum phase-space distribution with compact support can be constructed. In many practical applications only the real part is required to obtain useful dynamical averages.

Behavior of the current in the asymmetric quantum multibaker map

Recently, a new mechanism leading to purely quantum directed transport in the asymmetric multibaker map has been presented. Here, we show a comprehensive characterization of the finite asymptotic current behavior with respect to the h value, the shape of the initial conditions, and the features of the spectrum. We have considered different degrees of asymmetry in these studies and we have also analyzed the classical and quantum phase-space distributions for short times in order to understand the mechanisms behind the generation of the directed current.

Quantum-to-classical transition in a system with mixed classical dynamics

We study how decoherence rules the quantum-classical transition of the kicked harmonic oscillator. The system presents classical dynamics that ranges from regular to strong chaotic behavior depending on the amplitude of the kicks. We show that for regular and mixed classical dynamics, and in the presence of noise, the distance between the classical and quantum phase space distributions is proportional to a single parameter chi identical to K Planck's (eff)(2)/4D(3/2) , which relates the effective Planck constant, Planck's (eff), to the kicking strength, K, and the diffusion constant, D. This relation between classical and quantum distributions is valid when chi<1 , a case that is always attainable in the semiclassical regime, independent of the value of the strength of noise given by D. Our results extend a recent study performed in the chaotic regime.

Quantum–classical correspondence on compact phase space

We propose to study the L2-norm distance between classical and quantum phase space distributions, where for the latter we choose the Wigner function, as a global phase space indicator of quantum–classical correspondence. For example, this quantity should be the key to understanding the correspondence between quantum and classical Loschmidt echoes. We concentrate on fully chaotic systems with compact (finite) classical phase space. By means of numerical simulations and heuristic arguments we find that the quantum–classical fidelity stays at one up to the Ehrenfest-type time scale, which is proportional to the logarithm of effective Planck constant, and decays exponentially with a maximal classical Lyapunov exponent, after that time.

Phase space tomography of classical and nonclassical vibrational states of atoms in an optical lattice

Atoms trapped in optical lattice have long been a system of interest in the AMO community, and in recent years much study has been devoted to both short- and long-range coherence in this system, as well as to its possible applications to quantum information processing. Here we demonstrate for the first time complete determination of the quantum phase space distributions for an ensemble of $^{85}Rb$ atoms in such a lattice, including a negative Wigner function for atoms in an inverted state.

GENERALIZED PARTON DISTRIBUTIONS

▪ Abstract This review explains why generalized parton distributions and the related quantum phase-space distributions are useful in exploring the quark and gluon structure of the proton and neutron. It starts with the physics of form factors and parton distributions. Then quantum phase-space distributions and their offspring are discussed. The properties of generalized parton distributions are described. In particular, I elucidate the relation to the spin structure of the nucleon. Finally, various methods to determine the new distributions are explained.