Three paths toward the quantum angle operator

We examine mathematical questions around angle (or phase) operator associated with a number operator through a short list of basic requirements. We implement three methods of construction of quantum angle. The first one is based on operator theory and parallels the definition of angle for the upper half-circle through its cosine and completed by a sign inversion. The two other methods are integral quantization generalizing in a certain sense the Berezin–Klauder approaches. One method pertains to Weyl–Heisenberg integral quantization of the plane viewed as the phase space of the motion on the line. It depends on a family of “weight” functions on the plane. The third method rests upon coherent state quantization of the cylinder viewed as the phase space of the motion on the circle. The construction of these coherent states depends on a family of probability distributions on the line.     

Phase space representation of quantum dynamics

We discuss a phase space representation of quantum dynamics of systems with many degrees of freedom. This representation is based on a perturbative expansion in quantum fluctuations around one of the classical limits. We explicitly analyze expansions around three such limits: (i) corpuscular or Newtonian limit in the coordinate-momentum representation, (ii) wave or Gross-Pitaevskii limit for interacting bosons in the coherent state representation, and (iii) Bloch limit for the spin systems. We discuss both the semiclassical (truncated Wigner) approximation and further quantum corrections appearing in the form of either stochastic quantum jumps along the classical trajectories or the nonlinear response to such jumps. We also discuss how quantum jumps naturally emerge in the analysis of non-equal time correlation functions. This representation of quantum dynamics is closely related to the phase space methods based on the Wigner-Weyl quantization and to the Keldysh technique. We show how such concepts as the Wigner function, Weyl symbol, Moyal product, Bopp operators, and others automatically emerge from the Feynmann's path integral representation of the evolution in the Heisenberg representation. We illustrate the applicability of this expansion with various examples mostly in the context of cold atom systems including sine-Gordon model, one- and two-dimensional Bose-Hubbard model, Dicke model and others.     

Quantization of Teichmüller Spaces and the Quantum Dilogarithm

The Teichmüller space of punctured surfaces with the Weil–Petersson symplectic structure and the action of the mapping class group is realized as the Hamiltonian reduction of a finite-dimensional symplectic space where the mapping class group acts by symplectic rational transformations. Upon quantization, the corresponding (projective) representation of the mapping class group is generated by the quantum dilogarithms.     

Feynman quantization: An operator approach to path integration over commuting and anticommuting variables

We present an operator quantization scheme on a continuous direct product of Hilbert spaces over a time interval as an extension of the quantization using Feynman path integrals. We define the continuous direct product as a Hilbert space with two principal bases: the Fock and the Feynman ones. The Fock basis, defined by a complete set of commuting operators at different times, serves for a definition of the operator calculus. The Feynman basis, simultaneously diagonalizing the complete set of commuting operators, leads to path integrals constructed without time slicing as a spectral representation of certain operator functions. The construction of quantum theory and the corresponding path integrals for the harmonic oscillator is demonstrated both in the configuration and phase spaces. The extension of the theory to coherent states and anticommuting variables is performed.     

A Gauge Model for Quantum Mechanics on a Stratified Space

In the Hamiltonian approach on a single spatial plaquette, we construct a quantum (lattice) gauge theory which incorporates the classical singularities. The reduced phase space is a stratified Kähler space, and we make explicit the requisite singular holomorphic quantization procedure on this space. On the quantum level, this procedure yields a costratified Hilbert space, that is, a Hilbert space together with a system which consists of the subspaces associated with the strata of the reduced phase space and of the corresponding orthoprojectors. The costratified Hilbert space structure reflects the stratification of the reduced phase space. For the special case where the structure group is SU(2), we discuss the tunneling probabilities between the strata, determine the energy eigenstates and study the corresponding expectation values of the orthoprojectors onto the subspaces associated with the strata in the strong and weak coupling approximations.     

Lectures on renormalization and asymptotic safety

A short introduction is given on the functional renormalization group method, putting emphasis on its nonperturbative aspects. The method enables to find nontrivial fixed points in quantum field theoretic models which make them free from divergences and leads to the concept of asymptotic safety. It can be considered as a generalization of the asymptotic freedom which plays a key role in the perturbative renormalization. We summarize and give a short discussion of some important models, which are asymptotically safe such as the Gross–Neveu model, the nonlinear σ$\sigma$ model, the sine–Gordon model, and we consider the model of quantum Einstein gravity which seems to show asymptotic safety, too. We also give a detailed analysis of infrared behavior of such scalar models where a spontaneous symmetry breaking takes place. The deep infrared behavior of the broken phase cannot be treated within the framework of perturbative calculations. We demonstrate that there exists an infrared fixed point in the broken phase which creates a new scaling regime there, however its structure is hidden by the singularity of the renormalization group equations. The theory spaces of these models show several similar properties, namely the models have the same phase and fixed point structure. The quantum Einstein gravity also exhibits similarities when considering the global aspects of its theory space since the appearing two phases there show analogies with the symmetric and the broken phases of the scalar models. These results be nicely uncovered by the functional renormalization group method.     

量子扩散通道中Wigner算符的演化规律

众所周知,量子态的演化可用与其相应的Wigner函数演化来代替.因为量子态的Wigner函数和量子态的密度矩阵一样,都包含了概率分布和相位等信息,因此对量子态的Wigner函数进行研究,可以更加快速有效地获取量子态在演化过程的重要信息.本文从经典扩散方程出发,利用密度算符的P表示,导出了量子态密度算符的扩散方程.进一步通过引入量子算符的Weyl编序记号,给出了其对应的Weyl量子化方案.另外,借助于密度算符的另一相空间表示-Wigner函数,建立了Wigner算符在扩散通道中演化方程,并给出了其Wigner算符解的形式.本文推导出了Wigner算符在量子扩散通道中的演化规律,即演化过程中任意时刻Wigner算符的形式.在此结论的基础上,讨论了相干态经过量子扩散通道的演化情况.     

The quantum state of the universe from deformation quantization and classical-quantum correlation

In this paper we study the quantum cosmology of homogeneous and isotropic cosmology, via the Weyl–Wigner–Groenewold–Moyal formalism of phase space quantization, with perfect fluid as a matter source. The corresponding quantum cosmology is described by the Moyal–Wheeler-DeWitt equation which has exact solutions in Moyal phase space, resulting in Wigner quasiprobability distribution functions peaking around the classical paths for large values of scale factor. We show that the Wigner functions of these models are peaked around the non-singular universes with quantum modified density parameter of radiation.     

On the geometrical representation of the path integral reduction Jacobian: The case of dependent variables in a description of reduced motion

The geometrical representation of the path integral reduction Jacobian obtained in the problem of the path integral quantization of a scalar particle motion on a smooth compact Riemannian manifold with the given free isometric action of the compact semisimple Lie group has been found for the case when the local reduced motion is described by means of dependent coordinates. The result is based on the scalar curvature formula for the original manifold which is viewed as a total space of the principal fiber bundle.     

Consistent canonical quantization of general relativity in the space of vassiliev invariants

We present a quantization of the Hamiltonian and diffeomorphism constraint of canonical quantum gravity in the spin network representation. The novelty consists in considering a space of wave functions based on the Vassiliev invariants. The constraints are finite, well defined, and reproduce at the level of quantum commutators the Poisson algebra of constraints of the classical theory. A similar construction can be carried out in 2+1 dimensions leading to the correct quantum theory.     

Lattice Wess-Zumino-Witten model and quantum groups

Quantum groups play the role of symmetries of integrable theories in two dimensions. They may be detected on the classical level as Poisson-Lie symmetries of the corresponding phase spaces. We discuss specifically the Wess-Zumino-Witten conformally invariant quantum field model combining two chiral parts which describe the left- and right-moving degrees of freedom. On one hand, the quantum group plays the role of the symmetry of the chiral components of the theory. On the other hand, the model admits a lattice regularization (in Minkowski space) in which the current algebra symmetry of the theory also becomes quantum, providing the simplest example of a quantum group symmetry coupling space-time and internal degrees of freedom. We develop a free field approach to the representation theory of the lattice sl (2)-based current algebra and show how to use it to rigorously construct an exact solution of the quantum SL (2) WZW model on lattice.     

Quantum Field Theory on Curved Backgrounds. I. The Euclidean Functional Integral

We give a mathematical construction of Euclidean quantum field theory on certain curved backgrounds. We focus on generalizing Osterwalder Schrader quantization, as these methods have proved useful to establish estimates for interacting fields on flat space-times. In this picture, a static Killing vector generates translations in Euclidean time, and the role of physical positivity is played by positivity under reflection of Euclidean time. We discuss the quantization of flows which correspond to classical space-time symmetries, and give a general set of conditions which imply that broad classes of operators in the classical picture give rise to well-defined operators on the quantum-field Hilbert space. In particular, Killing fields on spatial sections give rise to unitary groups on the quantum-field Hilbert space, and corresponding densely-defined self-adjoint generators. We construct the Schrödinger representation using a method which involves localizing certain integrals over the full manifold to integrals over a codimension-one submanifold. This method is called sharp-time localization, and implies reflection positivity.     

The Angular Momentum Dilemma and Born–Jordan Quantization

The rigorous equivalence of the Schrödinger and Heisenberg pictures requires that one uses Born–Jordan quantization in place of Weyl quantization. We confirm this by showing that the much discussed “ angular momentum dilemma” disappears if one uses Born–Jordan quantization. We argue that the latter is the only physically correct quantization procedure. We also briefly discuss a possible redefinition of phase space quantum mechanics, where the usual Wigner distribution has to be replaced with a new quasi-distribution associated with Born–Jordan quantization, and which has proven to be successful in time-frequency analysis.     

Fractional corresponding operator in quantum mechanics and applications: A uniform fractional Schrödinger equation in form and fractional quantization methods

In this paper we use Dirac function to construct a fractional operator called fractional corresponding operator, which is the general form of momentum corresponding operator. Then we give a judging theorem for this operator and with this judging theorem we prove that R–L, G–L, Caputo, Riesz fractional derivative operator and fractional derivative operator based on generalized functions, which are the most popular ones, coincide with the fractional corresponding operator. As a typical application, we use the fractional corresponding operator to construct a new fractional quantization scheme and then derive a uniform fractional Schrödinger equation in form. Additionally, we find that the five forms of fractional Schrödinger equation belong to the particular cases. As another main result of this paper, we use fractional corresponding operator to generalize fractional quantization scheme by using Lévy path integral and use it to derive the corresponding general form of fractional Schrödinger equation, which consequently proves that these two quantization schemes are equivalent. Meanwhile, relations between the theory in fractional quantum mechanics and that in classic quantum mechanics are also discussed. As a physical example, we consider a particle in an infinite potential well. We give its wave functions and energy spectrums in two ways and find that both results are the same.     

The Kantowski-Sachs Space-Time in Loop Quantum Gravity

We extend the ideas introduced in the previous work to a more general space-time. In particular we consider the Kantowski-Sachs space time with space section with topology . In this way we want to study a general space time that we think to be the space time inside the horizon of a black hole. In this case the phase space is four dimensional and we simply apply the quantization procedure suggested by loop quantum gravity and based on an alternative to the Schroedinger representation introduced by H. Halvorson. Through this quantization procedure we show that the inverse of the volume density and the Schwarzschild curvature invariant are upper bounded and so the space time is singularity free. Also in this case we can extend dynamically the space time beyond the classical singularity. PACS number: 04.60.Pp, 04.70.Dy     

Quantum damped oscillator II: Bateman’s Hamiltonian vs. 2D parabolic potential barrier

We show that quantum Bateman’s system which arises in the quantization of a damped harmonic oscillator is equivalent to a quantum problem with 2D parabolic potential barrier known also as 2D inverted isotropic oscillator. It turns out that this system displays the family of complex eigenvalues corresponding to the poles of analytical continuation of the resolvent operator to the complex energy plane. It is shown that this representation is more suitable than the hyperbolic one used recently by Blasone and Jizba.     

Background Dynamics of Pre-inflationary Scenario in Brans-Dicke Loop Quantum Cosmology

Recently the background independent nonperturbative quantization has been extended to various theories of gravity and the corresponding quantum effective cosmology has been derived, which provides us with necessary avenue to explore the pre-inflationary dynamics. Brans-Dicke (BD) loop quantum cosmology (LQC) is one of such theories whose effective background dynamics is considered in this article. Starting with a quantum bounce, we explore the pre-inflationary dynamics of a universe sourced by a scalar field with the Starobinsky potential in BD-LQC. Our study is based on the idea that though Einstein's and Jordan's frames are classically equivalent up to a conformal transformation in BD theory, this is no longer true after quantization. Taking the Jordan frame as the physical one we explore in detail the bouncing scenario which is followed by a phase of a slow roll inflation. The three phases of the evolution of the universe, namely, bouncing, transition from quantum bounce to classical universe, and the slow roll inflation, are noted for an initially kinetic energy dominated bounce. In addition, to be consistent with observations, we also identify the allowed phase space of initial conditions that would produce at least 60 e-folds of expansion during the slow roll inflation.     

Quantization, group contraction and zero point energy

We study algebraic structures underlying 't Hooft's construction relating classical systems with the quantum harmonic oscillator. The role of group contraction is discussed. We propose the use of SU(1,1) for two reasons: because of the isomorphism between its representation Hilbert space and that of the harmonic oscillator and because zero point energy is implied by the representation structure. Finally, we also comment on the relation between dissipation and quantization.