Wigner's function and other distribution functions in mock phase spaces

This review deals with the methods of associating functions with quantum mechanical operators in such a manner that these functions should furnish conveniently semiclassical approximations. We present a unified treatment of methods and results which usually appear under expressions such as Wigner's function, Weyl's association, Kirkwood's expansion, Glauber's coherent state representation, etc.; we also construct some new associations.Section 1 gives the motivation by discussing the Thomas-Fermi theory of an atom with this end in view.Section 2 introduces new operators which resemble Dirac delta functions with operator arguments, the operators being the momenta and coordinates. Reasons are given as to why this should be useful. Next we introduce the notion of an operator basis, and discuss the possibility and usefulness of writing an operator as a linear combination of the basis operators. The coefficients in the linear combination are c-numbers and the c-numbers are associated with the operator (in that particular basis). The delta function type operators introduced before can be used as a basis for the dynamical operators, and the c-numbers obtained in this manner turn out to be the c-number functions used by Wigner, Weyl, Kirkwood, Glauber, etc. New bases and associations can now be invented at will. One such new basis is presented and discussed. The reasons and motivations for choosing different bases is then explained.The copious and seemingly random mathematical relations between these functions are then nothing else but the relations between the expansion coefficients engendered by the relations between the different bases. These are shown and discussed in this light. A brief discussion is then given to possible transformation of the p, q labels.Section 3 gives examples of how the semiclassical expansions are generated for these functions and exhibits their equivalence.The mathematical paraphernalia are collected in the appendices.