Fresnel Type Path Integral for the Stochastic Schrödinger Equation

A path integral representation is obtained for the stochastic partial differential equation of Schrödinger type arising in the theory of open quantum systems subject to continuous nondemolition measurement and filtering, known as the a posteriori or Belavkin equation. The result is established by means of Fresnel-type integrals over paths in configuration space. This is achieved by modifying the classical action functional in the expression for the amplitude along each path by means of a stochastic Itô integral. This modification can be regarded as an extension of Menski's path integral formula for a quantum system subject to continuous measurement to the case of the stochastic Schrödinger equation.     

Coherent-State Path Integrals and Brownian Motions

A stochastic approach to the rigorous foundation of the coherent-state (phase-space) path integral is given. Stochastic integrals and some generalizations of the Feynman–Kac theorem are used for this purpose. In this approach, quantum mechanics is described in terms of the Fock–Bargmann representation; a classical Hamiltonian is related to the corresponding quantum Hamiltonian on the Fock–Bargmann space, seen as a Hilbert subspace of L²(R²)L^{2}({\bf R}^{2}). The coherent-state path integral is realized as a conditional expectation of a stochastic process defined by the exponential of the Fisk–Stratonovich integral of the fundamental 1-form along a path of Brownian motion on the phase space R²{\bf R}^{2}.     

Higher order Ito product formula and generators of evolutions and flows

A simple combinatorial formula is found for the product of two iterated quantum stochastic integrals, and used to find conditions that such an integral represent a unitary-valued or^*-algebra homomorphism-valued process.     

Fourier path integral Monte Carlo study of a two-dimensional model quantum monolayer

Adsorption isotherms have been constructed for a 2-dimensional ²⁰Ne fluid that represents a quantum monolayer. A quantum distribution function theory is presented and implemented in the computation of the chemical potential as a function of the density of the adsorbed material. The quantum partition function in the canonical ensemble is written in its path integral representation with paths expanded in a Fourier series (Fourier path integral). The multidimensional integrals obtained in this representation are solved using the j-walking Monte Carlo integration technique. The results obtained suggest that as the quantum contributions increase the amount of adsorbed material decreases, compared with classical results. An increment in internal and kinetic energies due to quantum effects is responsible for the reduction in the amount of adsorbed material. As expected, quantum effects are much larger at low temperatures.     

Aspects of supersymmetric quantum mechanics

We review the properties of supersymmetric quantum mechanics for a class of models proposed by Witten. Using both Hamiltonian and path integral formulations, we give general conditions for which supersymmetry is broken (unbroken) by quantum fluctuations. The spectrum of states is discussed, and a virial theorem is derived for the energy. We also show that the euclidean path integral for supersymmetric quantum mechanics is equivalent to a classical stochastic process when the supersymmetry is unbroken (E₀ = 0). By solving a Fokker-Planck equation for the classical probability distribution, we find P_c(y) is identical to |Ψ₀(y)|² in the quantum theory.     

Unified treatment of the bound states of the Schioberg and the Eckart potentials using Feynman path integral approach

We obtain analytical expressions for the energy eigenvalues of both the Schioberg and Eckart potentials using an approximation of the centrifugal term.In order to determine the e-states solutions,we use the Feynman path integral approach to quantum mechanics.We show that by performing nonlinear space-time transformations in the radial path integral,we can derive a transformation formula that relates the original path integral to the Green function of a new quantum solvable system.The explicit expression of bound state energy is obtained and the associated eigenfunctions are given in terms of hypergeometric functions.We show that the Eckart potential can be derived from the Schioberg potential.The obtained results are compared to those produced by other methods and are found to be consistent.     

Interest rates in quantum finance: Caps, swaptions and bond options

The prices of the main interest rate options in the financial markets, derived from the Libor (London Interbank Overnight Rate), are studied in the quantum finance model of interest rates. The option prices show new features for the Libor Market Model arising from the fact that, in the quantum finance formulation, all the different Libor payments are coupled and (imperfectly) correlated.Black’s caplet formula for quantum finance is given an exact path integral derivation. The coupon and zero coupon bond options as well as the Libor European and Asian swaptions are derived in the framework of quantum finance. The approximate Libor option prices are derived using the volatility expansion.The BGM-Jamshidian (Gatarek et al. (1996) [1], Jamshidian (1997) [2]) result for the Libor swaption prices is obtained as the limiting case when all the Libors are exactly correlated. A path integral derivation is given of the approximate BGM-Jamshidian approximate price.     

Path integral approach for Stark broadening of Lyman lines in hydrogen plasma

New results for Lyman lines from hydrogen plasmas are presented using the path integral approach. The influence of plasma components (electrons and ions) on the radiator is analysed separately. The ionic contribution is treated within the path integral approach, while the electronic contribution is estimated by the standard collision operator. The Stark effect, including the ion quadrupole contribution, is considered. The time‐dependent ionic microfield is treated within the path integral approximation using the model microfield method (MMM). The comparison with the quantum statistical approach is performed using a wide range of temperatures (T = 10⁴–10⁷ K) and electron densities (N_e = 10²³–10²⁶ m^?3). Good agreement is mainly obtained for low density and high temperature.     

Feynman path integral and ordering rules on discrete finite space

The Feynman path integral is constructed for systems whose configuration space is a discrete finite set. The construction is based on the operator formulation of quantum mechanics on a finite discrete space. We derive connections between operators and introduce the analogue of the^*-multiplication for discrete symbols.     

Molecular structure calculations via path integral simulations: Estimating finite-discretization errors

Path integral simulations are now recognized as a useful tool to determine theoretically the structure of complex molecules at finite temperatures including quantum effects. In addition to statistical errors due to incomplete sampling, also systematic errors are inherent in this procedure because of the finite discretization of the path integral. Here, useful “back of the envelope” estimates to assess the systematic errors of bond-length distribution functions are introduced. These analytical estimates are tested for two small molecules, HD⁺ and H₃ ⁺, where quasi-exact benchmark data are available. The accuracy of the formulae is shown to be sufficient in order to allow for a reliable assessment of the quality of the discretization in a given simulation. The estimates will also be applicable in condensed phase path integral simulations, and the basic idea can be generalized to other observables than those presented. Received 13 September 1999 and Received in final form 18 November 1999     

Towards a nonperturbative path integral in gauge theories

We propose a modification of the Faddeev–Popov procedure to construct a path integral representation for the transition amplitude and the partition function for gauge theories whose orbit space has a non-Euclidean geometry. Our approach is based on the Kato–Trotter product formula modified appropriately to incorporate the gauge invariance condition, and thereby equivalence to the Dirac operator formalism is guaranteed by construction. The modified path integral provides a solution to the Gribov obstruction as well as to the operator ordering problem when the orbit space has curvature. A few explicit examples are given to illustrate new features of the formalism developed. The method is applied to the Kogut–Susskind lattice gauge theory to develop a nonperturbative functional integral for a quantum Yang–Mills theory. Feynman's conjecture about a relation between the mass gap and the orbit space geometry in gluodynamics is discussed in the framework of the modified path integral.     

Braided Quantum Field Theory

We develop a general framework for quantum field theory on noncommutative spaces, i.e., spaces with quantum group symmetry. We use the path integral approach to obtain expressions for n-point functions. Perturbation theory leads us to generalised Feynman diagrams which are braided, i.e., they have non-trivial over- and under-crossings. We demonstrate the power of our approach by applying it to φ⁴-theory on the quantum 2-sphere. We find that the basic divergent diagram of the theory is regularised. Received: 3 July 1999 / Accepted: 10 November 2000     

Discrete Path Integral Approach to the Selberg Trace Formula for Regular Graphs

We give a new proof of the Selberg trace formula for regular graphs. Our approach is inspired by path integral formulation of quantum mechanics, and calculations are mostly combinatorial. Supported by grants: RFBR 05-01-00922, RAS Presidium program “Mathematical Problems of Nonlinear Dynamics”.     

A path integral formula for certain fourth-order elliptic operators

We define a discretized path integral formula for the operator –²–V. This formula is the generalization of the Feynman-Kac formula for +–V.     

Is quantized electric charge a purely electromagnetic phenomenon?

It is observed that the manifestly covariant Feynman path integral formulation for quantum electromagnetism admits a physically interesting extended definition for the sum-over-histories measure. From an equal-weighting condition and the postulate that the functional integration is to be free of renormalization, it follows that point singularies in the electromagnetic field have an electric charge associated with the fine-structure value = (137.032 41)^–1.     

Quantum cosmology inR 1×S 1×S n space time

Classical and quantum cosmological aspects for (n + 2) dimensional anisotropic spherically symmetric space-time with topology of (n + 1) spaceS ¹×S ⁿ have been studied. The Lorentzian field equations are reduced to an autonomous system by a change of field variables and are discussed near the critical points. The path integral expression for propagation amplitude is converted to a single ordinary integration over the lapse function by the usual technique and is evaluated in terms of Bessel functions.     

Geometric phase in Bohmian mechanics

Using the quantum kinematic approach of Mukunda and Simon, we propose a geometric phase in Bohmian mechanics. A reparametrization and gauge invariant geometric phase is derived along an arbitrary path in configuration space. The single valuedness of the wave function implies that the geometric phase along a path must be equal to an integer multiple of 2π. The nonzero geometric phase indicates that we go through the branch cut of the action function from one Riemann sheet to another when we locally travel along the path. For stationary states, quantum vortices exhibiting the quantized circulation integral can be regarded as a manifestation of the geometric phase. The bound-state Aharonov-Bohm effect demonstrates that the geometric phase along a closed path contains not only the circulation integral term but also an additional term associated with the magnetic flux. In addition, it is shown that the geometric phase proposed previously from the ensemble theory is not gauge invariant.     

Infrared quantum cutting conversion luminescence of Tb(0.7)Yb(3):FOV

The infrared quantum cutting of oxyfluoride nanophase vitroceramics Tb(0.7)Yb(3):FOV has been studied in the present paper. The actual quantum cutting efficiency formula calculated from integral fluorescence intensity is extended to the case of Tb(0.7)Yb(3):FOV. The visible and the infrared fluorescence spectra and their integral fluorescence intensities are measured from static fluorescence experiment. Lifetime curve is measured from dynamic fluorescence experiment. It is found that the total actual quantum cutting efficiency η of the excited ⁵D₄ level is about 93.7%, and that of excited (⁵D₃, ⁵G₆) levels is 93.5%. It is also found that the total theoretical quantum cutting efficiency upper limit η_x%Yb of the 485.5 nm excited <⁵D₄ level is about 121.7%, and that of 378.5 nm excited (⁵D₃, ⁵G₆) levels is 137.2%.     

Quantum nuclear effects on the location of hydrogen above and below the palladium (100) surface

We report ab initio path integral molecular dynamics simulations of hydrogen and deuterium adsorbed on and absorbed in the Pd(100) surface at 100 K. Significant quantum nuclear effects are found by comparing with conventional ab initio molecular dynamics simulations with classical nuclei. For on-surface adsorption, hydrogen resides higher above the surface when quantum nuclear effects are included, an effect which brings the computed height into better agreement with experimental measurements. For sub-surface absorption, the classical and quantum simulations differ in an even more significant manner: the classically stable subsurface tetrahedral position is unstable when quantum nuclear effects are accounted for. This study provides insight that aids in the interpretation of experimental results and, more generally, underscores that despite the computational cost ab initio path integral molecular dynamics simulations of surface and subsurface adsorption are now feasible.