Logical foundation of quantum mechanics

The subject of this article is the reconstruction of quantum mechanics on the basis of a formal language of quantum mechanical propositions. During recent years, research in the foundations of the language of science has given rise to adialogic semantics that is adequate in the case of a formal language for quantum physics. The system ofsequential logic which is comprised by the language is more general than classical logic; it includes the classical system as a special case. Although the system of sequential logic can be founded without reference to the empirical content of quantum physical propositions, it establishes an essential part of the structure of the mathematical formalism used in quantum mechanics. It is the purpose of this paper to demonstrate the connection between the formal language of quantum physics and its representation by mathematical structures in a self-contained way.     

The conceptual analysis (CA) method in theories of microchannels: Application to quantum theory. Part III. Idealizations. Hilbert space representation

We illustrate the application of the conceptual analysis (CA) method outlined in Part I by the example of quantum mechanics. In the present part the Hilbert space structure of conventional quantum mechanics is deduced as a consequence of postulates specifying further idealized concepts. A critical discussion of the idealizations of quantum mechanics is proposed. Quantum mechanics is characterized as a “statistically complete” theory and a simple and elegant formal recipe for the construction of the fundamental mathematical apparatus of quantum mechanics is formulated. Our analysis may also lead to a criticism of quantum mechanics as a “strongly idealized” theory. A critical analysis of the fundamental structure of quantum mechanics seems an indispensable and natural starting point for the construction of new theories. A major technical problem in a more general application of the CA method is the lack of mathematical representation theorems for more general algebraic structures.     

The method of polarization tomography of radiation in quantum optics

The essence and basic structural elements of the method of polarization tomography of quantum radiation (the reconstruction of the polarization states of a field solely from polarization measurements) are described. The essential features of the method are discussed in comparison with usual field and spin tomographies. A general scheme for experimentally implementing this method is suggested and its use in polarization tomography of biphotonic radiation with hidden polarization is briefly analyzed.     

Formal solutions of stargenvalue equations

The formal solution of a general stargenvalue equation is presented, its properties studied and a geometrical interpretation given in terms of star-hypersurfaces in quantum phase space. Our approach deals with discrete and continuous spectra in a unified fashion and includes a systematic treatment of nondiagonal stargenfunctions. The formalism is used to obtain a complete formal solution of Wigner quantum mechanics in the Heisenberg picture and to write a general formula for the stargenfunctions of Hamiltonians quadratic in the phase space variables in arbitrary dimension. A variety of systems is then used to illustrate the former results.     

Causal signal transmission by quantum fields. VI: The Lorentz condition and Maxwell’s equations for fluctuations of the electromagnetic field

The general structure of electromagnetic interactions in the so-called response representation of quantum electrodynamics (QED) is analysed. A formal solution to the general quantum problem of the electromagnetic field interacting with matter is found. Independently, a formal solution to the corresponding problem in classical stochastic electrodynamics (CSED) is constructed. CSED and QED differ only in the replacement of stochastic averages of c-number fields and currents by time-normal averages of the corresponding Heisenberg operators. All relations of QED connecting quantum field to quantum current lack Planck’s constant, and thus coincide with their counterparts in CSED. In Feynman’s terms, one encounters complete disentanglement of the potential and current operators in response picture.     

Triggered qutrits for quantum communication protocols

A general protocol in quantum information and communication relies in the ability of producing, transmitting, and reconstructing, in general, qunits. In this Letter we show for the first time the experimental implementation of these three basic steps on a pure state in a three-dimensional space, by means of the orbital angular momentum of the photons. The reconstruction of the qutrit is performed with tomographic techniques and a maximum-likelihood estimation method. For the tomographic reconstruction we used more than 2400 different projections. In this way we also demonstrate that we can perform any transformation in the three-dimensional space.     

Diagonal representation for a generic matrix valued quantum Hamiltonian

A general method to derive the diagonal representation for a generic matrix valued quantum Hamiltonian is proposed. In this approach new mathematical objects like non-commuting operators evolving with the Planck constant promoted as a running variable are introduced. This method leads to a formal compact expression for the diagonal Hamiltonian which can be expanded in a power series of the Planck constant. In particular, we provide an explicit expression for the diagonal representation of a generic Hamiltonian to the second order in the Planck constant. This result is applied, as a physical illustration, to Dirac electrons and neutrinos in external fields.     

Studying adequacy, completeness, and accuracy of quantum measurement protocols

A new methodology of statistical estimation of the quality of quantum measurement protocols is considered. The method is based on studying the completeness, adequacy, and accuracy of quantum measurement protocols. The completeness is estimated on the basis of considering a singular decomposition of a special matrix, which is constructed based on the measurement operators. The estimate of adequacy supposes the presence of redundancy in the measurement protocol as compared to the minimally possible number of measurements that are necessary for full reconstruction of a quantum state. The adequacy of quantum measurements is estimated as the degree of how much the redundant statistical data agree with the laws of quantum theory. The accuracy characteristics of the statistical reconstruction of arbitrary quantum states are studied based on the universal statistical distribution for accuracy losses. Examples of applying the developed methods are presented for seven quantum protocols based on the geometry of polyhedra with a high degree of symmetry.     

Statistical definition of observable and the structure of statistical models

A purely statistical characterization of measurements of observables (described by spectral measures in conventional formalism of quantum mechanics) is given in the framework of the general statistical (convex) approach. The relation to physical premises underlying the conventional notion of observable is discussed. Structural aspects of general statistical models such as central decomposition and characterization of classical models are considered. It is shown by explicit construction that an arbitrary statistical model admits a formal introduction of “hidden variables” preserving the structural properties of a single statistical model. The relation of this result to other theorems on hidden variables is discussed.     

Reconstruction of the polarization states of a biphoton field

A method for reconstructing an arbitrary quantum state of an optical system in Hilbert space with dimension d = 4 is discussed. Such states can be realized using a collinear frequency-nondegenerate regime of generating spontaneous parametric down-conversion. The method has been tested for a number of polarization states of a biphoton field. The high accuracy of the reconstruction of the states (above 99%) indicates that the procedures proposed for reconstructing the quantum state of the system are adequate.     

Calculation of the equation of state of a dense hydrogen plasma by the Feynman path integral method

A method is developed for calculating the equation of state of a system of quantum particles at a finite temperature, based on the Feynman formulation of quantum statistics. A general analytical expression is found for the virial estimator for the kinetic energy of a system with rigid boundaries at a finite pressure. An effective method is developed for eliminating the unphysical singularity in the electrostatic potential between a discretized Feynman path of an electron and a proton. It is shown that the “refinement” of an expansion of a quantum-mechanical propagator by addition of high powers of time exacerbates, rather than eliminates, the divergence of a Feynman path integral. A brief summary of the current status of the problem is presented. The proposed new approaches are presented in relation to progress made in this field. Path integral Monte Carlo simulations are performed for nonideal hydrogen plasmas in which both indistinguishability and spin of electrons are taken into account under conditions preceding the formation of the electron shells of atoms. The electron permutation symmetry is represented in terms of Young operators. It is shown that, owing to the singularity of the Coulomb potential, quantum effects on the behavior of the electron component cannot be reduced to small corrections even if the system must be treated as a classical system according to the formal de Broglie criterion. Quantum-mechanical delocalization of electrons substantially weakens the repulsion between electrons as compared to protons. In relatively cold plasmas, many-body correlations lead to complex behavior of the potential of the average force between particles and give rise to repulsive forces acting between protons and electrons at distances of about 5 angstroms. Plasma pressure drops with decreasing plasma temperature as the electron shells of atoms begin to form, and the electron kinetic energy reaches a minimum at a temperature of about 31000 K. The minimum point weakly depends on plasma density. Owing to quantum effects, the electron component is “heated” well before electrons are completely bound in the field of protons.     

Quantum conformal fluctuations near the classical space-time singularity

This paper investigates the behavior of conformal fluctuations of space-time geometry that are admissible under the quantized version of Einstein's general relativity. The approach to quantum gravity is via path integrals. It is shown that considerable simplification results when only the conformal degrees of freedom are considered under this scheme, so much so that it is possible to write down a formal kernel in the most general case where the space-time contains arbitrary distributions of particles with no other interaction except gravity. The behavior of this kernel near the classical space-time singularity then shows that quantum fluctuations inevitably diverge near the singularity. It is shown further that the root cause of this divergence lies in the fact that the Green's function for the conformally invariant scalar wave equation diverges at the singularity. The limitations on the validity of classical general relativity near the space-time singularity are discussed and it is argued that the notion of singularity itself needs to be radically modified once the quantum effects are taken into account.On leave of absence from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay, India     

Geometric Phase in Quaternionic Quantum Mechanics

Quaternion quantum mechanics is examined at the level of unbroken SU(2) gauge symmetry. A general quaternionic phase expression is derived from formal properties of the quaternion algebra.     

Measuring the quantum state of a large angular momentum

We demonstrate a general method to measure the quantum state of an angular momentum of arbitrary magnitude. The (2F+1)x(2F+1) density matrix is completely determined from a set of Stern-Gerlach measurements with (4F+1) different orientations of the quantization axis. We implement the protocol for laser cooled Cesium atoms in the 6S(1/2)(F = 4) hyperfine ground state and apply it to a variety of test states prepared by optical pumping and Larmor precession. A comparison of input and measured states shows typical reconstruction fidelities F >/~0.95.     

On some aspects of the definition of scattering states in quantum field theory

The problem of extending quantum-mechanical formal scattering theory to a more general class of models that also includes quantum field theories is discussed, with the aim of clarifying certain aspects of the definition of scattering states. As the strong limit is not suitable for the definition of scattering states in quantum field theory, some other limiting procedure is needed. Two possibilities are considered, the abelian limit and adiabatic switching. Formulas for the scattering states based on both methods are discussed, and it is found that generally there are significant differences between the two approaches. As an illustration of the applications and the features of these formulas, S-matrix elements and energy corrections in two quantum field theoretical models are calculated using (generalized) old-fashioned perturbation theory. The two methods are found to give equivalent results.     

Exact integral operator form of the Wigner distribution-function equation in many-body quantum transport theory

A formal derivation of a generalized equation of a Wigner distribution function including all many-body effects and all scattering mechanisms is given. The result is given in integral operator form suitable for application to the numerical modeling of quantum tunneling and quantum interference solid state devices. In the absence of scattering and many-body effects, the result reduces to the noninteracting-particle Wigner distribution function equation, often used to simulate resonant tunneling devices. The derivation uses a Weyl transform technique which can easily incorporate Bloch electrons. Weyl transforms of self-energies are derived. Various simplifications of a general quantum transport equation for semiconductor device analysis and self-consistent numerical simulation of a quantum distribution function in the phase-space/frequency-time domain are discussed. Recent attempts to include collisions in the Wigner distribution-function approach to the numerical simulation of tunneling devices are clearly shown to be non-self-consistent and inaccurate; more accurate numerical simulation is needed for a deeper understanding of the effects of collision and scattering.     

Quantum Physics with Neutrons: From Spinor Symmetry to Kochen-Specker Phenomena

In 1974 perfect crystal interferometry has been developed and immediately afterwards the 4π-symmetry of spinor wave-functions has been verified. The new method opened a new access to the observation of intrinsic quantum phenomena. Spin-superposition, quantum state reconstruction and quantum beat effects are examples of such investigations. In this connection efforts have been made to separate and measure various dynamical and geometrical phases. Non-cyclic and non-adiabatic topological phases have been identified and their stability against various fluctuations and dissipative forces has been investigated by means of ultra-cold neutrons. An entanglement between different degrees of freedom of a single neutron system demonstrated the contextuality feature of quantum mechanics. In its continuation this yields to Kochen-Specker theorem like investigations providing a new basis for information processing and for the understanding of quantum physics in general. All investigations show the equivalence of various phase spaces and show how physical phenomena are correlated by quantum laws. Some curiosa occurred during the experiments and some epistemological aspects will be discussed as well.     

Reconstruction of the time-dependent wave function exclusively from position data

A method is presented that reconstructs the amplitude and phase of an unknown time-dependent pure-state wave function entirely from experimental position data. No assumptions about the wave function are needed. At a series of times, a large collection of position data is taken, but no measurements of momentum or energy are necessary. The momenta, however, are required for the reconstruction of the wave function and are supplied by analysis of the position data via quantum particle trajectories. Simulations of the method are provided for helium atoms in single and double slit experiments.     

On the privacy-preserving cascade method for correcting errors in primary keys in quantum cryptography

A general method is proposed for privacy protection upon correction of errors in primary keys in quantum cryptography through an open communication channel. By the example of the cascade procedure for correcting errors, a method is described for removing information sent through an open communication channel when cleaning a key. The critical percentage is found for the quantum cryptography protocol BB84 to which the cascade error correction method with deletion guarantees the security of the final key. The method proposed for removing information sent through the open communication channel is quite general and can be used for many cleaning protocols for primary keys in quantum cryptography.     

由非绝热相关获得的形式量子数及其在高激发振动态的经典解释

我们利用非绝热相关方法 ,通过关闭所有的振动模式间的耦合项并追溯到零级本征态 ,以得到体系的形式量子数 ,将形式量子数对高激发振动态的能级谱图进行归属 ,并重构本征能级图谱 ,使本征能级以有序的方式排列。这有助于对高激发振动态的能级进行分类和归属。形式量子数是体现高激发振动态的重要特征 ,是高激发振动态的近似运动守恒量。我们将多维陪集相空间的经典方法应用于高激发态的研究 ,发现形式量子数对应的李雅普诺夫指数为零或最小 ,并且它对应于较大的相空间密度