The bond-algebraic approach to dualities

An algebraic theory of dualities is developed based on the notion of bond algebras. It deals with classical and quantum dualities in a unified fashion explaining the precise connection between quantum dualities and the low temperature (strong-coupling)/high temperature (weak-coupling) dualities of classical statistical mechanics (or (Euclidean) path integrals). Its range of applications includes discrete lattice, continuum field and gauge theories. Dualities are revealed to be local, structure-preserving mappings between model-specific bond algebras that can be implemented as unitary transformations, or partial isometries if gauge symmetries are involved. This characterization permits us to search systematically for dualities and self-dualities in quantum models of arbitrary system size, dimensionality and complexity, and any classical model admitting a transfer matrix or operator representation. In particular, special dualities such as exact dimensional reduction, emergent and gauge-reducing dualities that solve gauge constraints can be easily understood in terms of mappings of bond algebras. As a new example, we show that the ?₂ Higgs model is dual to the extended toric code model in any number of dimensions. Non-local transformations such as dual variables and Jordan–Wigner dictionaries are algorithmically derived from the local mappings of bond algebras. This permits us to establish a precise connection between quantum dual and classical disorder variables. Our bond-algebraic approach goes beyond the standard approach to classical dualities, and could help resolve the long-standing problem of obtaining duality transformations for lattice non-Abelian models. As an illustration, we present new dualities in any spatial dimension for the quantum Heisenberg model. Finally, we discuss various applications including location of phase boundaries, spectral behavior and, notably, we show how bond-algebraic dualities help constrain and realize fermionization in an arbitrary number of spatial dimensions.     

Two-dimensional supersymmetry: From SUSY quantum mechanics to integrable classical models

Two known two-dimensional SUSY quantum mechanical constructions—the direct generalization of SUSY with first-order supercharges and higher-order SUSY with second-order supercharges—are combined for a class of 2-dim quantum models, which are not amenable to separation of variables. The appropriate classical limit of quantum systems allows us to construct SUSY-extensions of original classical scalar Hamiltonians. Special emphasis is placed on the symmetry properties of the models thus obtained—the explicit expressions of quantum symmetry operators and of classical integrals of motion are given for all (scalar and matrix) components of SUSY-extensions. Using Grassmanian variables, the symmetry operators and classical integrals of motion are written in a unique form for the whole Superhamiltonian. The links of the approach to the classical Hamilton-Jacobi method for related “flipped” potentials are established.     

ABCD rule for Gaussian beam propagation in the context of quantum optics derived by the IWOP technique

The development of technique of integration within an ordered product (IWOP) of operators extends the Newton-Leibniz integration rule, originally applying to permutable functions, to the non-commutative quantum mechanical operators composed of Dirac’s ket-bra, which enables us to obtain the images of directly mapping symplectic transformation in classical phase space parameterized by [A, B; C, D] into quantum mechanical operator through the coherent state representation, we call them the generalized Fresnel operators (GFO) since they correspond to Fresnel transforms in Fourier optics. Based on GFO we find the ABCD rule for Gaussian beam propagation in the context of quantum optics (both in one-mode and two-mode cases) whose classical correspondence is just the ABCD rule in matrix optics. The entangled state representation is used in discussing the two-mode case.     

Comparative analysis of purely classical and semiclassical approaches to collision line broadening of polyatomic molecules: I. C2H2-Ar case

Semiclassical approaches to the computation of spectral line parameters stay up to nowadays one of the working tools complementary to refined but costly quantum-mechanical methods. Using of the trajectory concept together with quantum treatment of internal molecular motions imposes however the hypothesis of rotation-translation decoupling and translational motion governed by the isotropic potential. When a posteori justified for small heavy colliders, this hypothesis appears as doubtful for long polyatomic molecules. At the same time, purely classical methods, even requiring the artificial procedure of the correspondence principle with quantum mechanics, easily take into account the rototranslational energy transfer through the trajectory governed by the full anisotropic potential. The infrared line broadening of a typically classical C₂H₂-Ar system at various temperatures is analyzed here from these two different points of view. When a refined ab initio potential is chosen to represent the interaction energy, the semiclassical approach leads to a visible overestimation of the line broadening for all values of the rotational quantum number and for all temperatures studied whereas the fully classical treatment gives a quite satisfactory prediction. These fully classical computations show that even for C₂H₂-Ar the rototranslational coupling is quite important, and variations of the translational motion parameters during collisions produce detectable changes in rotation. When, for the sake of a meaningful comparison with the semiclassical approach, the isotropic trajectories are imposed within the classical method, this leads to smaller line widths; the effect strongly depends, however, on the peculiarities of potential energy surface, temperature, and rotational quantum number value.     

A theorem allowing to derive deterministic evolution equations from stochastic evolution equations

The deterministic evolution equations of classical as well as quantum mechanical models are derived from a set of stochastic evolution equations after taking an average over realizations using a theorem. Examples are given that show that deterministic quantum mechanical evolution equations, obtained initially by R.P. Feynman and subsequently studied by Boghosian and Taylor IV [B.M. Boghosian, W. Taylor IV, Phys. Rev. E 57 (1998) 54. See also arXiv:quant-ph/9904035] and Meyer [D.A. Meyer, Phys. Rev. E 55 (1997) 5261], among others, are derived from a set of stochastic evolution equations. In addition, a deterministic classical evolution equation for the diffusion of monomers, similar to the second Fick law, is also obtained.     

Correspondence between quantum-optical transform and classical-optical transform explored by developing Dirac’s symbolic method

By virtue of the new technique of performing integration over Dirac’s ket–bra operators, we explore quantum optical version of classical optical transformations such as optical Fresnel transform, Hankel transform, fractional Fourier transform, Wigner transform, wavelet transform and Fresnel–Hadmard combinatorial transform etc. In this way one may gain benefit for developing classical optics theory from the research in quantum optics, or vice-versa. We cannot only find some new quantum mechanical unitary operators which correspond to the known optical transformations, deriving a new theorem for calculating quantum tomogram of density operators, but also can reveal some new classical optical transformations. For examples, we find the generalized Fresnel operator (GFO) to correspond to the generalized Fresnel transform (GFT) in classical optics. We derive GFO’s normal product form and its canonical coherent state representation and find that GFO is the loyal representation of symplectic group multiplication rule. We show that GFT is just the transformation matrix element of GFO in the coordinate representation such that two successive GFTs is still a GFT. The ABCD rule of the Gaussian beam propagation is directly demonstrated in the context of quantum optics. Especially, the introduction of quantum mechanical entangled state representations opens up a new area in finding new classical optical transformations. The complex wavelet transform and the condition of mother wavelet are studied in the context of quantum optics too. Throughout our discussions, the coherent state, the entangled state representation of the two-mode squeezing operators and the technique of integration within an ordered product (IWOP) of operators are fully used. All these have confirmed Dirac’s assertion: “...for a quantum dynamic system that has a classical analogue, unitary transformation in the quantum theory is the analogue of contact transformation in the classical theory”.     

Improved Quantum Image Median Filtering in the Spatial Domain

In some image processing algorithms, such as those for image feature extraction and segmentation, filtering is a significant pre-processing step to remove noises and improve image quality. An improved quantum image median filtering approach is proposed, and its corresponding quantum circuit is designed in this work. The main idea of the approach is that first the classical image is converted into a quantum version based on the novel enhanced quantum representation (NEQR) of digital images, and then a unique quantum module is designed to realize the median calculation of neighborhood pixels for each pixel point in the image. Finally, in order to improve the filtering effect, extremum detection is employed to distinguish noises from true signals. The experimental results show that a competitive filtering performance is obtained compared with previous methods. In addition, a network complexity analysis of the quantum circuit suggests that the proposed filtering approach can perform enormous speed-up over its corresponding classical counterparts.

     

Euler-Lagrange equation from nonlocal-in-time kinetic energy of nonconservative system

This Letter focuses on studying generalized Euler-Lagrange equation and Hamiltonian framework from nonlocal-in-time kinetic energy of nonconservative system. According to Suykens' approach, we extend his results and formulate some work related to the nonconservative system. With the Lagrangian and nonconservative force in nonlocal-in-time form, we obtain the higher order generalized Euler-Lagrange equation which leads to an extension of Newton's second law of motion. The Hamiltonian is studied in relation to the Lagrangian in the canonical phase space. Finally, the particle with nonconservative force case is studied and compared with quantum mechanical results. The extended equation gives a possible approach for understanding the connection between classical and quantum mechanics.     

Classical and quantum mechanical aspects of time-dependent Hartree-Fock trajectories

In terms of a quantum mechanical representation based on Slater determinants, classical and quantum mechanical aspects of TDHF trajectories are investigated. The invariant integration measure of the determinantal representation is obtained in a general closed form. Phase space structures of the TDHF equation and its solutions are discussed on this basis. The formal classical structures provide a way of finding a semiclassical expression for the quantum mechanical propagator, into which the superposition principle among TDHF trajectories is incorporated. General properties of the semiclassical propagator such as the time translation/reversal symmetry, unitarity, etc., are studied. Two simple hamiltonian systems are employed as examples which exhibit analytical solutions for the propagator. To illustrate the effects of superposition of TDHF paths, a system of interacting two-level nuclei is numerically studied and a comparison with the exact result is made.     

Semiclassical stochastic trajectory approach to molecule-solid surface scattering

A semiclassical stochastic trajectory (SST) approach to the sudy of collision induced transitions in gas molecule-solid surface scattering is presented. The time-dependent Schrödinger equation provides the time-evolution of the transition amplitudes for the molecular internal states. Classical mechanics is used to describe the molecule's center of mass motion as well as the surface atoms' motion — the latter through the generalized Langevin equation (GLE) method which allows the treatment of non-rigid surfaces (i.e. surface temperature effects). These quantum and classical equations of motion are coupled through the use of a time-dependent interaction potential in the Schrödinger equation and the use of the expectation value of the interaction potential in the classical equations of motion. Advantages of the SST approach include: (1) flexibility in the choice of quantum versus classical coordinates; (c) strict energy conservation for non-dissipative system; and (3) realistic treatment of surface many-body effects within the GLE. The SST technique is applied to the study of vibrational and rotational inelasticity in a model H₂Pt(111) system. As an initial test, results obtained assuming a rigid, smooth surface with an exponentially repulsive potential are compared to exact quantal and quasi-classical trajectory values to determine the accuracy and utility of the SST approach. A limited practical application is presented for the same H₂Pt(111) system but for a non-rigid surface. These results, calculated at low gas kinetic energies, indicate that surface energy transfer and surface temperature effects should be minimal for this type of system, even though the energy gaps are quite similar for rotational and phonon degrees of freedom.     

Anharmonic Excitations,Time Correlations and Electric Conductivity

We study the influence of anharmonic mechanical excitations of a classical ionic lattice on its electric properties. First, to illustrate salient features, we investigate a simple model, an one‐dimensional (1D) system consisting of ten semiclassical electrons embedded in a lattice or a ring with ten ions interacting with exponentially repulsive interactions. The lattice is embedded in a thermal bath. The behavior of the velocity autocorrelation function and the dynamic structure factor of the system are analyzed. We show that in this model the nonlinear excitations lead to long lasting time correlations and, correspondingly, to an increase of the conductivity in a narrow temperature region, where the excitations are supersonic soliton‐like. In the second part we consider the quantum statistics of general ion‐electron systems with arbitrary dimension and express ‐ following linear response transport theory ‐ the quantum‐mechanical conductivity by means of equilibrium time correlation functions. Within the relaxation time approach an expression for the effective collision frequency is derived in Born approximation, which takes into account quantum effects and dynamic effects of the ion motion through the dynamic structure factor of the lattice and the quantum dynamics of the electrons. An evaluation of the influenec of solitons predicts for 1D‐lattices a conductivity increase in the temperature region where most thermal solitons are excited, similar as shown in the classical Drude‐Lorentz‐Kubo framework. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Fully quantum mechanical moment of inertia of a mesoscopic ideal Bose gas

The superfluid fraction of an atomic cloud is defined using the cloud's response to a rotation of the external potential, i.e. the moment of inertia. A fully quantum mechanical calculation of this moment is based on the dispersion of L_z instead of quasi-classical averages. In this paper we derive analytical results for the moment of inertia of a small number of non-interacting Bosons using the canonical ensemble. The required symmetrized averages are obtained via a representation of the partition function by permutation cycles. Our results are useful to discriminate purely quantum statistical effects from interaction effects in studies of superfluidity and phase transitions in finite samples. Received 30 June 2000     

Wave-function transformations by general SU(1, 1) single-mode squeezing and analogy to Fresnel transformations in wave optics

Following Dirac’s assertion: “… for a quantum dynamic system that has a classical analogue, unitary transformation in the quantum theory is the analogue of contact transformation in the classical theory”, we find that the general SU(1, 1) single-mode squeezing operator F just corresponds to the generalized Fresnel transform (GFT) in wave optics. We derive the normal product form and canonical coherent state representation of F, whose matrix element in the coordinate representation is just the GFT. It is shown that F is a faithful representation of symplectic group which indicates that two successive GFTs is still a GFT. Applications of F in some other optical transforms, such as the Fresnel-wavelet transform, are presented.     

Molecular fusion of fullerenes

New experimental data is reported for the absolute cross sections for the fusion reaction channel in single gas-phase collisions between fullerenes. The experimental data is compared with the results of quantum mechanical and classical molecular dynamics simulations as well as with simple models. Quantum molecular dynamics simulations are in very good quantitative agreement with the experimental data. The overall dynamical behaviour can be well-described qualitatively in the framework of simple models. Received 2 October 2000     

A probabilistic approach to quantum mechanics based on ‘tomograms’

It is usually believed that a picture of Quantum Mechanics in terms of true probabilities cannot be given due to the uncertainty relations. Here we discuss a tomographic approach to quantum states that leads to a probability representation of quantum states. This can be regarded as a classical‐like formulation of quantum mechanics which avoids the counterintuitive concepts of wave function and density operator. The relevant concepts of quantum mechanics are then reconsidered and the epistemological implications of such approach discussed.     

Limitations of the strong field approximation in ionization of the hydrogen atom by ultrashort pulses

We present a theoretical study of the ionization of hydrogen atoms as a result of the interaction with an ultrashort external electric field. Doubly-differential momentum distributions and angular momentum distributions of ejected electrons calculated in the framework of the Coulomb-Volkov and strong field approximations, as well as classical calculations are compared with the exact solution of the time dependent Schr ödinger equation. We show that in the impulsive limit, the Coulomb-Volkov distorted wave theory reproduces the exact solution. The validity of the strong field approximation is probed both classically and quantum mechanically. We found that classical mechanics describes the proper quantum momentum distributions of the ejected electrons right after a sudden momentum transfer, however pronounced the differences at latter stages that arise during the subsequent electron-nucleus interaction. Although the classical calculations reproduce the quantum momentum distributions, it fails to describe properly the angular momentum distributions, even in the limit of strong fields. The origin of this failure can be attributed to the difference between quantum and classical initial spatial distributions.     

Classical limit of relativistic quantum mechanical equations in the Foldy-Wouthuysen representation

It is shown that, under the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin approximation conditions, using the Foldy-Wouthuysen (FW) representation allows the problem of finding a classical limit of relativistic quantum mechanical equations to be reduced to the replacement of operators in the Hamiltonian and quantum mechanical equations of motion by the respective classical quantities.     

Pairwise correlations in a three-partite quantum system from a prequantum random field

Prequantum classical statistical field theory (PCSFT) is a model that provides the possibility to represent the averages of quantum observables (including correlations of observables on subsystems of a composite system) as averages with respect to fluctuations of classical random fields. In view of the PCSFT terminology, quantum states are classical random fields. The aim of our approach is to represent all quantum probabilistic quantities by means of classical random fields. We obtain the classical-random-field representation for pairwise correlations in three-partite quantum systems. The three-partite case (surprisingly) differs substantially from the bipartite case. As an important first step, we generalized the theory developed for pure quantum states of bipartite systems to the states given by density operators.