A relativistic superalgebra in a generalized Schrödinger picture

We consider a relativistic superalgebra in the picture in which the time and spatial derivative cannot be presented in the operators of the particle. The supersymmetry generators as well as the Hamilton operators for the massive relativistic particles with spin 0 and spin 1/2 are expressed in terms of the principal series of the unitary representations of the Lorentz group. We also consider the massless case. New Hamilton operators are constructed for the massless particles with spin 0 and spin 1/2. Received: 20 November 2002 / Published online: 14 April 2003 RID="a" ID="a" e-mail: rf@thp.uni-koeln.de     

On the relation between Schrödinger and von Neumann equations

The relation between the density matrix obeying the von Neumann equation and the wave function obeying the Schrödinger equation is discussed in connection with the superposition principle of quantum states. The definition of the ray-addition law is given, and its relation to the addition law of vectors in the Hilbert space of states and the role of a constant phase factor of the wave function is elucidated. The superposition law of density matrices, Wigner functions, and tomographic probabilities describing quantum states in the probability representation of quantum mechanics is studied. Examples of spin-1/2 and Schrödinger-cat states of the harmonic oscillator are discussed. The connection of the addition law with the entanglement problem is considered.     

Critical assessment of the Schrödinger picture of quantum mechanics

We provide an example in which the Heisenberg and the Schrödinger pictures of quantum mechanics give different results, thus confirming the statement of P.A.M. Dirac that the two pictures may lead to inequivalent results. We consider a one-dimensional nonrelativistic charged harmonic oscillator (frequency ω₀ and mass m), and take into account the action of the radiation reaction and the vacuum electromagnetic forces on the charged oscillator. We show that the Heisenberg picture gives the correct value, ℏω₀/2, for the ground state energy of the harmonic oscillator in both cases of classical and quantized vacuum fields. In the case of the Schrödinger picture, considering classical vacuum fields, and using a simple calculation for the classical radiation reaction force that is valid in the limit of large mass (mc²⪢ℏω₀), we obtain the value ℏω₀ for the ground state energy of the harmonic oscillator. We show that the vacuum electromagnetic forces play a very important role in the understanding of this discrepancy.     

Precision solution of the Schrödinger equation with Coulomb and linear confining potentials in momentum space

It is shown that the Schrödinger equation in the momentum representation with linear confining potential and Coulomb and Cornell potentials for the states with zero orbital angular momentum can be solved with high accuracy (far superior to other methods) using special quadrature formulas for singular integrals.     

Collapse in the nonlinear Schrödinger equation

A new class of exact solutions with a singularity at finite time (collapse) is obtained for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation.     

Semiclassical trajectory-coherent states of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with unitary nonlinearity

Semiclassically concentrated states of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) with unitary nonlinearity, representing multidimensional localized wave packets, are constructed on the basis of the Maslov complex germ theory. A system of ordinary differential equations of Hamilton-Ehrenfest (HE) type, describing the motion of the wave packet centroid, is derived. The structure of the HE system is strongly influenced by the initial conditions of the Cauchy problem for the NLSE. Wave packets of Gaussian type are constructed in an explicit form. Possible use of the solutions constructed in the problem of optical pulse propagation in a nonlinear medium with nonstationary dispersion is discussed.     

Thermodynamic Gravity and the Schrödinger Equation

We adopt a formulation of the Mach principle that the rest mass of a particle is a measure of it’s long-range collective interactions with all other particles inside the horizon. As a consequence, all particles in the universe form a ‘gravitationally entangled’ statistical ensemble and one can apply the approach of classical statistical mechanics to it. It is shown that both the Schrödinger equation and the Planck constant can be derived within this Machian model of the universe. The appearance of probabilities, complex wave functions, and quantization conditions is related to the discreetness and finiteness of the Machian ensemble.     

Exact solutions to the Schrödinger equation for potentials with Coulomb and harmonic oscillator terms

Exact solutions to the Schrödinger equation for potentials containing Coulomb (∼1/r) plus harmonic oscillator (∼r²) terms are found, subject to constraints on the ratio of the strengths of the Coulomb and harmonic oscillator terms. The solutions have the simple form of a product of exponential and polynomial functions.