On phase-space representations of quantum mechanics using Glauber coherent states

A phase-space formulation of quantum mechanics is proposed by constructing two representations (identified as pq and qp) in terms of the Glauber coherent states, in which phase-space wave functions (probability amplitudes) play the central role, and position q and momentum p are treated on equal footing. After finding some basic properties of the pq and qp wave functions, the quantum operators in phase-space are represented by differential operators, and the Schrödinger equation is formulated in both pictures. Afterwards, the method is generalized to work with the density operator by converting the quantum Liouville equation into pq and qp equations of motion for two-point functions in phase-space. A coordinate transformation between those points allows one to construct a cell in phase-space, whose central point can be treated as a parameter. In this way, one gets equations of motion describing the evolution of one-point functions in phase-space. Finally, it is shown that some quantities obtained in this paper are related in a natural way with cross-Wigner functions, which are constructed with either the position or the momentum wave functions.     

Phase-space treatment of the driven quantum harmonic oscillator

A recent phase-space formulation of quantum mechanics in terms of the Glauber coherent states is applied to study the interaction of a one-dimensional harmonic oscillator with an arbitrary time-dependent force. Wave functions of the simultaneous values of position q and momentum p are deduced, which in turn give the standard position and momentum wave functions, together with expressions for the ηth derivatives with respect to q and p, respectively. Afterwards, general formulae for momentum, position and energy expectation values are obtained, and the Ehrenfest theorem is verified. Subsequently, general expressions for the cross-Wigner functions are deduced. Finally, a specific example is considered to numerically and graphically illustrate some results.