Quantum Mechanics In Phase Space: An Overview With Selected Papers Hardback

Edited by Thomas L (Univ Of Miami, Usa) Curtright, David B (Univ Of Durham, Uk) Fairlie, Cosmas K (Argonne Nat'l Lab, Usa) Zachos

Part of the World Scientific Series In 20th Century Physics series

Hardback

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Description

Wigner's quasi-probability distribution function in phase space is a special (Weyl) representation of the density matrix.

It has been useful in describing quantum transport in quantum optics; nuclear physics; decoherence, quantum computing, and quantum chaos.

It is also important in signal processing and the mathematics of algebraic deformation.

A remarkable aspect of its internal logic, pioneered by Groenewold and Moyal, has only emerged in the last quarter-century: it furnishes a third, alternative, formulation of quantum mechanics, independent of the conventional Hilbert space, or path integral formulations.In this logically complete and self-standing formulation, one need not choose sides - coordinate or momentum space.

It works in full phase space, accommodating the uncertainty principle, and it offers unique insights into the classical limit of quantum theory.

This invaluable book is a collection of the seminal papers on the formulation, with an introductory overview which provides a trail map for those papers; an extensive bibliography; and simple illustrations, suitable for applications to a broad range of physics problems.

It can provide supplementary material for a beginning graduate course in quantum mechanics.