Wigner distributions for finite-state systems without redundant phase-point operators

Chaturvedi, S and Mukunda, N and Simon, R (2010) Wigner distributions for finite-state systems without redundant phase-point operators. In: Journal of physics a-mathematical and theoretical, 43 (7).

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Abstract

We set up Wigner distributions for N-state quantum systems following a Dirac-inspired approach. In contrast to much of the work in this study, requiring a 2N x 2N phase space, particularly when N is even, our approach is uniformly based on an N x N phase-space grid and thereby avoids the necessity of having to invoke a `quadrupled' phase space and hence the attendant redundance. Both N odd and even cases are analysed in detail and it is found that there are striking differences between the two. While the N odd case permits full implementation of the marginal property, the even case does so only in a restricted sense. This has the consequence that in the even case one is led to several equally good definitions of the Wigner distributions as opposed to the odd case where the choice turns out to be unique.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Journal of physics a-mathematical and theoretical
Publisher:	IOP Publishing Limited
Additional Information:	copyright of this article belongs to IOP Publishing Limited.
Department/Centre:	Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Centre for High Energy Physics
Date Deposited:	08 Mar 2010 13:50
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 05:55
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/25799

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