Published October 7, 1990
| Version v1
Journal article
On the probability density interpretation of smoothed Wigner functions
- 1. Sao Paulo Univ., SP (Brazil). Inst. de Fisica
Description
It has been conjectured that the averages of the Wigner function over phase space volumes, larger than those of minimum uncertainty, are always positive. This is true for Gaussian averaging, so that the Husimi distribution is positive. However, we provide a specific counterexample for the averaging with a discontinuous hat function. The analysis of the specific system of a one-dimensional particle in a box also elucidates the respective advantages of the Wigner and the Husimi functions for the study of the semiclassical limit. The falsification of the averaging conjecture is shown not to depend on the discontinuities of the hat function, by considering the latter as the limit of a sequence of analytic functions. (author)
Additional details
Publishing Information
- Journal Title
- Journal of Physics. B, Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics
- Journal Volume
- 23
- Journal Issue
- 19
- Series
- J. Phys., B Atom. Mol. Opt. Phys.
- Journal Page Range
- L1025-L1031
- ISSN
- 0953-4075
- CODEN
- JPAPE
INIS
- Country of Publication
- United Kingdom
- Country of Input or Organization
- United Kingdom
- INIS RN
- 22013103
- Subject category
- S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
- Descriptors DEI
- PHASE SPACE; PROBABILITY; QUANTUM MECHANICS; SEMICLASSICAL APPROXIMATION; WIGNER THEORY
- Descriptors DEC
- MATHEMATICAL SPACE; MECHANICS; SPACE