Published October 2010 | Version v1
Journal article

Necessity of negativity in quantum theory

  • 1. Institute for Quantum Computing and Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1 (Canada)

Description

A unification of the set of quasiprobability representations using the mathematical theory of frames was recently developed for quantum systems with finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces, in which it was proven that such representations require negative probability in either the states or the effects. In this article we extend those results to Hilbert spaces of infinite dimension, for which the celebrated Wigner function is a special case. Hence, this article presents a unified framework for describing the set of possible quasiprobability representations of quantum theory, and a proof that the presence of negativity is a necessary feature of such representations.

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review. A
Journal Volume
82
Journal Issue
4
Journal Page Range
p. 044103-044103.4
ISSN
1050-2947
CODEN
PLRAAN

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
42047676
Subject category
S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
HILBERT SPACE; PROBABILITY; QUANTUM MECHANICS; QUANTUM OPERATORS; QUANTUM STATES
Descriptors DEC
BANACH SPACE; MATHEMATICAL OPERATORS; MATHEMATICAL SPACE; MECHANICS; SPACE

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2010 The American Physical Society