Published June 1, 2003 | Version v1
Journal article

Explicit solution of the time evolution of the Wigner function

  • 1. Physics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6373 (United States)

Description

Previously, an explicit solution for the time evolution of the Wigner function was presented in terms of auxiliary phase space coordinates which obey simple equations that are analogous with, but not identical to, the classical equations of motion. They can be solved easily, and their solutions can be used to construct the time evolution of the Wigner function. In this paper, the usefulness of this explicit solution is demonstrated by solving a numerical example in which the Wigner function has strong spatial and temporal variations as well as regions with negative values. It is found that the explicit solution gives a correct description of the time evolution of the Wigner function. We examine next the pseudoparticle method which uses classical trajectories to evolve the Wigner function. We find that the lowest-order pseudoparticle approximation reproduces the general features of the time evolution, but there are deviations. We show how these deviations can be systematically reduced by including higher-order correction terms in powers of h-bar 2

Availability note (English)

Available online at http://stacks.iop.org/1464-4266/5/S420/ob3381.pdf or at the Web site for the Journal of Optics. B, Quantum and Semiclassical Optics (Print) (ISSN 1464-4266) http://www.iop.org/

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Journal of Optics. B, Quantum and Semiclassical Optics (Print)
Journal Volume
5
Journal Issue
3
Journal Page Range
p. S420-S428
ISSN
1464-4266

Conference

Title
Wigner centennial conference
Dates
8-12 Jul 2002
Place
Pecs (Hungary)

INIS

Country of Publication
United Kingdom
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
34073115
Subject category
S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
Resource subtype / Literary indicator
Conference
Descriptors DEI
CALCULATION METHODS; DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS; QUANTUM MECHANICS; TIME DEPENDENCE; WIGNER THEORY
Descriptors DEC
FUNCTIONS; MECHANICS