6533b827fe1ef96bd1285b84

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Wigner function for a particle in an infinite lattice

Margarida Hinarejos DoménechArmando Pérez CañellasMaría Carmen Bañuls Polo

subject

Quantum PhysicsFOS: Physical sciencesQuantum Physics (quant-ph)Partícules (Física nuclear)

description

We study the Wigner function for a quantum system with a discrete, infinite dimensional Hilbert space, such as a spinless particle moving on a one dimensional infinite lattice. We discuss the peculiarities of this scenario and of the associated phase space construction, propose a meaningful definition of the Wigner function in this case, and characterize the set of pure states for which it is non-negative. We propose a measure of non-classicality for states in this system which is consistent with the continuum limit. The prescriptions introduced here are illustrated by applying them to localized and Gaussian states, and to their superpositions.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2012-05-17
10.1088/1367-2630/14/10/103009http://arxiv.org/abs/1205.3925