 Physicists have found that a new powerful tool they call 'Wigner flow' is the quantum analog of phase space flow. (Credit: Image courtesy of University of Hertfordshire) | Three UK-based physicist Ole Steuernagel, Dimitris Kakofengitis ,and Georg Ritter have found what they call a powerful tool called the Wigner flow or the quantum analogue of space flow. |
The information provided by Wigner flow is similar to that gleaned from phase
space trajectories in classical physics. Wigner flow is used to visualize
quantum dynamics and perhaps even more importantly it helps with the abstract
analysis of quantum dynamics using topological methods.
space trajectories in classical physics. Wigner flow is used to visualize
quantum dynamics and perhaps even more importantly it helps with the abstract
analysis of quantum dynamics using topological methods.
"Because trajectories are missing in quantum phase space, physicists did not pay much attention to the associated flow-fields, although these do exist. Now, our research shows that quantum phase space flow is well worth studying." said Ole Steuernagel, from the University's Science and Technology Research Institute
Phase space trajectories give rise to the flow-fields in classical physics
representing the dynamics of the system yielding additional insight into the
systems behaviors.
In quantum theory phase space do not exist since Heisenberg's uncertainty
principle does not allow for the formation of sharply defined
trajectories. Quantum physicists decided to study the next best thing, the
movement of quantum physics phase space -based probability distributions, which
has seen an increase in the recent years.
Reconstructions of the most prominent distributions, Wigners functions have
set quantum phase space analysis on a firm foundation but since quantum
trajectory studies cannot be preformed established classical methods are
missing.
Wigner flow has reviled some surprising features of quantum phase space
dynamics. For example when viewed from a classical physics standpoint vortices
spin the wrong way or appear in the wrong part of phase space.
As an application Wigner flow sheds light on quantum tunneling, fundamental
process of electronic computer circuits, the decay of radionuclides and as
established the existence of a conservation law that reveals a new type of
topological order for quantum dynamics.
representing the dynamics of the system yielding additional insight into the
systems behaviors.
In quantum theory phase space do not exist since Heisenberg's uncertainty
principle does not allow for the formation of sharply defined
trajectories. Quantum physicists decided to study the next best thing, the
movement of quantum physics phase space -based probability distributions, which
has seen an increase in the recent years.
Reconstructions of the most prominent distributions, Wigners functions have
set quantum phase space analysis on a firm foundation but since quantum
trajectory studies cannot be preformed established classical methods are
missing.
Wigner flow has reviled some surprising features of quantum phase space
dynamics. For example when viewed from a classical physics standpoint vortices
spin the wrong way or appear in the wrong part of phase space.
As an application Wigner flow sheds light on quantum tunneling, fundamental
process of electronic computer circuits, the decay of radionuclides and as
established the existence of a conservation law that reveals a new type of
topological order for quantum dynamics.
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