Blaszak 2012 Olsztyn

Canonical Coordinate Transformations in Quantum
Mechanics
Part 1
Maciej Blaszak and Ziemowit Domański
Adam Mickiewicz University, Faculty of Physics

Division of Mathematical Physics
June 21–22, 2012
Maciej Blaszak and Ziemowit Domański (UAM) Canonical Coordinate Transformations in . . . June 21–22, 2012 1 / 20
Motivation
Classical harmonic oscillator

Hamiltonian:
1 2
p + ω2 x 2

H(x, p) =
2
Born’s quantization rule

x → q̂ = x, p → p̂ = −i~∂x , symmetric ordering of q̂, p̂
After applying it to the Hamiltonian of the harmonic oscillator:
1 2
p̂ + ω 2 q̂ 2

Ĥ = H(q̂, p̂) =
2
Motivation
Perform a classical canonical transformation of coordinates

T : (R \ {0}) × R → (R \ {0}) × R, T (x 0 , p 0 ) = (x, p) where
( p
|2x 0 |, x 0 > 0 0
p
x= p , p = p |2x 0 |
− |2x 0 |, x 0 < 0
receiving
H 0 (x 0 , p 0 ) = H(T (x 0 , p 0 )) = |x 0 |p 02 + ω 2 |x 0 |.
Born’s quantization rule:

1 0 02 1 02 0
Ĥ 0 = H 0 (q̂ 0 , p̂ 0 ) = |q̂ |p̂ + p̂ |q̂ | + ω 2 |q̂ 0 |.
2 2
Hamiltonians Ĥ and Ĥ 0 are not unitarily equivalent — they describe different

quantum systems. Inconsistency of the quantization of classical Hamiltonian
systems?
Quantum mechanics on phase space
The idea of a quantization of a classical Hamiltonian system

A deformation, with respect to the Planck’s constant ~, of a classical Hamiltonian
system:
a deformation of a phase space (a Poisson manifold) to a noncommutative
phase space (a noncommutative Poisson manifold),
a deformation of a classical space of states to a quantum space of states.
A deformation of a phase space

A Poisson manifold (M, P) (P being a Poisson tensor) is fully described by a
Poisson algebra AC = (C ∞ (M), ·, { · , · }). By deforming AC to some
noncommutative algebra AQ = (C ∞ (M), ?, [[ · , · ]]), where ? is some
noncommutative associative product of functions being a deformation of a
point-wise product · and [[ · , · ]] is a deformation of the Poisson bracket { · , · }, we
can think of AQ as describing a noncommutative Poisson manifold.
Moyal quantization scheme

Let M = R2 and P = ∂x ∧ ∂p . Define the ?-product by

1 ← − →− 1 ← − →−
f ? g = f exp i~ ∂ x ∂ p − i~ ∂ p ∂ x g , f , g ∈ C ∞ (R2 )
2 2
and the deformed Poisson bracket by

1 1
[[f , g ]] = [f , g ] = (f ? g − g ? f ), f , g ∈ C ∞ (R2 ).
i~ i~
Space of states
Define a quantum space of states as a Hilbert space H = L2 (R2 ). It is possible to
define the ?-product on H by extending it from the algebra C ∞ (R2 ).
Observables and states as operators

Observables A ∈ C ∞ (R2 ) and states Ψ ∈ L2 (R2 ) can be treated as operators Â
and Ψ̂ defined on the Hilbert space of states L2 (R2 ) by the following prescription
√
Â = A ? , Ψ̂ = 2π~Ψ ? .
The operator Â can be written as a symmetrically-ordered function A of operators

of position q̂M = x ? = x + 12 i~∂p and momentum p̂M = p ? = p − 21 i~∂x :
Â = A ? = AM (q̂M , p̂M ).
Canonical transformations of coordinates in phase space
quantum mechanics
Transformations of phase space coordinates

A transformation of phase space coordinates is defined as in classical mechanics,
i.e. as a smooth bijective map
T : R2 ⊃ U 3 (x 0 , p 0 ) → (x, p) ∈ W ⊂ R2 .
We will assume that T is defined on almost the whole phase space, i.e. R2 \ U
and R2 \ W are sets of measure zero.
Observables A ∈ C ∞ (R2 ) and states Ψ ∈ L2 (R2 ) transform according to the

formulae
A0 (x 0 , p 0 ) = A(T (x 0 , p 0 )), Ψ0 (x 0 , p 0 ) = Ψ(T (x 0 , p 0 )).
quantum mechanics
The ?-product has to transform according to the formula
(f ? g ) ◦ T = (f ◦ T ) ?0T (g ◦ T ), f , g ∈ C ∞ (R2 ).
The ?0T -product is in fact given by the following equation

0 1 ←−−→ 1 ←−−→
f ?T g = f exp i~Dx 0 Dp0 − i~Dp0 Dx 0 g ,
2 2
where vector fields Dx 0 , Dp0 are derivations ∂x , ∂p transformed by the

transformation T according to the formulae
(∂x f ) ◦ T = Dx 0 (f ◦ T ), f ∈ C ∞ (R2 ),
(∂p f ) ◦ T = Dp0 (f ◦ T ), f ∈ C ∞ (R2 ).
quantum mechanics
Example: Linear transformations

(x, p) = T (x 0 , p 0 ) = (dx 0 − bp 0 , −cx 0 + ap 0 ),
where a, b, c, d ∈ R, ad − bc = 1. The linear transformation T is generated by a
function F (x, x 0 ) = b1 xx 0 − 2b
a 2 d 02
x − 2b x , i.e.
∂F ∂F
p= (x, x 0 ), p0 = − (x, x 0 ).
∂x ∂x 0
The linear transformation T preserves the ?-product, i.e.
(f ? g ) ◦ T = (f ◦ T ) ?0 (g ◦ T ), f , g ∈ C ∞ (R2 ),
where
1 ← − → − 1 ← − → −
?0 = exp i~ ∂ x 0 ∂ p0 − i~ ∂ p0 ∂ x 0 .
2 2
quantum mechanics
Example: A class of nonlinear transformations

(x, p) = T (x 0 , p 0 ) = (−ap 0 − aφ0 (x 0 ), a−1 x 0 ).
where a ∈ R, a 6= 0, φ is an arbitrary smooth function. The transformation T is
generated by the function F (x, x 0 ) = a−1 xx 0 + φ(x 0 ). The Moyal ?-product
transforms to the following product

1 ←−−→ 1 ←−−→
?0T = exp i~Dx 0 Dp0 − i~Dp0 Dx 0 ,
2 2
where
Dx 0 = −a−1 ∂p0 , Dp0 = a∂x 0 − aφ00 (x 0 )∂p0 .
quantum mechanics
Example: Nonlinear point transformations

(x, p) = T (x 0 , p 0 ) = (φ(x 0 ), (φ0 (x 0 ))−1 p 0 )
where φ is an arbitrary smooth bijective function. The transformation T is
generated by the function F (x 0 , p) = −pφ(x 0 ), i.e.
∂F 0 ∂F 0
x =− (x , p), p0 = − (x , p).
∂p ∂x 0
The Moyal ?-product transforms to the following product

1 ←−−→ 1 ←−−→
?0T = exp i~Dx 0 Dp0 − i~Dp0 Dx 0 ,
2 2
where
Dx 0 = (φ0 (x 0 ))−1 ∂x 0 + (φ0 (x 0 ))−2 φ00 (x 0 )p 0 ∂p0 , Dp0 = φ0 (x 0 )∂p0 .
Special case of the previous example
For ( p
0 |2x 0 |, x 0 > 0
φ(x ) = p
− |2x 0 |, x 0 < 0
we receive the following point transformation
(p p
0 0 ( |2x 0 |, p 0 |2x 0 |), x0 > 0
(x, p) = T (x , p ) = p p .
(− |2x |, p |2x |), x 0 < 0
0 0 0
The transformed Moyal product takes the form

0 1 ←−−→ 1 ←−−→
?T = exp i~Dx 0 Dp0 − i~Dp0 Dx 0 ,
2 2
where
p sgn(x 0 ) 0 1
Dx 0 = |2x 0 |∂x 0 − p p ∂p 0 , Dp 0 = p ∂p0 .
|2x 0 | |2x 0 |
Classical canonical transformations
A transformation T of coordinates is a classical canonical transformation if
{x 0 , p 0 }0 = 1,
where { · , · }0 denotes a Poisson bracket transformed to the new coordinate

system:
{f , g }0 = {f ◦ T −1 , g ◦ T −1 } ◦ T , f , g ∈ C ∞ (R2 ).
Quantum canonical transformations

A transformation T of coordinates is a quantum canonical transformation if
[[x 0 , p 0 ]]0 = 1,
where [[ · , · ]]0 denotes a deformed Poisson bracket transformed to the new

coordinate system:
[[f , g ]]0 = [[f ◦ T −1 , g ◦ T −1 ]] ◦ T , f , g ∈ C ∞ (R2 ).
The transformations from previous examples are simultaneously classical and

quantum canonical transformations.
quantum mechanics
A transformation T of coordinates transforms the space of states L2 (R2 ) into the

Hilbert space L2 (R2 , µT ) with the standard scalar product, where
dµT (x 0 , p 0 ) = |det T 0 (x 0 , p 0 )| dx 0 dp 0 . Of course, if T is also a classical canonical
transformation then dµT (x 0 , p 0 ) = dx 0 dp 0 , since the Jacobian of a classical
canonical transformation is equal 1.
An important observation useful when passing to the ordinary description of
quantum mechanics is the following. For a given quantum canonical
transformation T the transformed star-product is equivalent with the Moyal
product, i.e. there exist a unique vector space automorphism ST of C ∞ (R2 )
satisfying
X∞
ST = ~k Sk , S0 = 1,
k=0
ST (f ?0 g ) = (ST f ) ?0T (ST g ), f , g ∈ C ∞ (R2 ),
ST x 0 = x 0 , ST p 0 = p 0 ,
ST (f ∗ ) = (ST f )∗ , f ∈ C ∞ (R2 ),
where Sk are differential operators.
For a quantum canonical transformation T of coordinates
ST : L2 (R2 ) → L2 (R2 , µT )
and ST is a Hilbert space isomorphism.
quantum mechanics
Transformation of observables treated as operators

Let T be a quantum canonical transformation of coordinates and A ∈ C ∞ (R2 ).
The transformed observable A0 = A ◦ T can be treated as the following operator
Â0 = A0 ?0T = A0M,ST (q̂T0 , p̂T0 ) ≡ (ST−1 A0 )M (q̂T0 , p̂T0 ),
where q̂T0 = x 0 ?0T , p̂T0 = p 0 ?0T .
Example: Linear transformations
For a linear transformation
(x, p) = T (x 0 , p 0 ) = (dx 0 − bp 0 , −cx 0 + ap 0 )
an isomorphism ST = 1.
Example: A class of nonlinear transformations

For a transformation
(x, p) = T (x 0 , p 0 ) = (−ap 0 − aφ0 (x 0 ), a−1 x 0 )
an isomorphism ST is equal
∞ 2n !
1 X
n ~ (2n+1) 0 2n+1
ST = exp − (−1) φ (x )∂p0
n=1
(2n + 1)! 2

i 1 1
= exp φ x 0 + i~∂p0 − φ x 0 − i~∂p0 − i~φ0 (x 0 )∂p0 .
~ 2 2
quantum mechanics
Example: Nonlinear point transformations

For a point transformation
(x, p) = T (x 0 , p 0 ) = (φ(x 0 ), (φ0 (x 0 ))−1 p 0 )
2
1 ~ 0 0 −2

ST = 1 + (φ (x )) 3(φ00 (x 0 ))2 − φ0 (x 0 )φ000 (x 0 ) p 0 ∂p30
3! 2

0 0 00 0 00 0 2 2
+ 3φ (x )φ (x )∂x ∂p0 + 3(φ (x )) ∂p0 + o(~4 ).
0
2
quantum mechanics
Special case of the previous example

For a point transformation
(p p
0 ( |2x 0 |, p 0 |2x 0 |),
0 x0 > 0
(x, p) = T (x , p ) = p p
(− |2x |, p |2x |), x 0 < 0
0 0 0
∞ 2n !
X ~
n 0 0 −2n+1 2n 0 −2n 2n
ST = exp (−1) An sgn(x )|2x | ∂x 0 ∂p0 − Bn |2x | ∂p0
n=1
2
1 1
= 1 − ~2 sgn(x 0 )|2x 0 |−1 ∂x 0 ∂p20 + ~2 |2x 0 |−2 ∂p20 + o(~4 ),
8 8
where An , Bn are some rational constants.
The End
of
Part 1

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Canonical Coordinate Transformations in Quantum

Maciej Blaszak and Ziemowit Domański

Adam Mickiewicz University, Faculty of Physics

June 21–22, 2012

Classical harmonic oscillator

Born’s quantization rule

Perform a classical canonical transformation of coordinates

Born’s quantization rule:

Hamiltonians Ĥ and Ĥ 0 are not unitarily equivalent — they describe different

The idea of a quantization of a classical Hamiltonian system

A deformation of a phase space

Moyal quantization scheme

and the deformed Poisson bracket by

Observables and states as operators

The operator Â can be written as a symmetrically-ordered function A of operators

Transformations of phase space coordinates

Observables A ∈ C ∞ (R2 ) and states Ψ ∈ L2 (R2 ) transform according to the

The ?-product has to transform according to the formula

The ?0T -product is in fact given by the following equation

where vector fields Dx 0 , Dp0 are derivations ∂x , ∂p transformed by the

Example: Linear transformations

Example: A class of nonlinear transformations

Example: Nonlinear point transformations

Dx 0 = (φ0 (x 0 ))−1 ∂x 0 + (φ0 (x 0 ))−2 φ00 (x 0 )p 0 ∂p0 , Dp0 = φ0 (x 0 )∂p0 .

The transformed Moyal product takes the form

where { · , · }0 denotes a Poisson bracket transformed to the new coordinate

Quantum canonical transformations

where [[ · , · ]]0 denotes a deformed Poisson bracket transformed to the new

[[f , g ]]0 = [[f ◦ T −1 , g ◦ T −1 ]] ◦ T , f , g ∈ C ∞ (R2 ).

The transformations from previous examples are simultaneously classical and

A transformation T of coordinates transforms the space of states L2 (R2 ) into the

For a quantum canonical transformation T of coordinates

and ST is a Hilbert space isomorphism.

Transformation of observables treated as operators

Â0 = A0 ?0T = A0M,ST (q̂T0 , p̂T0 ) ≡ (ST−1 A0 )M (q̂T0 , p̂T0 ),

where q̂T0 = x 0 ?0T , p̂T0 = p 0 ?0T .

(x, p) = T (x 0 , p 0 ) = (dx 0 − bp 0 , −cx 0 + ap 0 )

Example: A class of nonlinear transformations

(x, p) = T (x 0 , p 0 ) = (−ap 0 − aφ0 (x 0 ), a−1 x 0 )

Example: Nonlinear point transformations

(x, p) = T (x 0 , p 0 ) = (φ(x 0 ), (φ0 (x 0 ))−1 p 0 )

Special case of the previous example

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