Breakdown of the coherent state path integral: two simple examples

ORAL

Abstract

We show how the time-continuous coherent state path integral breaks down for both the single-site Bose-Hubbard model and the spin path integral. Specifically, when the Hamiltonian is quadratic in a generator of the algebra used to construct coherent states, the path integral fails to produce correct results following from an operator approach. As suggested by previous authors, we note that the problems do not arise in the time-discretized version of the path integral. Further, a na\"ive use of the semiclassics agrees with our conclusions.

Authors

  • Justin Wilson

    Dept. of Physics, University of Maryland

  • Victor Galitski

    Dept. of Physics, University of Maryland, University of Maryland, University of Maryland College Park, University of Maryland, College Park