Particle approximations of Wigner distributions for n arbitrary observables

ORAL

Abstract

A class of signed joint probability measures for n arbitrary quantum observables is derived and studied based on quasi-characteristic functions with symmetrized operator orderings of Margenau-Hill type. It is shown that the Wigner distribution associated with these observables can be rigorously approximated by such measures. These measures are given by affine combinations of Dirac delta distributions supported over the finite spectral range of the quantum observables and give the correct probability marginals when coarse-grained along any principal axis. We specialize to bivariate quasi-probability distributions for the spin measurements of spin-1/2 particles and derive their closed-form expressions. As a side result, we point out a connection between the convergence of these particle approximations and the Mehler-Heine theorem. Finally, we interpret the supports of these quasi-probability distributions in terms of repeated thought experiments.

*This research has been supported in part by the NSF under ECCS-2347357, AFOSR under FA9550-24-1-0278, and ARO under W911NF-22-1-0292.

Publication: Preprint title: "Particle approximations of Wigner distributions for n arbitrary observables"
Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.19206#:~:text=Particle%20approximations%20of%20Wigner%20distributions%20for%20n%20arbitrary%20observables,-Ralph%20Sabbagh%2C%20Olga&text=A%20class%20of%20signed%20joint,orderings%20of%20Margenau%2DHill%20type.

Presenters

  • Ralph Sabbagh

    • University of California, Irvine

Authors

  • Ralph Sabbagh

    • University of California, Irvine
  • Olga Movilla Miangolarra

    • University of California, Irvine
    • UC Irvine
  • Hamid Hezari

    • University of California, Irvine
  • Tryphon Thomas Georgiou

    • University of California, Irvine