Abstract
We demonstrate that the Wigner function of a pure quantum state is a wave function in a specially tuned Dirac bra-ket formalism and argue that the Wigner function is in fact a probability amplitude for the quantum particle to be at a certain point of the classical phase space. Additionally, we establish that in the classical limit, the Wigner function transforms into a classical Koopman-von Neumann wave function rather than into a classical probability distribution. Since probability amplitude need not be positive, our findings provide an alternative outlook on the Wigner function's negativity.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 052108 |
Journal | Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics |
Volume | 88 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 11 2013 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics