English

Fractional Angular Momentum and Quasi-Probability Densities for Angular Degrees of Freedom

Quantum Physics 2026-04-28 v2 Mathematical Physics math.MP

Abstract

In the present update work we consider properly defined two-parameter quasi-probability densities that, e.g., can be used as witness for quantum behaviour for a class of pure states as expressed in terms of a self-adjoint observable angular position and the corresponding angular momentum operator L. It is shown that negative values of the corresponding quasi-probability densities may reveal the quantum nature of superpositions of angular momentum eigenstates with a fractional mean value of L but in an ambiguous manner. For a suitable choice of parameters these quasi-probability densities are positive and are in accordance with Borns rule in quantum mechanics. It is also shown that experimental data of the uncertainties for the angular position and L observables can be sufficient to reveal some unique quantum-mechanical features of such states without necessarily making use of quasi-probability densities.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2504.20218,
  title  = {Fractional Angular Momentum and Quasi-Probability Densities for Angular Degrees of Freedom},
  author = {Bo-Sture K. Skagerstam and Per K. Rekdal},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2504.20218},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

Update version with a new tile and corrections of minor typographical errors as well as updated graphical files