English

Non-positivity of the Wigner function and bounds on associated integrals

Quantum Physics 2009-11-10 v1

Abstract

The Wigner function shares several properties with classical distribution functions on phase space, but is not positive-definite. The integral of the Wigner function over a given region of phase space can therefore lie outside the interval [0,1]. The problem of finding best-possible upper and lower bounds for a given region is the problem of finding the greatest and least eigenvalues of an associated Hermitian operator. Exactly solvable examples are described, and possible extensions are indicated.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0304110,
  title  = {Non-positivity of the Wigner function and bounds on associated integrals},
  author = {A. J. Bracken and D. Ellinas and J. G. Wood},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0304110},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

5 pages, Latex2e file

R2 v1 2026-07-22T19:39:04.712Z