English

Non-negative Wigner functions for orbital angular momentum states

Quantum Physics 2010-01-19 v2

Abstract

The Wigner function of a pure continuous-variable quantum state is non-negative if and only if the state is Gaussian. Here we show that for the canonical pair angle and angular momentum, the only pure states with non-negative Wigner functions are the eigenstates of the angular momentum. Some implications of this surprising result are discussed.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0909.1887,
  title  = {Non-negative Wigner functions for orbital angular momentum states},
  author = {I. Rigas and L. L. Sanchez-Soto and A. B. Klimov and J. Rehacek and Z. Hradil},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0909.1887},
  year   = {2010}
}

Comments

4 pages. Minor changes (including title). To appear in Physica. Review A

R2 v1 2026-06-21T13:44:46.915Z