Quantum geodesics in quantum mechanics
Abstract
We show that the standard Heisenberg algebra of quantum mechanics admits a noncommutative differential calculus depending on the Hamiltonian , and a flat quantum connection with torsion such that a previous quantum-geometric formulation of flow along autoparallel curves (or `geodesics') is exactly Schr\"odinger's equation. The connection preserves a generalised `skew metric' given by the canonical symplectic structure lifted to a certain rank (0,2) tensor on the extended phase space where we adjoin a time variable. We also apply the same approach to the Klein Gordon equation on Minkowski spacetime with a background electromagnetic field, formulating quantum `geodesics' on the relativistic Heisenberg algebra with proper time for the external geodesic parameter. Examples include a relativistic free particle wave packet and a hydrogen-like atom.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1912.13376,
title = {Quantum geodesics in quantum mechanics},
author = {Edwin Beggs and Shahn Majid},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1912.13376},
year = {2021}
}
Comments
43 pages latex, 1 pdf figure. This was revised to make it much more readable, moving the Poisson geometry to the end. The harmonic oscillator example is now more substantial and we added a discussion of `Heisenberg flow' to complement the main Schroedinger wave function flow