Connection between two Wigner functions for spin systems
Abstract
In 1981, Agarwal proposed a Wigner quasiprobability distribution function on the group SU(2) that serves to analyze two-particle spin states on a sphere. Recent work by our group has included the definition of an apparently distinct Wigner function on generic Lie groups whose natural range has the dimension of the group and serves for all square-integrable representations; for the SO(3) case this entails a three-dimensional ``meta-phase'' space. Both have the fundamental properties covariance and completeness. Here we show how the former is obtained as a restriction of the latter.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review A
- Pub Date:
- March 2000
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevA.61.034101
- Bibcode:
- 2000PhRvA..61c4101C
- Keywords:
-
- 03.65.Bz;
- 42.50.Fx;
- Cooperative phenomena in quantum optical systems