Moments and saturation properties of eigenstates: Oscillator systems
Abstract
Eigenvalues are defined for any element of an algebra of observables and do not require a representation in terms of wave functions or density matrices. A systematic algebraic derivation based on moments is presented here for the harmonic oscillator, together with a perturbative treatment of anharmonic systems. In this process, a collection of inequalities is uncovered which amount to uncertainty relations for higher-order moments saturated by the harmonic-oscillator excited states. Similar saturation properties hold for anharmonic systems order by order in perturbation theory. The new method, based on recurrence relations for moments of a state combined with positivity conditions, is therefore able to show new physical features.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review D
- Pub Date:
- June 2021
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevD.103.126005
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2012.10321
- Bibcode:
- 2021PhRvD.103l6005B
- Keywords:
-
- Quantum Physics;
- Mathematical Physics
- E-Print:
- 30 pages