Phase Space Path Integrals, Without Limiting Procedure,

Abstract

This paper defines path integrals in phase space without using a time-division approach followed by a limiting process, thereby generalizing a similar procedure used in configuration space. This is useful since the path integral approach cannot always be formulated in configuration space (e.g., when the Hamiltonian is arbitrary) but can always be formulated in phase space. The most general Gaussian measure, absorbing the quadratic portion of the functional to be integrated, is constructed, and large classes of path integrals are evaluated with respect to it. Applications are given to the perturbation expansion and the semiclassical (WKB) expansion for arbitrary Hamiltonians. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1977
Accession Number
ADA040107

Entities

People

  • Maurice M. Mizrahi

Organizations

  • Center for Naval Analyses

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anharmonic Oscillators
  • Brownian Motion
  • Covariance
  • Delta Functions
  • Equations
  • Integrals
  • Momentum
  • Naval Personnel
  • Oscillators
  • Particles
  • Path Integrals
  • Personnel Management
  • Perturbations
  • Power Series
  • Quantum Mechanics
  • Time Intervals
  • Uncertainty Principle

Readers

  • Calculus or Mathematical Analysis

Technology Areas

  • Space