Work

Complex Probabilities on R N as Real Probabilities on C N and an Application to Path Integrals

Year: 2002

Type: article

Abstract: We establish a necessary and sufficient condition for averages over complex-valued weight functions on R(N) to be represented as statistical averages over real, non-negative probability weights on C(N). Using this result, we show that many path integrals for time-ordered expectation values of bosonic degrees of freedom in real-valued time can be expressed as statistical averages over ensembles of paths with complex-valued coordinates, and then speculate on possible consequences of this result for the relation between quantum and classical mechanics.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.89.240201

Author: Don Weingarten

Institutions: IBM (United States), IBM Research - Thomas J. Watson Research Center

Language: Latvian

Topic: Quantum Mechanics and Applications

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W1992972057

FWCI:

Cites: 24

Cited by: 34

Related to: 10