Form-preserving transformations of wave and Wigner functions

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Amin, Mustafa, Daub, Mason, Walton, Mark A.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Amin, Mustafa
Daub, Mason
Walton, Mark A.
author_facet Amin, Mustafa
Daub, Mason
Walton, Mark A.
contents Solutions of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation are mapped to other solutions for a (possibly) different potential by so-called form-preserving transformations. These time-dependent transformations of the space and time coordinates can produce remarkable solutions with surprising properties. A classic example is the force-free accelerating Airy beam found by Berry and Balazs. We review the 1-dimensional form-preserving transformations and show that they also yield Senitzky coherent excited states and the free dispersion of any harmonic-oscillator stationary state. Form preservation of the $D$- and 3-dimensional Schrödinger equation with both a scalar and a vector potential is then considered. Time-dependent rotations may be included when a vector potential is present; we find a general transformation formula for this case. Quantum form-preserving maps are also considered in phase space. First, the wave-function transformation is shown to produce a simple result for Wigner functions: they transform as a true phase-space probability would. The explicit transformation formula explains and generalizes the rigid evolution of curves in phase space that characterize the Airy beam and the coherent excited states. Then we recover the known form-preserving transformations from the Moyal equation obeyed by Wigner functions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_21949
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Form-preserving transformations of wave and Wigner functions
Amin, Mustafa
Daub, Mason
Walton, Mark A.
Quantum Physics
Mathematical Physics
Solutions of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation are mapped to other solutions for a (possibly) different potential by so-called form-preserving transformations. These time-dependent transformations of the space and time coordinates can produce remarkable solutions with surprising properties. A classic example is the force-free accelerating Airy beam found by Berry and Balazs. We review the 1-dimensional form-preserving transformations and show that they also yield Senitzky coherent excited states and the free dispersion of any harmonic-oscillator stationary state. Form preservation of the $D$- and 3-dimensional Schrödinger equation with both a scalar and a vector potential is then considered. Time-dependent rotations may be included when a vector potential is present; we find a general transformation formula for this case. Quantum form-preserving maps are also considered in phase space. First, the wave-function transformation is shown to produce a simple result for Wigner functions: they transform as a true phase-space probability would. The explicit transformation formula explains and generalizes the rigid evolution of curves in phase space that characterize the Airy beam and the coherent excited states. Then we recover the known form-preserving transformations from the Moyal equation obeyed by Wigner functions.
title Form-preserving transformations of wave and Wigner functions
topic Quantum Physics
Mathematical Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.21949