Phase space representations and perturbation theory for continuous-time histories

Jan, 2007
23 pages
Published in:
  • J.Math.Phys. 48 (2007) 072106
e-Print:

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Abstract:
We consider two technical developments of the formalism of continuous-time histories. First, we provide an explicit description of histories of the simple harmonic oscillator on the classical histories phase space, comparing and contrasting the Q, P and Wigner representations/ we conclude that a representation based on coherent states is the most appropriate. Second, we demonstrate a generic method for implementing a perturbative approach for interacting theories in the histories formalism, using the quartic anharmonic oscillator. We make use of the identification of the closed-time path (CTP) generating functional with the decoherence functional to develop a perturbative expansion for the latter up to second order in the coupling constant. We consider both configuration space and phase space histories.
Note:
  • 22 pages; slightly shortened, more concise argumentation; ref. added
  • 03.65.Ge
  • 03.65.Ta
  • 03.65.Ca
  • perturbation theory
  • harmonic oscillators