Phys. Rev. A 49, 4101 - 4109 (1994)Wigner distribution of a general angular-momentum state: Applications to a collection of two-level atoms |
PRL Celebrates 50 Years
This Week's Milestone Letters are from 1973: |
Jonathan P. Dowling
Weapons Sciences Directorate, AMSMI-RD-WS-ST, Research, Development, Engineering Center, U.S. Army Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama 35898-5248
G. S. Agarwal
School of Physics, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad-500 134, India
Wolfgang P. Schleich
Abteilung für Quantenphysik, Universität Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg D-89069 Ulm, Germany
Received 10 November 1993
The general theory of quantum angular momentum is used to derive the unique Wigner distribution function for arbitrary angular-momentum states. We give the explicit distribution for atomic angular-momentum Dicke states, coherent states, and squeezed states that correspond to a collection of N two-level atoms. These Wigner functions W(θ,cphi) are represented as a pseudoprobability distribution in spherical phase space with spherical coordinates θ and cphi on the surface of a sphere of radius ħ √j(j+1) where j is the total angular-momentum eigenvalue.
©1994 The American Physical Society
URL: http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRA/v49/p4101
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.49.4101
PACS: 42.50.Dv, 03.65.Bz, 31.15.+q
[ Abstract | Previous article | Next article | Issue 5 ]
About PROLA | Terms and Conditions | Subscriptions | Search | Help
Content in PROLA © 2008 by The American Physical Society All rights reserved. PROLA™ is a trademark of The American Physical Society. Use of APS online journals implies that the user has read and agrees to the Terms and Conditions in the Subscription Agreement.