Unification of energy concepts in generalised phase space theories
- Resource Type
- Working Paper
- Authors
- Jiang, Libo; Terno, Daniel R.; Dahlsten, Oscar
- Source
- Phys. Rev. Lett. 132, 120201 (2024)
- Subject
- Quantum Physics
Physics - Classical Physics
- Language
We consider how to describe Hamiltonian mechanics in generalised probabilistic theories with the states represented as quasi-probability distributions. We give general operational definitions of energy-related concepts. We define generalised energy eigenstates as the purest stationary states. Planck's constant plays two different roles in the framework: the phase space volume taken up by a pure state and a dynamical factor. The Hamiltonian is a linear combination of generalised energy eigenstates. This allows for a generalised Liouville time-evolution equation that applies to quantum and classical Hamiltonian mechanics and more. The approach enables a unification of quantum and classical energy concepts and a route to discussing energy in a wider set of theories.
Comment: 5 pages and 2 pages of supplementary material. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2403.00038