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Non-negative Wigner functions for orbital angular momentum states

Source: Phys. Rev. A 81, 012101 (2010); doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.81.012101

Published 4 January 2010

PACS
  • 03.65.Fd
    Algebraic methods in quantum mechanics
  • 03.65.Ta
    Foundations of quantum mechanics; measurement theory
  • 03.65.Sq
    Semiclassical theories and applications in quantum mechanics
  • 03.67.-a
    Quantum information
  • YEAR: 2010
PUBLICATION DATA
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I. Rigas,1 L. L. Snchez-Soto,1 A. B. Klimov,2 J. ehek,3 and Z. Hradil3
1Departamento de ptica, Facultad de Fsica, Universidad Complutense, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
2Departamento de Fsica, Universidad de Guadalajara, 44420 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
3Department of Optics, Palack University, 17. listopadu 50, CZ-772 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
The Wigner function of a pure continuous-variable quantum state is non-negative if and only if the state is Gaussian. Here we show that for the canonical pair angle and angular momentum, the only pure states with non-negative Wigner functions are the eigenstates of the angular momentum. Some implications of this surprising result are discussed. ©2010 The American Physical Society
History: Received 16 September 2009; published 4 January 2010
Permalink: http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRA/v81/e012101
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