The wave operator representation of quantum and classical dynamics

Abstract: The choice of mathematical representation when describing physical systems is of great consequence, and this choice is usually determined by the properties of the problem at hand. Here we examine the little-known wave operator representation of quantum dynamics, and explore its connection to standard methods of quantum dynamics. This method takes as its central object the square root of the density matrix, and consequently enjoys several unusual advantages over standard representations. By combining this with purification techniques imported from quantum information, we are able to obtain a number of results. Not only is this formalism able to provide a natural bridge between phase and Hilbert space representations of both quantum and classical dynamics, we also find the waveoperator representation leads to novel semiclassical approximations of both real and imaginary time dynamics, as well as a transparent correspondence to the classical limit. This is demonstrated via the example of quadratic and quartic Hamiltonians, while the potential extensions of the waveoperator and its application to quantum-classical hybrids is discussed. We argue that the wave operator provides a new perspective that links previously unrelated representations, and is a natural candidate model for scenarios (such as hybrids) in which positivity cannot be otherwise guaranteed.