Quantum Hamilton-Jacobi Theory, Spectral Path Integrals and Exact-WKB

Abstract: We propose a new way to perform path integrals in quantum mechanics by using a quantum version of Hamilton-Jacobi theory. In classical mechanics, Hamilton-Jacobi theory is a powerful formalism, however, its utility is not explored in quantum theory beyond the correspondence principle. The canonical transformation enables one to set the new Hamiltonian to constant or zero, but keeps the information about solution in Hamilton's characteristic function. To benefit from this in quantum theory, one must work with a formulation in which classical Hamiltonian is used. This uniquely points to phase space path integral. However, the main variable in HJ-formalism is energy, not time. Thus, we are led to consider Fourier transform of path integral, spectral path integral, $\tilde Z(E)$. This admits a representation in terms of a quantum Hamilton's characteristic functions for perturbative and non-perturbative periodic orbits, generalizing Gutzwiller's sum. This results in a path integral derivation of exact quantization conditions, complementary to the exact WKB analysis of differential equations. We apply these to generic $\mathbb Z_2$ symmetric multi-well potential problems and point out some new instanton effects, e.g., the level splitting is generically a multi-instanton effect, unlike double-well.