Geometric dequantization (Q1775555)

The authors accept [see e.g. \textit{E. Gozzi, M. Reuter} and \textit{W. D. Thacker}, ``Hidden BRS invariance in classical mechanics'' Phys. Rev. D 40, No. 10, 3363--3377 (1989)] a path integral approach (CPI) to classical mechanics (CM), adopting the operatorial approach of \textit{B. O. Koopman} [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 17, 315--318 (1931; Zbl 0002.05701)] and \textit{J. von Neumann} [Ann. Math. (2) 33, 587--642 (1932; Zbl 0005.12203)] (KvN), but also a Feynman [\textit{R. P. Feynman}, ``Space-time approach to non-relativsitic quantum mechanics'', Rev. Mod. Phys. 20, No. 2, 367--387 (1948)] path integral approach (QPI) to quantum mechanics (QM). The CPI is obtained extending the time \(t\) to a supertime made of \(t\), and two Grassmann partners (\(\theta,\bar{\theta}\)) [see also \textit{D. Mauro}, Int. J. Mod. Phys. A 17, No. 9, 1301--1325 (2002; Zbl 1012.81003)]. In the authors' approach, ``quantization'' means a manner to go from CPI to QPI, by properly freezing to zero the two Grassmann variables, while ``dequantization'' means a manner to go from time to supertime. It is proved that the path integral weights entering the CPI and QPI belong to the same multiplet of a universal supersymmetry present in the CPI, see e.g. [\textit{E. Gozzi} and \textit{M. Reuter} ``Algebraic characterization of ergodicity'', Phys. Lett. B 233, No. 3--4, 383--392 (1989)]. The dequantization is studied in the Schrödinger and the momentum representations, and also in the coherent state approach. The authors also study the Dyson-Schwinger equation for the QPI and the CPI and they show that the rules to pass from one to the other consist in replacing time with supertime and phase space with superphase space. Finally, more precise rules of dequantization are formulated, which can be used only within path integral expressions. The calculations details are contained into several appendices.