Semiclassical mechanics of symmetry reduction (Q4694792)

The author investigates the semiclassical approximation of a quantum system possessing continuous compact symmetry group. In this case the Hilbert space \({\mathcal H}\) of a system is decomposed to invariant subspaces \({\mathcal H}_ j\) spanned by the eigenfunctions \(\psi_{nj}(x)\) corresponding to the energy eigenvalues \(E_{nj}\). The main objects of investigations are the propagator \[ K_ j(x,x',t)=\sum_ n \exp(- iE_{nj}t/h) \psi_{nj}(x) \psi^*_{nj}(x'), \] and the Green function \[ G_ j(x,x',E)=\sum_ n {1\over E-E_{nj}} \psi_{nj}(x) \psi^*_{nj}(x'), \] both reduced to \({\mathcal H}_ j\). The Abelian and rotational symmetries are described in detail. The reduced propagator and Green function are given in the Van Vleck approximation. From these formulae are deduced trace formulae (i.e. \(x=x')\) for symmetry-reduced spectra. They involve families of pseudoperiodic orbits in the full phase space (corresponding just to periodic orbits in the reduced phase space). The symmetry-reduced formulae look exactly like the regular Gutzwiller formulae applied to the dynamics of reduced phase space. However, the actions and Maslov indices occurring in them are unambiguously determined only by the full phase space structures.