Wigner functions, Fresnel optics, and symplectic connections on phase space
Abstract
Description
We prove that Wigner functions contain a symplectic connection. The latter covariantises the symplectic exterior derivative on phase space. We analyse the role played by this connection and introduce the notion of local symplectic covariance of quantum-mechanical states. This latter symmetry is at work in the Schroedinger equation on phase space.