Generalized Phase-Space Distribution Functions

Abstract

A set of quasi-probability distribution functions which give the correct quantum mechanical marginal distributions of position and momentum is studied. The phase-space distribution does not have to be bilinear in the state function. The Wigner distribution is a special case. A general relationship between the phase-space distribution functions and the rule of associating classical quantities to quantum mechanical operators is derived. This allows the writing of correspondence rules at will,of which the ones presently known are particular cases. The dynamics and other properties of the generalized phase-space distribution are considered.