Theoretical formulation of finite-dimensional discrete phase spaces: I. Algebraic structures and uncertainty principles

We propose a self-consistent theoretical framework for a wide class of physical systems characterized by a finite space of states which allows us, within several mathematical virtues, to construct a discrete version of the Weyl–Wigner–Moyal (WWM) formalism for finite-dimensional discrete phase spaces with toroidal topology. As a first and important application from this ab initio approach, we initially investigate the Robertson–Schrödinger (RS) uncertainty principle related to the discrete coordinate and momentum operators, as well as its implications for physical systems with periodic boundary conditions. The second interesting application is associated with a particular uncertainty principle inherent to the unitary operators, which is based on the Wiener–Khinchin theorem for signal processing. Furthermore, we also establish a modified discrete version for the well-known Heisenberg–Kennard–Robertson (HKR) uncertainty principle, which exhibits additional terms (or corrections) that resemble the generalized uncertainty principle (GUP) into the context of quantum gravity. The results obtained from this new algebraic approach touch on some fundamental questions inherent to quantum mechanics and certainly represent an object of future investigations in physics.

► We construct a discrete version of the Weyl–Wigner–Moyal formalism. ► Coherent states for finite-dimensional discrete phase spaces are established. ► Discrete coordinate and momentum operators are properly defined. ► Uncertainty principles depend on the topology of finite physical systems. ► Corrections for the discrete Heisenberg uncertainty relation are also obtained.