Wigner representation of the rotational dynamics of rigid tops

TL;DR

This paper introduces a methodology for designing Wigner representations on complex phase spaces, with applications to molecular rotation dynamics in various physical processes.

Contribution

It develops two novel Wigner representations for molecular rotations that improve analysis of alignment, reactions, scattering, and dissipation.

Findings

Enhanced analysis of molecular alignment in laser fields

New representations for reaction and scattering dynamics

Facilitates study of dissipative processes in molecules

Abstract

We propose a methodology to design Wigner representations in phase spaces with nontrivial topology having evolution equations with desired mathematical properties. As an illustration, two representations of molecular rotations are developed to facilitate the analysis of molecular alignment in moderately intense laser fields, reaction dynamics, scattering phenomena and dissipative processes.