Monte Carlo simulations for quantum harmonic and anharmonic oscillators within epistemically restricted phase-space representation

Abstract

Abstract We investigate Monte Carlo simulations within the epistemically-restricted phase-space (ERPS) representation of quantum mechanics for harmonic and anharmonic oscillators. Compared to the variational Monte Carlo (VMC) simulations in the conventional representation, the calculation time in the ER phase-space representation is quite competitive. We also numerically show that the distribution function of the global random variable on the order of Planck’s constant in the ER phase-space representation does not significantly affect the energy accuracy, yet a particular choice of the distribution function may give a better calculation time. This work gives an alternative approach to the Monte Carlo simulations beyond those in the conventional representation of quantum mechanics.