Quantum localisation on the circle

Abstract

Covariant integral quantisation using coherent states for semidirect product groups is studied and applied to the motion of a particle on the circle. In the present case the group is the Euclidean group E$(2)$. We implement the quantisation of the basic classical observables, particularly the $2\pi$-periodic discontinuous angle function and the angular momentum, and compute their corresponding lower symbols. An important part of our study is devoted to the angle operator given by our procedure, its spectrum and lower symbol, its commutator with the quantum angular momentum, and the resulting Heisenberg inequality. Comparison with other approaches to the long-standing question of the quantum angle is discussed.