Effective Quantum Mechanics of a falling particle

Abstract

We analyze the problem of one dimensional quantum particle falling in a constant gravitational field, also known as the {\it bouncing ball}, employing a semiclassical approach known as momentous effective quantum mechanics. In this formalism the quantum evolution is described through a dynamical system of infinite dimension for the position, the momentum and all dispersions. Usually the system is truncated to have a finite dimensional one, however, in this case equations of motion decouple and the system can be solved. For a specific set of initial conditions we find that the time dependent dispersion in position is always around the classical trajectory.