Can Star Products be Augmented by Classical Physics?

Abstract: It has been suggested that star products in phase-space quantization may be augmented to describe additional, classical effects. That proposal is examined critically here. Two known star products that introduce classical effects are: the generalized Husimi product of coarse-grained quantization, and a non-Hermitian damped star product for the harmonic oscillator. Following these examples, we consider products related by transition differential operators to the classic Moyal star product. We restrict to Hermitian star products, avoiding problems already pointed out for the original damped product. It is shown, however, that with such star products, augmented quantization is impossible, since an appropriate classical limit does not result. For a more complete study, we then also consider generalized, or local, transition operators, that depend on the local phase-space coordinates, as well as their derivatives. In this framework, one example of possible physical interest is constructed. Because of its limited validity and complicated form, however, it cannot be concluded that augmented quantization with local transition operators is practical.