Generalized dynamical theories in phase space and the hydrogen atom

Abstract

We show that the phase-space formulation of general probabilistic theories can be extended to include a generalized time evolution and that it can describe a nonquantum hydrogenlike system which is stable, has discrete energy levels, and includes the Zeeman effect. This allows us to study dynamical effects such as excitations of the hydrogenlike system by a resonant laser and Rutherford scattering. Our construction demonstrates that classical theory and quantum theory can be seen as specific choices of general probabilistic theory in phase space and that other probabilistic theories also lead to measurable predictions.