SOME FORMAL PROPERTIES OF OPERATOR POLAR DECOMPOSITION

In this paper I consider the general mathematical problem of the polar decomposition of an operator in a linear space. Extending the space makes it possible to define a unitary operator related to the original nonhermitean one. By Stone's theorem this guarantees the existence of a phase operator in the extended space. The connection with supersymmetry is pointed out. Applying the general results to harmonic oscillator creation and annihilation operators we regain a phase description originally introduced by Newton. Projecting the phase operator from the extended space to the original one, we find a phase representation for the Boson operators. Introducing the conjugate rotation operator, one can describe the oscillator dynamics in the phase representation. The connection with the Barnett-Pegg phase operator is pointed out.