Wigner functions from the two-dimensional wavelet group

Following a general procedure developed previously [Ann. Henri Poincare 1, 685 (2000)], here we construct Wigner functions on a phase space related to the similitude group in two dimensions. Since the group space in this case is topologically homeomorphic to the phase space in question, the Wigner functions so constructed may also be considered as being functions on the group space itself. Previously the similitude group was used to construct wavelets for two-dimensional image analysis; we discuss here the connection between the wavelet transform and the Wigner function. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America [S0740-3232(00)02712-5] OCIS codes: 000.3860, 100.7410, 000.3870, 100.3010, 270.6570.