Phase-space interferences as the source of negative values of the Wigner distribution function

It is shown that the negative values of the Wigner distribution function in classical optics are a consequence of the phase-space interference among the Gaussian beams into which an arbitrary light distribution (or a superposition of light distributions) can be decomposed. These elementary Gaussian beams partition the phase space in wave optics in adjacent, interacting, finite-area cells, in contrast to geometrical optics, where the phase space is continuous and a light beam can be decomposed into a number of perfectly localized, non-interacting rays. © 2000 Optical Society of America.