Abstract
Topological and geometrical properties of the set of mixed quantum states in the N-dimensional Hilbert space are analysed. Assuming that the corresponding classical dynamics takes place on the sphere we use the vector SU(2) coherent states and the generalized Husimi distributions to define the Monge distance between two arbitrary density matrices. The Monge metric has a simple semiclassical interpretation and induces a non-trivial geometry. Among all pure states the distance from the maximally mixed state ρ*, proportional to the identity matrix, admits the largest value for the coherent states, while the delocalized `chaotic' states are close to ρ*. This contrasts the geometry induced by the standard (trace, Hilbert-Schmidt or Bures) metrics, for which the distance from ρ* is the same for all pure states. We discuss possible physical consequences including unitary time evolution and the process of decoherence. We introduce also a simplified Monge metric, defined in the space of pure quantum states and more suitable for numerical computation.