The Wigner function and short-range correlations in the deuteron

textbf{Background:} The deuteron shows the essential features of short-range correlations found in all nuclei. Experimental observables related to short-range correlations are connected with the high-momentum components of one- and two-body momentum distributions. An intuitive understanding of short-range correlations is provided by the suppression of the two-body density in coordinate space at small distances. textbf{Purpose:} The Wigner function provides a quasi-probability distribution in phase-space that allows to investigate short-range correlations as a function of distance and relative momentum in a unified picture. textbf{Method:} The Wigner function for the deuteron is calculated for bare and SRG evolved AV8' and N3LO interactions and investigated as a function of distance, relative momentum and angular orientation. Partial momentum and coordinate space distributions are obtained by integrating over parts of phase space. textbf{Results:} The Wigner function shows a pronounced low-momentum peak that is not affected by short-range correlations and a high-momentum shoulder at small distances that reflects short-range correlations. Oscillations of the Wigner function are related to interference of low- and high-momentum components. textbf{Conclusions:} Short-range correlations are a truly quantum-mechanical phenomenon caused by interference of low- and high-momentum components in the wave function.