PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Quantum Mechanics · Quantum dynamics and its formulations · Quantum dynamics and its formulations
The Structure of Quantum Mechanics, Ch Slow change, sudden change and the Berry phase
Problem
Suppose H^(R) has an isolated, non-degenerate eigenvalue En(R) throughout a region of parameter space, with instantaneous eigenstate ∣n(R)⟩ (normalised to one). At each point of parameter space ∣n(R)⟩ is fixed only up to a phase: any smooth real function ξ(R) gives an equally good choice ∣n′(R)⟩=eiξ(R)∣n(R)⟩, still normalised, still an eigenstate with the same eigenvalue En(R). Write the Berry connection as An(R)=i⟨n(R)∣∇Rn(R)⟩, so that the extra phase accumulated adiabatically by ∣n⟩ along a path C in parameter space, beyond the dynamical phase θn, is γn(C)=∫CAn(R)⋅dR.
((a)) Derive how An changes when the phase convention is changed from ∣n⟩ to ∣n′⟩.
((b)) Show that γn(C) computed with ∣n′⟩ equals γn(C) computed with ∣n⟩ when C is a closed loop (Ra=Rb), but that it differs by ξ(Ra)−ξ(Rb) when C runs between two distinct points Ra→Rb.
((c)) Show that the dynamical phase θn=−ℏ1∫Endt is unaffected by the choice of ξ, on any path, and say in one line what this means for which phases in the adiabatic problem are directly measurable.