Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

American Journal of Physics

Phenomenological quantum models for under and critically damped oscillators

R. L. Anderson

Published Apr 1, 1993• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

According to Rayleigh, if one sets a linear oscillator in motion in a viscous fluid, the fluid not only opposes the motion with a velocity-dependent dissipative force, but the fluid accretes to the oscillator changing its effective mass. A perturbation linking a mass accretion operator with the usual complex spontaneous decay operator is applied to a nonrelativistic quantum undamped oscillator. It results in a quantum model of Rayleigh’s oscillator for which the equation of motion for the expectation value of position and the Heisenberg uncertainty relation between the position and linear momentum are the anticipated ones for a quantum mechanical underdamped oscillator. Another model based on a variation of these ideas which allows for all possibilities, no change or diminution or accretion, for the perturbed mass is presented for the critically damped oscillator. In both models, the situation is fixed by the experimental dissipative ‘‘forces.’’

DOI
10.1119/1.17267

Related papers

Dissipative mass-accreting quantum oscillator

Marcelo A. Marchiolli, Salomon Sylvain Mizrahi

We begin by revisiting the so-called Caldirola - Kanai Hamiltonian and discuss its inherent ambiguity: does it represent a dissipative harmonic oscillator (HO) subject to a friction force, or does it describe an HO with a time-dependent mass (TDM)? Although classically both descriptions do coexist, in the quantum domain the solution of the Schrödinger equation (or Heisenberg equations of motion) with a TDM does not present inconsistencies, however, the dissipative Hamiltonian shows violation of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. This violation is avoided by introducing a stochastic force in the equations of motion, which will take care of the fluctuations due to the environment. Once the distinction between the dissipative and amplifying Hamiltonian is made clear, we consider the problem of the quantum TDM HO subject to dissipation, showing that both phenomena may be merged and described by a single Hamiltonian, the amplifying - dissipative Hamiltonian . We obtain the solutions of the Heisenberg equations of motion for the canonical momentum and position; next, we specialize on the weak damping limit and analyse the effects of the amplifying - dissipative process on the mean values of the physical variables.

Journal of Physics A Mathematical and General•Apr 21, 1997•33 citations

Models of damped oscillators in quantum mechanics

Ricardo Cordero–Soto, Erwin Suazo, Sergeĭ K. Suslov

We consider several models of the damped oscillators in nonrelativistic quantum mechanics in a framework of a general approach to the dynamics of the time-dependent Schroedinger equation with variable quadratic Hamiltonians. The Green functions are explicitly found in terms of elementary functions and the corresponding gauge transformations are discussed. The factorization technique is applied to the case of a shifted harmonic oscillator. The time-evolution of the expectation values of the energy related operators is determined for two models of the quantum damped oscillators under consideration. The classical equations of motion for the damped oscillations are derived for the corresponding expectation values of the position operator.

arXiv:0905.0507•Journal of Physical Mathematics•Jan 1, 2009•40 citations

Models of damped oscillators in quantum mechanics

Ricardo Erwin Suazo

We consider several models of the damped oscillators in nonrelativistic quantum mechanics in a framework of a general approach to the dynamics of the time-dependent Schroedinger equation with variable quadratic Hamiltonians. The Green functions are explicitly found in terms of elementary functions and the corresponding gauge transformations are discussed. The factorization technique is applied to the case of a shifted harmonic oscillator. The time-evolution of the expectation values of the energy related operators is determined for two models of the quantum damped oscillators under consideration. The classical equations of motion for the damped oscillations are derived for the corresponding expectation values of the position operator.

Journal of Physical Mathematics•Jan 1, 2009•6 citations

A critique of the major approaches to damping in quantum theory

Daniel M. Greenberger

We examine the two major approaches that have been suggested for the quantum mechanical treatment of the damped motion of a particle as a one-body problem. These are the linear, but time dependent, Kanai Hamiltonian, and the more recent nonlinear potentials which have been introduced to simulate the damping force. The most important criticism that has been leveled at the Kanai Hamiltonian is that its solutions seem to violate the uncertainty relations. We show that this Hamiltonian actually represents a particle of variable mass, whose classical behavior is identical to that of a damped particle of constant mass. But quantum mechanically, its changing mass does lead to unphysical behavior when misinterpreted as a constant mass particle. So this Hamiltonian cannot directly describe a constant mass damped quantum particle. The nonlinear model has been interpreted in terms of the hydrodynamical analogy of quantum theory, and a well behaved decaying wavepacket solution has been produced. However we generalize this result to produce solutions that ’’decay’’ to arbitrarily high energy. Thus it is not clear that this model specifically treats dissipation. Rather it seems to seek out any stationary state. At any rate, its physical interpretation is obscure at present. However we show, by analyzing the physical problem of damping at low energies, that one can modify the Kanai Hamiltonian to eliminate its unphysical features, so that this modified Kanai Hamiltonian can in fact be interpreted as representing a constant mass damped particle with physically reasonable solutions.

Journal of Mathematical Physics•May 1, 1979•113 citations

QUANTUM MECHANICAL TREATMENT OF A DAMPED HARMONIC OSCILLATOR

PENG HUAN-WU, 中国科学院理论物理研究所

Assuming a damping force proportional to the velocity, it is shown that the usual quantum condition between the physical variables, namely the displacement and the momentum, has to be modified by the damping. However, it is possible to change to new variables which are canonical. Then we can apply the usual quantum mechanics and use the usual physical interpretation through the statistical average values. The case of a one-dimensional damped harmonic oscillator under the action of an arbitrary external force has been worked out as an example. No difficulty arises and the results are reasonable.

Acta Physica Sinica•Jan 1, 1980•19 citations

On the Quantum Mechanical Treatment of the Bateman-Morse-Feshbach Damped Oscillator with Variable Mass

Akira Suzuki, Hiroki Majima

The harmonic oscillator with time-dependent (indefinite and variable) mass subject to the force proportional to velocity is studied by extending Bateman’s dual Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism. To study the quantum analog of such a dissipative system, the Batemann-Morse-Feshback classical Hamiltonian of the damped harmonic oscillator with varying (time-dependent) mass is canonically quantized. In order to discuss the stability of the quantum dissipative system due to the influence of varying mass and the dissipative force, we derived a formula for the vacuum state of the dissipative system with the help of quantum field theoretical framework. It is shown that the formula based on this simple model could be used to study the influence of dissipation such as the instability due to the dissipative force and/or the variable mass. It is understood that the change in the oscillator mass corresponds to a control parameter in quantum dissipative systems.

Journal of Modern Physics•Jan 1, 2016•3 citations
According to Rayleigh, if one sets a linear oscillator in motion in a viscous fluid, the fluid not only opposes the motion with a velocity-dependent dissipative force, but the fluid accretes to the oscillator changing its effective mass. A perturbation linking a mass accretion operator with the usual complex spontaneous decay operator is applied to a nonrelativistic quantum undamped oscillator. It results in a quantum model of Rayleigh’s oscillator for which the equation of motion for the expectation value of position and the Heisenberg uncertainty relation between the position and linear momentum are the anticipated ones for a quantum mechanical underdamped oscillator. Another model based on a variation of these ideas which allows for all possibilities, no change or diminution or accretion, for the perturbed mass is presented for the critically damped oscillator. In both models, the situation is fixed by the experimental dissipative ‘‘forces.’’
We begin by revisiting the so-called Caldirola - Kanai Hamiltonian and discuss its inherent ambiguity: does it represent a dissipative harmonic oscillator (HO) subject to a friction force, or does it describe an HO with a time-dependent mass (TDM)? Although classically both descriptions do coexist, in the quantum domain the solution of the Schrödinger equation (or Heisenberg equations of motion) with a TDM does not present inconsistencies, however, the dissipative Hamiltonian shows violation of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. This violation is avoided by introducing a stochastic force in the equations of motion, which will take care of the fluctuations due to the environment. Once the distinction between the dissipative and amplifying Hamiltonian is made clear, we consider the problem of the quantum TDM HO subject to dissipation, showing that both phenomena may be merged and described by a single Hamiltonian, the amplifying - dissipative Hamiltonian . We obtain the solutions of the Heisenberg equations of motion for the canonical momentum and position; next, we specialize on the weak damping limit and analyse the effects of the amplifying - dissipative process on the mean values of the physical variables.
We consider several models of the damped oscillators in nonrelativistic quantum mechanics in a framework of a general approach to the dynamics of the time-dependent Schroedinger equation with variable quadratic Hamiltonians. The Green functions are explicitly found in terms of elementary functions and the corresponding gauge transformations are discussed. The factorization technique is applied to the case of a shifted harmonic oscillator. The time-evolution of the expectation values of the energy related operators is determined for two models of the quantum damped oscillators under consideration. The classical equations of motion for the damped oscillations are derived for the corresponding expectation values of the position operator.
We consider several models of the damped oscillators in nonrelativistic quantum mechanics in a framework of a general approach to the dynamics of the time-dependent Schroedinger equation with variable quadratic Hamiltonians. The Green functions are explicitly found in terms of elementary functions and the corresponding gauge transformations are discussed. The factorization technique is applied to the case of a shifted harmonic oscillator. The time-evolution of the expectation values of the energy related operators is determined for two models of the quantum damped oscillators under consideration. The classical equations of motion for the damped oscillations are derived for the corresponding expectation values of the position operator.
We examine the two major approaches that have been suggested for the quantum mechanical treatment of the damped motion of a particle as a one-body problem. These are the linear, but time dependent, Kanai Hamiltonian, and the more recent nonlinear potentials which have been introduced to simulate the damping force. The most important criticism that has been leveled at the Kanai Hamiltonian is that its solutions seem to violate the uncertainty relations. We show that this Hamiltonian actually represents a particle of variable mass, whose classical behavior is identical to that of a damped particle of constant mass. But quantum mechanically, its changing mass does lead to unphysical behavior when misinterpreted as a constant mass particle. So this Hamiltonian cannot directly describe a constant mass damped quantum particle. The nonlinear model has been interpreted in terms of the hydrodynamical analogy of quantum theory, and a well behaved decaying wavepacket solution has been produced. However we generalize this result to produce solutions that ’’decay’’ to arbitrarily high energy. Thus it is not clear that this model specifically treats dissipation. Rather it seems to seek out any stationary state. At any rate, its physical interpretation is obscure at present. However we show, by analyzing the physical problem of damping at low energies, that one can modify the Kanai Hamiltonian to eliminate its unphysical features, so that this modified Kanai Hamiltonian can in fact be interpreted as representing a constant mass damped particle with physically reasonable solutions.
Assuming a damping force proportional to the velocity, it is shown that the usual quantum condition between the physical variables, namely the displacement and the momentum, has to be modified by the damping. However, it is possible to change to new variables which are canonical. Then we can apply the usual quantum mechanics and use the usual physical interpretation through the statistical average values. The case of a one-dimensional damped harmonic oscillator under the action of an arbitrary external force has been worked out as an example. No difficulty arises and the results are reasonable.
The harmonic oscillator with time-dependent (indefinite and variable) mass subject to the force proportional to velocity is studied by extending Bateman’s dual Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism. To study the quantum analog of such a dissipative system, the Batemann-Morse-Feshback classical Hamiltonian of the damped harmonic oscillator with varying (time-dependent) mass is canonically quantized. In order to discuss the stability of the quantum dissipative system due to the influence of varying mass and the dissipative force, we derived a formula for the vacuum state of the dissipative system with the help of quantum field theoretical framework. It is shown that the formula based on this simple model could be used to study the influence of dissipation such as the instability due to the dissipative force and/or the variable mass. It is understood that the change in the oscillator mass corresponds to a control parameter in quantum dissipative systems.