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International Journal of Quantum Chemistry

Scalar nonlinearities in physics and chemistry

Bettina Heimsoeth

Published Jan 1, 1990• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract Scalar nonlinearities are operators of the form N(u) = 〈Au, u〉Bu, where A, B are linear operators, and 〈·,·〉 is the inner product in a Hilbert space ℋ︁. This paper reviews applications of scalar nonlinearities. We show that operators of the form N(u) are found in equations that describe phenomena of classical mechanics, open systems of quantum mechanics, and chemical physics.

DOI
10.1002/qua.560370107

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Abstract Scalar nonlinearities are operators of the form N(u) = 〈Au, u〉Bu, where A, B are linear operators, and 〈·,·〉 is the inner product in a Hilbert space ℋ︁. This paper reviews applications of scalar nonlinearities. We show that operators of the form N(u) are found in equations that describe phenomena of classical mechanics, open systems of quantum mechanics, and chemical physics.
The success of quantum physics in description of various physical interaction phenomena relies primarily on the accuracy of analytical methods used. In quantum mechanics, many of such interactions such as those found in quantum optomechanics and quantum computing have a highly nonlinear nature, which makes their analysis extraordinarily difficult using classical schemes. Typically, modern quantum systems of interest nowadays come with four basic properties: (i) quantumness, (ii) openness, (iii) randomness, and (iv) nonlinearity. The newly introduced method of higher-order operators targets analytical solutions to such systems, and while providing at least mathematically approximate expressions with improved accuracy over the fully linearized schemes, some cases admit exact solutions. Many different applications of this method in quantum and classically nonlinear systems are demonstrated throughout. This review is purposed to provide the reader with ease of access to this recent and well-established operator algebra, while going over a moderate amount of literature review. The reader with basic knowledge of quantum mechanics and quantum noise theory should be able to start using this scheme to his or her own problem of interest.
This chapter provides a simple general introduction to some basic mathematics necessary for a subsequent discussion of Lie algebras, operator methods, and their applications to theoretical physics and chemistry. It also provides some useful mathematical tools to derive important theoretical results and expressions in a simple and elegant way. In quantum mechanics the state of a system is represented by an element of a particular vector space, in which one defines an appropriate scalar or inner product, known in mathematics as Hilbert space. Hermitian operators with a complete set of eigenvectors belonging to that state space represent physical observables. Moreover, in certain cases it proves useful to work with vector spaces formed by linear operators. Hermitian operators are particular cases of linear operators and physical observables are particular cases of Hermitian operators. In many physical applications of operator methods one needs to reorder products of exponential operators or to rewrite one such operator as a product of simpler ones.
Theories of modern physics are based on dynamical equations that describe the evolution of particles and waves in space and time. In classical physics, particles and waves are described by different equations, but this distinction disappears in quantum physics, which is predominantly based on wave-like equations. The main purpose of this paper is to present a comprehensive review of all known classical and quantum linear wave equations for scalar wavefunctions, and to discuss their origin and applications to a broad range of physical problems.
Hilbert spaces provide the fundamental mathematical framework for describing quantum mechanical systems. Their structure, characterized by an inner product and completeness, allows for the representation of quantum states as vectors and physical observables as self-adjoint operators. Key quantum phenomena such as superposition and entanglement find natural expression within this formalism. Superposition, where a quantum system can exist in multiple states simultaneously, is represented by linear combinations of basis vectors in the Hilbert space. Entanglement, a non-classical correlation between quantum systems, is described by non-separable state vectors in a tensor product of Hilbert spaces. These concepts are pivotal in quantum computing, where the unit of information, the qubit, is a two-level quantum system whose state is a vector in a two-dimensional complex Hilbert space (ℂ²). Quantum gates, which perform operations on qubits, are represented by unitary operators acting on these state vectors. The power of quantum computation, particularly in algorithms like Shor's or Grover's, stems from the ability to exploit superposition and entanglement, processes intrinsically described within the Hilbert space framework. Thus, a thorough understanding of Hilbert spaces is indispensable for grasping the principles of quantum mechanics and for advancing the field of quantum information and computation [1, 7]. The transition from classical bits to quantum qubits, and from classical logic gates to quantum unitary operations, is entirely predicated on the mathematical properties endowed by Hilbert spaces.
Hilbert spaces provide the fundamental mathematical framework for describing quantum mechanical systems. Their structure, characterized by an inner product and completeness, allows for the representation of quantum states as vectors and physical observables as self-adjoint operators. Key quantum phenomena such as superposition and entanglement find natural expression within this formalism. Superposition, where a quantum system can exist in multiple states simultaneously, is represented by linear combinations of basis vectors in the Hilbert space. Entanglement, a non-classical correlation between quantum systems, is described by non-separable state vectors in a tensor product of Hilbert spaces. These concepts are pivotal in quantum computing, where the unit of information, the qubit, is a two-level quantum system whose state is a vector in a two-dimensional complex Hilbert space (ℂ²). Quantum gates, which perform operations on qubits, are represented by unitary operators acting on these state vectors. The power of quantum computation, particularly in algorithms like Shor's or Grover's, stems from the ability to exploit superposition and entanglement, processes intrinsically described within the Hilbert space framework. Thus, a thorough understanding of Hilbert spaces is indispensable for grasping the principles of quantum mechanics and for advancing the field of quantum information and computation [1, 7]. The transition from classical bits to quantum qubits, and from classical logic gates to quantum unitary operations, is entirely predicated on the mathematical properties endowed by Hilbert spaces.