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Progress of Theoretical Physics

Degenerate Perturbation Theory in Quantum Mechanics

K. Suzuki, R. Okamoto

Published Aug 1, 1983• 123 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The relations are discussed among a number of different formulations of perturbation theory for an effective Hamiltonian of a general quantum system. Although the definitions and the formulations are apparently different, it is shown that the effective Hamiltonians, which have appeared in the history of time-independent approaches, can be written simply in a unified form. Expansion formulae are given explicitly for both the non-Hermitian and Hermitian effective Hamiltonians, and a discussion is given on a method for summing up the expansion series and obtaining a convergent result.

DOI
10.1143/ptp.70.439

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The relations are discussed among a number of different formulations of perturbation theory for an effective Hamiltonian of a general quantum system. Although the definitions and the formulations are apparently different, it is shown that the effective Hamiltonians, which have appeared in the history of time-independent approaches, can be written simply in a unified form. Expansion formulae are given explicitly for both the non-Hermitian and Hermitian effective Hamiltonians, and a discussion is given on a method for summing up the expansion series and obtaining a convergent result.
We present details and expand on the framework leading to the recently introduced degenerate adiabatic perturbation theory [Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 170406 (2010)], and on the formulation of the degenerate adiabatic theorem, along with its necessary and sufficient conditions [given in Phys. Rev. A 85, 062111 (2012)]. We start with the adiabatic approximation for degenerate Hamiltonians that paves the way to a clear and rigorous statement of the associated degenerate adiabatic theorem, where the non-Abelian geometric phase (Wilczek-Zee phase) plays a central role to its quantitative formulation. We then describe the degenerate adiabatic perturbation theory, whose zeroth-order term is the degenerate adiabatic approximation, in its full generality. The parameter in the perturbative power-series expansion of the time-dependent wave function is directly associated to the inverse of the time it takes to drive the system from its initial to its final state. With the aid of the degenerate adiabatic perturbation theory we obtain rigorous necessary and sufficient conditions for the validity of the adiabatic theorem of quantum mechanics. Finally, to illustrate the power and wide scope of the methodology, we apply the framework to a degenerate Hamiltonian, whose closed-form time-dependent wave function is derived exactly, and also to other nonexactly solvable Hamiltonians whose solutions are numerically computed.
This report discusses two new ideas for using perturbation methods to solve the time-independent Schrödinger equation. The first concept begins with rewriting the perturbation equations in a form that is closely related to matrix diagonalization methods. That allows a simple, compact derivation of the standard (Rayleigh-Schrödinger) equations. But it also leads to a new iterative solution method that is not based on the usual power series expansion. The iterative method can also be used when the unperturbed system is two-fold degenerate. The second concept is quite different from the first but compatible with it. It is based on the fact that one can replace the true Hamiltonian with a synthetic Hamiltonian having the same eigenvalues. This approach allows one to cancel part of the perturbation and to reduce the size of the off-diagonal matrix elements, giving better convergence of the series. These methods are illustrated by application to three perturbed harmonic oscillator problems--a 1-D oscillator with a linear perturbation, a 1-D oscillator with a quartic perturbation, and a perturbed 2-D oscillator, which involves degenerate states. The iterative method and the synthetic Hamiltonian method are shown to give significantly better results than the standard method.
Starting from our idea of combining the Feynman path integral spirit and the Dyson series kernel, we find an explicit and general form of time evolution operator that is a ccc-number function and a power series of perturbation including all order approximations in the unperturbed Hamiltonian representation. Based on it, we obtain an exact solution of the Schrödinger equation in general quantum systems independent of time. Comparison of our exact solution with the existed perturbation theory makes some features and significance of our exact solution clear. The conclusions expressly indicate that our exact solution is obviously consistent with the usual time-independent perturbation theory at any order approximation, it explicitly calculates out the expanding coefficients of the unperturbed state in the non-perturbation method, and it fully solves the recurrence equation of the expansion coefficients of final state in the unperturbed Hamiltonian representation from a view of time-dependent perturbation theory. At the same time, the exact solution of the von Neumann equation is also given. Our results can be thought of as theoretical developments of quantum dynamics, and are helpful for understanding the dynamical behavior and related subjects of general quantum systems in both theory and application. Our exact solution, together with its sequence studies on perturbation theory [An Min Wang, quant-ph/0611217] and open system dynamics [An Min Wang, quant-ph/0601051] can be used to establish the foundation of theoretical formulism of quantum mechanics in general quantum systems. Further applications of our exact solution to quantum theory can be expected.
A formulation of Schr\"odinger perturbation theory is developed that gives a unified treatment of non-degenerate and degenerate cases, is unique, and has a nonzero radius of convergence under very general conditions. Two alternative procedures are given for finding perturbed eigenvectors, one of which is simpler for the nondegenerate case or for small finite degeneracy, the other simpler for infinite or large finite degeneracy. The low-order terms in the perturbation expansions of quantities used in applications are given. The perturbation theory formulated in this paper has the following advantages over the conventional Schr\"odinger and Brillouin-Wigner perturbation theories: (i) When the convergence criterion is satisfied, bounds on the error made in replacing an appropriate infinite perturbation series by its first nnn terms can be obtained. (ii) For the case of degeneracy, the conventional Schr\"odinger perturbation theory can break down under conditions to which the convergence of the perturbation theory developed in this paper are insensitive. (iii) There is no implicit dependence on the eigenvalue, such as appears in the Brillouin-Wigner perturbation theory. (iv) For the case of degeneracy, statistical information about the distribution of certain eigenvalues can be obtained without finding the individual eigenvalues. (v) The theory is applicable to a wider class of problems than the conventional Schr\"odinger and Brillouin-Wigner perturbation theories.
A perturbation theory is described which leads to two alternative methods for calculating the eigenvalues and normalized eigenstates of a perturbed Hamiltonian, the results being given to all orders in the perturbation. The expansions obtained are formulated in terms of two sets of partial sums which have simple, easily characterized forms, and they combine some of the advantages of both the Rayleigh-Schr\"odinger and Brillouin-Wigner perturbation methods while avoiding some of the difficulties of each. In particular, one form of the perturbation expansions given here will in most cases of interest have a larger radius of convergence than the Rayleigh-Schr\"odinger series. As is usual for infinite-order treatments, the explicit form of the final result applies only to nondegenerate levels. However, some of the intermediate relations obtained in the derivation are of general validity. Since certain classes of unlinked diagrams appear in the expansions, the method described here is not suitable for application to systems containing a large number of particles.
Abstract The theory of perturbations of electronic systems has been considered by various writers, and the method is the basis of the solution of most quantum problems. It therefore seems desirable that the theory should be placed on a firm footing, and this necessitates the discussion of the convergence of the series of perturbations, which up to the present has been avoided. This investigation is all the more necessary since the wave equation of the Stark Effect has no solution of the form assumed by Schrödinger in his original discussion of the perturbation theory. Dirac’s theory leads to a system of linear differential equations in an infinite number of variables, and 2 is devoted to the discussion of the existence theorem for such a system by a matrix method. In 3 the application is made to the perturbation theory in the case of perturbations satisfying the conditions assumed in 2. In 4 the theory is extended so as to include more general types of disturbances. It is shown that, though the series of perturbations does not in general converge, yet it usually possesses the same asymptotic character as in the classical theory, and its use can therefore be justified.