Physica Scripta
Test of quantum adiabatic approximation via exactly-solvable dynamics of high-spin precession
Chang-Pu Sun, Lin-Zhi Zhang
Abstract
By invoking the Rabi rotation technique, the Schrödinger wavefunction of a neutral particle with a magnetic moment and a high-spin is exactly solved in a harmonically-changing magnetic field. This result is then applied to illustrate what the accuracy of the quantum adiabatic approximation is exactly and how the non-adiabatic transition vanishes in accompaniment with the appearence of Berry's geometrical phase. The discussion of this paper verifies C. N. Yang's point of view about the generalization of the quantum adiabatic approximation in connection with Berry's phase.