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European Journal of Physics

On time-dependent perturbation theory in matrix mechanics and time averaging

Fernando Casas

Published Aug 13, 2015• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract The time-dependent quantum perturbation theory developed by Born, Heisenberg and Jordan in 1926 is revisited. We show that it not only reproduces the standard theory formulated in the interaction picture, but also allows one to construct more accurate approximations if time averaging techniques are employed. The theory can be rendered unitary even if the expansion is truncated by using a transformation previously suggested by Heisenberg. We illustrate the main features of the procedure on a simple example which clearly shows its advantages in comparison with the standard perturbation theory.

DOI
10.1088/0143-0807/36/5/055049

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Abstract The time-dependent quantum perturbation theory developed by Born, Heisenberg and Jordan in 1926 is revisited. We show that it not only reproduces the standard theory formulated in the interaction picture, but also allows one to construct more accurate approximations if time averaging techniques are employed. The theory can be rendered unitary even if the expansion is truncated by using a transformation previously suggested by Heisenberg. We illustrate the main features of the procedure on a simple example which clearly shows its advantages in comparison with the standard perturbation theory.
We propose a unified approach for different exponential perturbation techniques used in the treatment of time-dependent quantum mechanical problems, namely the Magnus expansion, the Floquet–Magnus expansion for periodic systems, the quantum averaging technique, and the Lie–Deprit perturbative algorithms. Even the standard perturbation theory fits in this framework. The approach is based on carrying out an appropriate change of coordinates (or picture) in each case, and it can be formulated for any time-dependent linear system of ordinary differential equations. All of the procedures (except the standard perturbation theory) lead to approximate solutions preserving by construction unitarity when applied to the time-dependent Schrödinger equation.
We propose a unified approach for different exponential perturbation techniques used in the treatment of time-dependent quantum mechanical problems, namely the Magnus expansion, the Floquet--Magnus expansion for periodic systems, the quantum averaging technique and the Lie--Deprit perturbative algorithms. Even the standard perturbation theory fits in this framework. The approach is based on carrying out an appropriate change of coordinates (or picture) in each case, and can be formulated for any time-dependent linear system of ordinary differential equations. All the procedures (except the standard perturbation theory) lead to approximate solutions preserving by construction unitarity when applied to the time-dependent Schrödinger equation.
Explicitly time-dependent Hamiltonians are ubiquitous in applications of quantum theory. It is therefore necessary to solve the time-dependent Schrödinger equation directly. The system’s dynamics is associated with a unitary time-evolution operator (a propagator), formally given as an infinite Dyson series. Time-dependent observables are invariant under unitary time-dependent transformations, where it is sometimes useful to transform the time-evolution from the states into the corresponding operators. This is carried out in part (in full) by transforming to the interaction (Heisenberg) picture. The corresponding equations of motion for the time-dependent operators are introduced. For quadratic potential energy functions, the time evolution of quantum expectation values coincides with the corresponding classical dynamics. This is demonstrated and analyzed in detail for Gaussian wave packets and a coherent state. Finally, we derive exact and approximate expressions for time-dependent transition probabilities and transition rates between quantum states. The validity of time-dependent perturbation theory is analyzed by comparison to exact dynamics.
The report by Born and Heisenberg on ‘quantum mechanics’ may seem surprisingly difficult to the modern reader. This is partly because Born and Heisenberg are describing various stages of development of the theory that are quite different from today's quantum mechanics. Among these, it should be noted in particular that the theory developed by Heisenberg, Born and Jordan in the years 1925–6 and known today as matrix mechanics (Heisenberg 1925b [1], Born and Jordan 1925 [2], Born, Heisenberg and Jordan 1926 [4]) a differs from standard quantum mechanics in several important respects. At the same time, the interpretation of the theory (the topic of Section II of the report) also appears to have undergone important modifications, in particular regarding the notion of the state of a system. Initially, Born and Heisenberg insist on the notion that a system is always in a stationary state (performing quantum jumps between different stationary states). Then the notion of the wave function is introduced and related to probabilities for the stationary states. At a later stage, probabilistic notions (in particular, what one now calls transition probabilities) are extended to arbitrary observables, but it remains somewhat unclear whether the wave function itself should be regarded as a fundamental entity or merely as an effective one. This may reflect the different routes followed by Born and by Heisenberg in the development of their ideas. The common position presented by Born and Heisenberg emphasises the probabilistic aspect of the theory as fundamental, and the conclusion of the report expresses strong confidence in the resulting picture.