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Group theoretical aspects of the geometric phase in quantum mechanics.

Narasimhaiengar Mukunda

Published Jan 1, 1999• 0 citations

Abstract

The geometric phase in quantum mechanics was originally elucidated in the context of the adiabatic theorem. This and other limitations were later removed. We show how this phase can be presented as the simplest functional of smooth open curves of unit vectors in Hilbert space, invariant under the two groups of local phase changes and monotonic reparametrisations. This viewpoint clarifies the role of the early Pancharatnam criterion for two Hilbert space vectors to be `in phase', in the later geometric phase context. Noncyclic evolution is handled in a very direct manner. Connections to the Bargmann invariants of quantum mechanics are immediate and can be exploited. A class of geometric phases arises in connection with unitary representations of Lie groups. In this case a surprisingly complete analysis of the structure of the geometric phase is possible, motivated by the Wigner-Eckart theorem. The interplay between geometric phase ideas and Lie group unitary representations is extraordinarily rich; the differential geometric structures of Lie groups and coset spaces play very important roles and allow classification of all possible geometric phases associated with a given Lie group. Examples involving SU(2), SU(3) and the metaplectic group Mp(2) are presented.

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We develop the broadest possible generalization of the well known connection between quantum-mechanical Bargmann invariants and geometric phases. The key concept is that of null phase curves in quantum-mechanical ray and Hilbert spaces. Examples of such curves are developed. Our generalization is shown to be essential for properly understanding geometric phase results in the cases of coherent states and of Gaussian states. Differential geometric aspects of null phase curves are also briefly explored.

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The concept of Geometric Phase in Quantum Mechanics is generally formulated en- tirely in terms of geometric structure of complex Hilbert Space. This tutorial article gives a general mathematical overview of the Geometric phase introduced by Berry with the conditions over the system’s evolution embedded through adiabaticity and cyclicity, which were subsequently relaxed sequentially by Aharonov-Anandan, Samuel-Bhandari, and later by Mukunda and Simon by using the idea of Bargmann Invariants. The arti- cle presents a thorough and illustrative overview regarding the mathematical derivation behind the upliftment of the conditions, which results in the generalized definition of the Geometric phase for quantum systems. In addition to that, the article also gives an overall idea about the general analytical aspects of finding the Geometric phase for three level open quantum systems undergoing decoherence and dephasing due to interaction with the surroundings in the weak system reservoir coupling limit described by quantum master equations.

Bargmann invariants and null phase curves are known to be important ingredients in understanding the essential nature of the geometric phase in quantum mechanics. Null phase manifolds in quantum-mechanical ray spaces are submanifolds made up entirely of null phase curves, and so are equally important for geometric phase considerations. It is shown that the complete characterization of null phase manifolds involves both the Riemannian metric structure and the symplectic structure of ray space in equal measure, which thus brings together these two aspects in a natural manner.

We present a theory of the geometric phase based logically on the Bargmann invariant of quantum mechanics, and null phase curves in ray space, as the fundamental ingredients. Null phase curves are themselves defined entirely in terms of the (third order) Bargmann invariant, and it is shown that these are the curves natural to geometric phase theory, rather than geodesics used in earlier treatments. The natural symplectic structure in ray space is seen to play a crucial role in the definition of the geometric phase. Logical consistency of the formulation is explicitly shown, and the principal properties of geometric phases are deduced as systematic consequences.