Interference due to nonlinear sweep in the Landau-Zener-Stueckelberg effect

We study the Landau-Zener-Stueckelberg (LZS) effect for a two-level system with a time-dependent nonlinear bias field (the sweep function) $W(t).$ Our main concern is to investigate the influence of the nonlinearity of $W(t)$ on the probability P to remain in the initial state. The dimensionless quantity $\ensuremath{\varepsilon}=\ensuremath{\pi}{\ensuremath{\Delta}}^{2}/(2\ensuremath{\Elzxh}v)$ depends on the coupling $\ensuremath{\Delta}$ of both levels and on the sweep rate $v.$ For fast sweep rates, i.e., \ensuremath{\varepsilon}\ensuremath{\ll}1, and monotonic, analytic sweep functions linearizable in the vicinity of the resonance we find the transition probability $1\ensuremath{-}P\ensuremath{\cong}\ensuremath{\varepsilon}(1+a),$ where $a>0$ is the correction to the LSZ result due to the nonlinearity of the sweep. Further increase of the sweep rate with nonlinearity fixed brings the system into the nonlinear-sweep regime characterized by $1\ensuremath{-}P\ensuremath{\cong}{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}^{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$ with \ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\ne}1, depending on the type of sweep function. In the case of slow sweep rates, i.e., \ensuremath{\varepsilon}\ensuremath{\gg}1, an interesting interference phenomenon occurs. For analytic $W(t)$ the probability ${P=P}_{0}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\eta}}$ is determined by the singularities of $\sqrt{{\ensuremath{\Delta}}^{2}{+W}^{2}(t)}$ in the upper complex plane of t. If $W(t)$ is close to linear, there is only one singularity, which leads to the LZS result ${P=e}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}$ with important corrections to the exponent due to nonlinearity. However, for, e.g., $W(t)\ensuremath{\propto}{t}^{3}$ there is a pair of singularities in the upper complex plane. Interference of their contributions leads to oscillations of the prefactor ${P}_{0}$ that depends on the sweep rate through \ensuremath{\varepsilon} and turns to zero at some \ensuremath{\varepsilon}. Measurements of the oscillation period and of the exponential factor would allow one to determine \ensuremath{\Delta}, independently.We study the Landau-Zener-Stueckelberg (LZS) effect for a two-level system with a time-dependent nonlinear bias field (the sweep function) $W(t).$ Our main concern is to investigate the influence of the nonlinearity of $W(t)$ on the probability P to remain in the initial state. The dimensionless quantity $\ensuremath{\varepsilon}=\ensuremath{\pi}{\ensuremath{\Delta}}^{2}/(2\ensuremath{\Elzxh}v)$ depends on the coupling $\ensuremath{\Delta}$ of both levels and on the sweep rate $v.$ For fast sweep rates, i.e., \ensuremath{\varepsilon}\ensuremath{\ll}1, and monotonic, analytic sweep functions linearizable in the vicinity of the resonance we find the transition probability $1\ensuremath{-}P\ensuremath{\cong}\ensuremath{\varepsilon}(1+a),$ where $a>0$ is the correction to the LSZ result due to the nonlinearity of the sweep. Further increase of the sweep rate with nonlinearity fixed brings the system into the nonlinear-sweep regime characterized by $1\ensuremath{-}P\ensuremath{\cong}{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}^{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$ with \ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\ne}1, depending on the type of sweep function. In the case of slow sweep rates, i.e., \ensuremath{\varepsilon}\ensuremath{\gg}1, an interesting interference phenomenon occurs. For analytic $W(t)$ the probability ${P=P}_{0}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\eta}}$ is determined by the singularities of $\sqrt{{\ensuremath{\Delta}}^{2}{+W}^{2}(t)}$ in the upper complex plane of t. If $W(t)$ is close to linear, there is only one singularity, which leads to the LZS result ${P=e}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}$ with important corrections to the exponent due to nonlinearity. However, for, e.g., $W(t)\ensuremath{\propto}{t}^{3}$ there is a pair of singularities in the upper complex plane. Interference of their contributions leads to oscillations of the prefactor ${P}_{0}$ that depends on the sweep rate through \ensuremath{\varepsilon} and turns to zero at some \ensuremath{\varepsilon}. Measurements of the oscillation period and of the exponential factor would allow one to determine \ensuremath{\Delta}, independently.

arXiv:cond-mat/0207418Physical review. B, Condensed matterNov 27, 200260 citations

Quantum Interference Induced by Landau-Zener Transition in

Yang Yu, Yiwen Wang, Xueda Wen +6 more

Jan 1, 20090 citations

Landau-Zener-Stueckelberg effect in a model of interacting tunneling systems

Dmitry A. Garanin

The Landau-Zener-Stueckelberg (LZS) effect in a model system of interacting tunneling particles is studied numerically and analytically. Each of N tunneling particles interacts with each of the others with the same coupling J. This problem maps onto that of the LZS effect for a large spin $S=N/2.$ The mean-field limit $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{N}\ensuremath{\infty}$ corresponds to the classical limit $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{S}\ensuremath{\infty}$ for the effective spin. It is shown that the ferromagnetic coupling $J>0$ tends to suppress the LZS transitions. For $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{N}\ensuremath{\infty}$ there is a critical value of J above which the staying probability P does not go to zero in the slow sweep limit, unlike the standard LZS effect. For $J<0$ LZS transitions are boosted and $P=0$ for a set of finite values of the sweep rate for $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{N}\ensuremath{\infty}.$ Various limiting cases such as strong and weak interaction, slow and fast sweep are considered analytically. It is shown that the mean-field approach works well for arbitrary N if the interaction J is weak.The Landau-Zener-Stueckelberg (LZS) effect in a model system of interacting tunneling particles is studied numerically and analytically. Each of N tunneling particles interacts with each of the others with the same coupling J. This problem maps onto that of the LZS effect for a large spin $S=N/2.$ The mean-field limit $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{N}\ensuremath{\infty}$ corresponds to the classical limit $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{S}\ensuremath{\infty}$ for the effective spin. It is shown that the ferromagnetic coupling $J>0$ tends to suppress the LZS transitions. For $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{N}\ensuremath{\infty}$ there is a critical value of J above which the staying probability P does not go to zero in the slow sweep limit, unlike the standard LZS effect. For $J<0$ LZS transitions are boosted and $P=0$ for a set of finite values of the sweep rate for $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{N}\ensuremath{\infty}.$ Various limiting cases such as strong and weak interaction, slow and fast sweep are considered analytically. It is shown that the mean-field approach works well for arbitrary N if the interaction J is weak.

arXiv:cond-mat/0302107Physical review. B, Condensed matterJul 11, 200324 citations

We study the Landau-Zener-Stueckelberg (LZS) effect for a two-level system with a time-dependent nonlinear bias field (the sweep function)

W(t).

Our main concern is to investigate the influence of the nonlinearity of

W(t)

on the probability P to remain in the initial state. The dimensionless quantity $\ensuremath{\varepsilon}=\ensuremath{\pi}{\ensuremath{\Delta}}^{2}/(2\ensuremath{\Elzxh}v)$ depends on the coupling $\ensuremath{\Delta}$ of both levels and on the sweep rate

v.

For fast sweep rates, i.e., \ensuremath{\varepsilon}\ensuremath{\ll}1, and monotonic, analytic sweep functions linearizable in the vicinity of the resonance we find the transition probability $1\ensuremath{-}P\ensuremath{\cong}\ensuremath{\varepsilon}(1+a),$ where

a>0

is the correction to the LSZ result due to the nonlinearity of the sweep. Further increase of the sweep rate with nonlinearity fixed brings the system into the nonlinear-sweep regime characterized by $1\ensuremath{-}P\ensuremath{\cong}{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}^{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$ with \ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\ne}1, depending on the type of sweep function. In the case of slow sweep rates, i.e., \ensuremath{\varepsilon}\ensuremath{\gg}1, an interesting interference phenomenon occurs. For analytic

W(t)

the probability ${P=P}_{0}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\eta}}$ is determined by the singularities of $\sqrt{{\ensuremath{\Delta}}^{2}{+W}^{2}(t)}$ in the upper complex plane of t. If

W(t)

is close to linear, there is only one singularity, which leads to the LZS result ${P=e}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}$ with important corrections to the exponent due to nonlinearity. However, for, e.g., $W(t)\ensuremath{\propto}{t}^{3}$ there is a pair of singularities in the upper complex plane. Interference of their contributions leads to oscillations of the prefactor

{P}_{0}

that depends on the sweep rate through \ensuremath{\varepsilon} and turns to zero at some \ensuremath{\varepsilon}. Measurements of the oscillation period and of the exponential factor would allow one to determine \ensuremath{\Delta}, independently.

S=N/2.

The mean-field limit $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{N}\ensuremath{\infty}$ corresponds to the classical limit $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{S}\ensuremath{\infty}$ for the effective spin. It is shown that the ferromagnetic coupling

J>0

tends to suppress the LZS transitions. For $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{N}\ensuremath{\infty}$ there is a critical value of J above which the staying probability P does not go to zero in the slow sweep limit, unlike the standard LZS effect. For

J<0

LZS transitions are boosted and

P=0

for a set of finite values of the sweep rate for $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{N}\ensuremath{\infty}.$ Various limiting cases such as strong and weak interaction, slow and fast sweep are considered analytically. It is shown that the mean-field approach works well for arbitrary N if the interaction J is weak.