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Adiabatic evolution for systems with infinitely many eigenvalue crossings

Alain Joye, F. Monti, S. Guérin, Hans Rudolf Jauslin

Published Jan 1, 1999• 6 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

We formulate an adiabatic theorem adapted to models that present an instantaneous eigenvalue experiencing an infinite number of crossings with the rest of the spectrum. We give an upper bound on the leading correction terms with respect to the adiabatic limit. The result requires only differentiability of the considered spectral projector, and some geometric hypothesis on the local behaviour of the eigenvalues at the crossings.

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Adiabatic evolution for systems with infinitely many eigenvalue crossings

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We formulate an adiabatic theorem adapted to models that present an instantaneous eigenvalue experiencing an infinite number of crossings with the rest of the spectrum. We give an upper bound on the leading correction terms with respect to the adiabatic limit. The result requires only differentiability of the considered projector, and some geometric hypothesis on the local behavior of the eigenvalues at the crossings.

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General conditions for quantum adiabatic evolution

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Adiabaticity occurs when, during its evolution, a physical system remains in the instantaneous eigenstate of the Hamiltonian. Unfortunately, existing results, such as the quantum adiabatic theorem based on a slow down evolution $[H(ϵt),ϵ\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0]$, are insufficient to describe an evolution driven by the Hamiltonian $H(t)$ itself. Here we derive general criteria and exact bounds, for the state and its phase, ensuring an adiabatic evolution for any Hamiltonian $H(t)$. As a corollary, we demonstrate that the commonly used condition of a slow Hamiltonian variation rate, compared to the spectral gap, is indeed sufficient to ensure adiabaticity but only when the Hamiltonian is real and nonoscillating (for instance, containing exponential or polynomial but no sinusoidal functions).

arXiv:quant-ph/0607118•Physical Review A•Jul 15, 2009•93 citations
We formulate an adiabatic theorem adapted to models that present an instantaneous eigenvalue experiencing an infinite number of crossings with the rest of the spectrum. We give an upper bound on the leading correction terms with respect to the adiabatic limit. The result requires only differentiability of the considered spectral projector, and some geometric hypothesis on the local behaviour of the eigenvalues at the crossings.
We prove the adiabatic theorem for quantum evolution without the traditional gap condition. We show that the theorem holds essentially in all cases where it can be formulated. In particular, our result implies that the adiabatic theorem holds also for eigenvalues embedded in the continuous spectrum. If there is information on the Hölder continuity of the spectral measure, then one can also estimate the rate at which the adiabatic limit is approached. The adiabatic theorem of Quantum Mechanics describes the long time behavior of the solutions of an initial value problem where the Hamiltonian generating the evolution depends slowly in time. Traditionally, the theorem is stated for Hamiltonians that have an eigenvalue which is separated by a gap from the rest of the spectrum. Folk wisdom is that a gap condition is a sine qua non for the adiabatic theorem to hold. In particular, according to this folk wisdom, one does not expect a general adiabatic theorem for Hamiltonians that have an eigenvalue embedded in, say, the continuous spectrum. Our purpose is to show that this folk wisdom is wrong, and there is a general adiabatic theorem without a gap condition. All one really needs for the adiabatic theorem is a spectral projection for the Hamiltonian that depends smoothly on time.
The authors consider the evolution of a two-level system driven by a nonself-adjoint Hamiltonian H( in t) and treat the adiabatic limit in to 0. While adiabatic theorem-like results do not hold true in general for this case, they prove that they are still valid for the subspace corresponding to the eigenvalue having the largest imaginary part (least dissipative eigenvalue). The theory gives the full asymptotic expansion of the evolution restricted to this subspace. The first correction beyond Berry's phase is to their best knowledge given explicitly for the first time.
Adiabaticity occurs when, during its evolution, a physical system remains in the instantaneous eigenstate of the Hamiltonian. Unfortunately, existing results, such as the quantum adiabatic theorem based on a slow down evolution $[H(ϵt),ϵ\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0]$, are insufficient to describe an evolution driven by the Hamiltonian H(t)H(t)H(t) itself. Here we derive general criteria and exact bounds, for the state and its phase, ensuring an adiabatic evolution for any Hamiltonian H(t)H(t)H(t). As a corollary, we demonstrate that the commonly used condition of a slow Hamiltonian variation rate, compared to the spectral gap, is indeed sufficient to ensure adiabaticity but only when the Hamiltonian is real and nonoscillating (for instance, containing exponential or polynomial but no sinusoidal functions).