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The General Necessary Condition for the Validity of Dirac's Transition Perturbation Theory

Nguyen Vinh Quang

Published Jan 1, 1996• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

For the first time, from the natural requirements for the successive approximation the general necessary condition of validity of the Dirac's method is explicitly established. It is proved that the conception of 'the transition probability per unit time' is not valid. The 'super-platinium rules' for calculating the transition probability are derived for the arbitrarily strong time-independent perturbation case.

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Schrodinger Equation cannot Describe Transition Processes

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In this paper we prove the following: (1) The basic error of time-dependent perturbation theory is using the sum of first finite order of perturbed solutions to substitute the exact solution in the divergent interval of the series for calculating the transition probability. In addition quantum mechanics neglects the influence of the normality condition in the continuous case. In both cases Fermi golden rule is not a mathematically reasonable deductive inference from the Schrodinger equation. (2) The transition probability per unit time deduced from the exact solution of the Schrodinger equation is zero, which cannot be used to describe the transition processes.

arXiv:physics/0101049•Jan 9, 2001•0 citations

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Abstract In a previous paper the theory of perturbations was discussed for system which possess only discrete spectra. The theory is now extended to systems with both discrete and continuous spectra, and in addition a slightly more general method of perturbation is considered. The Hamiltonian H of the perturbed systems is split up into three parts H0, H1, H2 (t), two of which can be chosen arbitrarily. The solutions of the perturbed problem can then be worked out in terms of the characteristic functions corresponding to the Hamiltonian H0 + H2 (T), where T is any arbitrary fixed time. In general, however, the series of perturbations does not converge, and different modes of splitting up the Hamiltonian will lead to different formal results. The perturbation theory does usually give the correct physical results, and it is therefore necessary to give some explanation of how this happens. In (I) the asymptotic nature of certain solutions was emphasised, but this does not extend to the more general systems treated here. It is suggested that the usual boundary conditions do not give an adequate description of any but the simplest atomic problems, and that more detailed restrictions, determined by the experimental conditions, ought to be substituted. As this is impossible in practice, an alternative method is to regard the motion as a perturbation on that Hamiltonian H0 + H2 (T) which most nearly corresponds to the experimental conditions. (For example, we may regard an electron as free or bound according as the experiment determines the number of free or bound electrons respectively, whereas in the usual theory the initial Hamiltonian is taken as fundamental.) This criterion, together with the initial conditions, suffices to fix the division of H into the three parts H0, H1, H2 (t) which at first were chosen arbitrarily. The formal solution can be worked out on this basis, and it is then assumed that this solution is asymptotic to the one which would be obtained if the full boundary conditions were used. This suggestion is in accordance with the fact that a hydrogen atom in an electric field gives rise not only to the usual Stark effect, but also to an ionisation effect. In § 2 the perturbation equation are derived in a slightly more general form than has previously been given. The theories of Born,* Dirac and Oppenheimer are particular cases of that given here, and are obtained by particular choices of H0, H1, H2 (t). To obtain Born’s theory we take H1 = 0, and for Oppenheimer’s we take H2 (t) = H2 (T) and T = 0. In Dirac’s theory we have H1 = 0, H2 (0) = 0 and T = 0. Each of these theories is appropriate for the solution of special problems, but the more general method of this paper is required for the full discussion of the perturbation theory.

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Answer of the most important unsettled question of physical theory in 20th century

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Quantum mechanics take the sum of first finite order approximate solutions of time-dependent perturbation to substitute the exact solution. From the point of mathematics, it may be correct only in the convergent region of the time-dependent perturbation series. Where is the convergent region of this series? Quantum mechanics did not answer this problem. However it is relative to the question, can we use the Schrodinger equation to describe the transition processes? So it is the most important unsettling problem of physical theory. We find out the time-dependent approximate solution for arbitrary and the exact solution. Then we can prove that: (1) In the neighborhood of the conservation of energy, the series is divergent. The basic error of quantum mechanics is using the sum of the first finite orders approximate solutions to substitute the exact solution in this divergent region. It leads to an infinite error. So the Fermi golden rule is not a mathematically reasonable inference of the. Schrodinger equation (2) The transiton probability per unit time deduced from the exact solution of Schrodinger equation cannot describe the transition processes. This paper is only a prime discussion.

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A modification of the Dirac time-dependent perturbation theory

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Abstract Within the framework of the method of variation of constants, time-dependent perturbation theory is presented in a form that naturally eliminates the undesirable ‘secular ’ terms for a time-independent perturbation, permits an order-by-order calculation of the exact wavefunction for a ‘resonant’ harmonic perturbation and offers a simple route to establish the adiabatic hypothesis in quantum mechanics. The formulation rests on the introduction of a flexibility in the choice of the phase factors associated with the varying amplitudes, together with development of a perturbation procedure that closely resembles the Brillouin-Wigner formalism in the static case, and which exploits the flexibility of the phase factors at each order of the theory.

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London A Mathematical and Physical Sciences•Aug 8, 1984•12 citations
For the first time, from the natural requirements for the successive approximation the general necessary condition of validity of the Dirac's method is explicitly established. It is proved that the conception of 'the transition probability per unit time' is not valid. The 'super-platinium rules' for calculating the transition probability are derived for the arbitrarily strong time-independent perturbation case.
In this paper we prove the following: (1) The basic error of time-dependent perturbation theory is using the sum of first finite order of perturbed solutions to substitute the exact solution in the divergent interval of the series for calculating the transition probability. In addition quantum mechanics neglects the influence of the normality condition in the continuous case. In both cases Fermi golden rule is not a mathematically reasonable deductive inference from the Schrodinger equation. (2) The transition probability per unit time deduced from the exact solution of the Schrodinger equation is zero, which cannot be used to describe the transition processes.
Abstract In a previous paper the theory of perturbations was discussed for system which possess only discrete spectra. The theory is now extended to systems with both discrete and continuous spectra, and in addition a slightly more general method of perturbation is considered. The Hamiltonian H of the perturbed systems is split up into three parts H0, H1, H2 (t), two of which can be chosen arbitrarily. The solutions of the perturbed problem can then be worked out in terms of the characteristic functions corresponding to the Hamiltonian H0 + H2 (T), where T is any arbitrary fixed time. In general, however, the series of perturbations does not converge, and different modes of splitting up the Hamiltonian will lead to different formal results. The perturbation theory does usually give the correct physical results, and it is therefore necessary to give some explanation of how this happens. In (I) the asymptotic nature of certain solutions was emphasised, but this does not extend to the more general systems treated here. It is suggested that the usual boundary conditions do not give an adequate description of any but the simplest atomic problems, and that more detailed restrictions, determined by the experimental conditions, ought to be substituted. As this is impossible in practice, an alternative method is to regard the motion as a perturbation on that Hamiltonian H0 + H2 (T) which most nearly corresponds to the experimental conditions. (For example, we may regard an electron as free or bound according as the experiment determines the number of free or bound electrons respectively, whereas in the usual theory the initial Hamiltonian is taken as fundamental.) This criterion, together with the initial conditions, suffices to fix the division of H into the three parts H0, H1, H2 (t) which at first were chosen arbitrarily. The formal solution can be worked out on this basis, and it is then assumed that this solution is asymptotic to the one which would be obtained if the full boundary conditions were used. This suggestion is in accordance with the fact that a hydrogen atom in an electric field gives rise not only to the usual Stark effect, but also to an ionisation effect. In § 2 the perturbation equation are derived in a slightly more general form than has previously been given. The theories of Born,* Dirac and Oppenheimer are particular cases of that given here, and are obtained by particular choices of H0, H1, H2 (t). To obtain Born’s theory we take H1 = 0, and for Oppenheimer’s we take H2 (t) = H2 (T) and T = 0. In Dirac’s theory we have H1 = 0, H2 (0) = 0 and T = 0. Each of these theories is appropriate for the solution of special problems, but the more general method of this paper is required for the full discussion of the perturbation theory.
Quantum mechanics take the sum of first finite order approximate solutions of time-dependent perturbation to substitute the exact solution. From the point of mathematics, it may be correct only in the convergent region of the time-dependent perturbation series. Where is the convergent region of this series? Quantum mechanics did not answer this problem. However it is relative to the question, can we use the Schrodinger equation to describe the transition processes? So it is the most important unsettling problem of physical theory. We find out the time-dependent approximate solution for arbitrary and the exact solution. Then we can prove that: (1) In the neighborhood of the conservation of energy, the series is divergent. The basic error of quantum mechanics is using the sum of the first finite orders approximate solutions to substitute the exact solution in this divergent region. It leads to an infinite error. So the Fermi golden rule is not a mathematically reasonable inference of the. Schrodinger equation (2) The transiton probability per unit time deduced from the exact solution of Schrodinger equation cannot describe the transition processes. This paper is only a prime discussion.
Abstract The theory of perturbations of electronic systems has been considered by various writers, and the method is the basis of the solution of most quantum problems. It therefore seems desirable that the theory should be placed on a firm footing, and this necessitates the discussion of the convergence of the series of perturbations, which up to the present has been avoided. This investigation is all the more necessary since the wave equation of the Stark Effect has no solution of the form assumed by Schrödinger in his original discussion of the perturbation theory. Dirac’s theory leads to a system of linear differential equations in an infinite number of variables, and 2 is devoted to the discussion of the existence theorem for such a system by a matrix method. In 3 the application is made to the perturbation theory in the case of perturbations satisfying the conditions assumed in 2. In 4 the theory is extended so as to include more general types of disturbances. It is shown that, though the series of perturbations does not in general converge, yet it usually possesses the same asymptotic character as in the classical theory, and its use can therefore be justified.
A conventional perturbation approach to the problem of induced emission by an atom exposed to electromagnetic radiation is reviewed. The calculation is known to contain a familiar mathematical anomaly requiring a nonphysical restraint on the time range of validity of the derived expression for the atomic transition rate. The problem is then solved again in the formalism of multiple-time-scale perturbation theory. This approach avoids the mathematical difficulty in question, and yields for the transition rate a more general expression. During the restricted time interval, in which the conventionally obtained result is valid, it and the more general expression are identical.
Abstract Within the framework of the method of variation of constants, time-dependent perturbation theory is presented in a form that naturally eliminates the undesirable ‘secular ’ terms for a time-independent perturbation, permits an order-by-order calculation of the exact wavefunction for a ‘resonant’ harmonic perturbation and offers a simple route to establish the adiabatic hypothesis in quantum mechanics. The formulation rests on the introduction of a flexibility in the choice of the phase factors associated with the varying amplitudes, together with development of a perturbation procedure that closely resembles the Brillouin-Wigner formalism in the static case, and which exploits the flexibility of the phase factors at each order of the theory.