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arXiv:quant-ph/0111123 · Physical Review Letters

Observable Dirac-Type Singularities in Berry’s Phase and the Monopole

Rajendra Bhandari

Published Feb 26, 2002• 12 citations
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Abstract

A three-dimensional generalization of the sign-change ( pi phase shift) rule for adiabatic cycles of spin-1/2 or two-state wave functions encircling a degeneracy in the parameter space of the Hamiltonian yields a Dirac-type singularity wherein any closed circuit of the adiabatic cycle in which the degeneracy is "looped" results in an observable +/-2pi phase shift. It is concluded that an interferometer loop similarly taken around a magnetic monopole of strength n/2 yields an observable +/-2npi phase shift, n being an integer.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.88.100403

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A three-dimensional generalization of the sign-change ( pi phase shift) rule for adiabatic cycles of spin-1/2 or two-state wave functions encircling a degeneracy in the parameter space of the Hamiltonian yields a Dirac-type singularity wherein any closed circuit of the adiabatic cycle in which the degeneracy is "looped" results in an observable +/-2pi phase shift. It is concluded that an interferometer loop similarly taken around a magnetic monopole of strength n/2 yields an observable +/-2npi phase shift, n being an integer.
A monopole-like singularity generated by Berry's phase in momentum space and associated anomalous Poisson brackets have been discussed in various fields. In the applications, it is crucially important to understand precisely what is the monopole in momentum space implied by Berry's phase. Berry's phase is sensitive to how it is measured and thus very different from the genuine Dirac monopole; the monopole-like singularity in Berry's phase is a result of adiabatic approximation while the singularity disappears in non-adiabatic approximation. The resolution of monopole-like singularity in the non-adiabatic domain implies that no Dirac string appears close to the monopole position and the anomalous terms containing the monopole flux in quantum mechanical commutation relations are absent. The absence of modified commutators is also concluded if one understands Berry's phase in momentum space as an O(ℏ)O(\hbar)O(ℏ) quantum mechanical effect with a quantized magnetic charge eM=2πℏe_{M}=2\pi\hbareM​=2πℏ.
Abstract This work revisit on the intrinsic connection between Dirac monopole theory and Berry geometric phases by extending Dirac's theory to the parameter space. Using the simplest two-mode Hamiltonian model, we explicitly visualize Dirac strings with endpoints in the parameter space, demonstrating that these endpoints correspond to accidental degeneracy points of energy eigenvalues in Hermitian systems. We show that non-integrable phase factors, induced by such Dirac strings, directly give rise to the well-known Berry connection and curvature, which can be re-derived by following the spirit of Dirac's monopole theory with the aid of the quantum adiabatic theorem. Our results indicate that the Berry geometric phase is essentially the non-integrable phase factor induced by Dirac strings with endpoints in the parameter space. These results further deepen our understanding on monopole and geometric phases, and would inspire more studies on them especially when Berry's framework is not applicable.
The smooth topology change of Berry's phase from a Dirac monopolelike configuration to a dipole configuration, when one approaches the monopole position in the parameter space, is analyzed in an exactly solvable model. A novel aspect of Berry's connection Ak{\mathcal{A}}_{k}Ak​ is that the geometrical center of the monopolelike configuration and the origin of the Dirac string are displaced in the parameter space. Gauss's theorem ${\ensuremath{\int}}_{S}(\ensuremath{\nabla}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathcal{A})\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}d\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{S}={\ensuremath{\int}}_{V}\ensuremath{\nabla}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}(\ensuremath{\nabla}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathcal{A})dV=0$ for a volume VVV which is free of singularities shows that a combination of the monopolelike configuration and the Dirac string is effectively a dipole. The smooth topology change from a dipole to a monopole with a quantized magnetic charge ${e}_{M}=2\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\hbar}$ takes place when one regards the Dirac string as unobservable if it satisfies the Wu-Yang gauge invariance condition. In the transitional region from a dipole to a monopole, a half-monopole appears with an observable Dirac string, which is analogous to the Aharonov-Bohm phase of an electron for the magnetic flux generated by the Cooper pair condensation. The main topological features of an exactly solvable model are shown to be supported by a generic model of Berry's phase.
The Berry phase, acquired by an anisotropic spin system with spin J ≥1 when it is adiabatically rotated in a closed circuit, is considered to be associated with a non-quantized Dirac monopole, and has a geometrical as well as a topological component owing to the Dirac string. Here, it is argued that the Berry phase of a spin state with J ≥1 can be associated with a quantized Dirac monopole when the corresponding spin is taken to be an entangled state of a composite system of 1/2 spins. Evidently, this avoids the contribution of the Dirac string, and the Berry phase is purely geometrical in nature.
Berry's phase, which is associated with the slow cyclic motion with a finite period, looks like a Dirac monopole when seen from far away but smoothly changes to a dipole near the level crossing point in the parameter space in an exactly solvable model. This topology change of Berry's phase is visualized as a result of the lensing effect; the monopole supposed to be located at the level crossing point appears at the displaced point when the variables of the model deviate from the precisely adiabatic movement. The effective magnetic field generated by Berry's phase is determined by a simple geometrical consideration of the magnetic flux coming from the displaced Dirac monopole.
The Berry phase of an anisotropic spin system that is adiabatically rotated along a closed circuit C is investigated. It is shown that the Berry phase consists of two contributions: (i) a geometric contribution which can be interpreted as the flux through C of a nonquantized Dirac monopole, and (ii) a topological contribution which can be interpreted as the flux through C of a Dirac string carrying a nonquantized flux, i.e., a spin analogue of the Aharonov-Bohm effect. Various experimental consequences of this novel effect are discussed.