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arXiv:quant-ph/0201015 · Journal of Physics A Mathematical and General

Relativistic precession and spin dynamics of an elliptic Rydberg wave packet

P. Rozmej, M. Turek, Robert Arvieu, Ilya Sh. Averbukh

Published Aug 27, 2002• 3 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

The time evolution of wave packets (WPs) built from the eigenstates of the Dirac equation for a hydrogenic system is considered. We investigate the space and spin motion of wave packets which, in the non-relativistic limit, are stationary states with a probability density distributed almost uniformly along the classical, elliptical orbit (elliptic WP). We show that the precession of such a WP, due to relativistic corrections to the energy eigenvalues, is strongly correlated with the spin motion. We also show that the motion is universal for all hydrogenic systems with an arbitrary value of the atomic number Z .

DOI
10.1088/0305-4470/35/36/308

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The time evolution of wave packets (WPs) built from the eigenstates of the Dirac equation for a hydrogenic system is considered. We investigate the space and spin motion of wave packets which, in the non-relativistic limit, are stationary states with a probability density distributed almost uniformly along the classical, elliptical orbit (elliptic WP). We show that the precession of such a WP, due to relativistic corrections to the energy eigenvalues, is strongly correlated with the spin motion. We also show that the motion is universal for all hydrogenic systems with an arbitrary value of the atomic number Z .
Time evolution of radial wave packets built from the eigenstates of Dirac equation for a hydrogenic system is considered. Radial wave packets are constructed from the states of different n quantum numbers and the same lowest angular momentum. In general they exhibit a kind of breathing motion with dispersion and (partial) revivals. Calculations show that for some particular preparations of the wave packet one can observe interesting effects in spin motion, coming from inherent entanglement of spin and orbital degrees of freedom. These effects manifest themselves through some oscillations in the mean values of spin operators and through changes of spatial probability density carried by upper and lower components of the wave function. It is also shown that the characteristic time scale of predicted effects (called T ls ) is much smaller for radial wave packets than in other cases, reaching values comparable to (or even less than) the time scale for the wave packet revival.
The quantum theory of atoms is based on a Hamiltonian which is just that of the classical Kepler theory of planetary orbits. In spite of this common foundation, the predictions of quantum theory ordinarily do not much resemble those of classical theory. Even in the limit of large quantum numbers the energy eigenstates of quantum theory do not look at all like the classical elliptical orbits. Recently, Parker and Stroud1 have shown that it is possible to excite a Rydberg atom wave packet whose radial dependence resembles the classical ideal of a particle traveling in an elliptical orbit. In this paper we discuss the formation of a wave packet in the polar and azimuthal angles by the coherent excitation of Rydberg states with the same principal quantum, but with a distribution of the angular momentum quantum numbers. When this wave packet is formed of the Rydberg states of an alkali atom the connection with classical theory is again striking. The wave packet precesses due to the core polarization, just as the classical elliptical orbit precesses due to an added r–4 perturbing potential.
We discuss an extension of the theory of spin-orbit pendulum phenomenon given in [1] to relativistic approach. It is done within the so called Dirac Oscillator. Our first results, focusing on circular wave packet motion have been published recently [2]. The scope of this paper is motion of a linear wave packet. In relativistic approach we found Zitterbewegung in spin-orbit motion (in Dirac representation) due to coupling to negative energy states. This effect is washed out in the Foldy-Wouthuysen representation. Another important change with respect to non-relativistic case is the loss of periodicity. The phenomenon reminds the time evolution of population inversion in Jaynes-Cummings model. PACS numbers: 03.65.Sq, 03.65.Ge 1.
The quantum theory of atoms is based on a Hamiltonian which is just that of the classical Kepler theory of planetary orbits. In spite of this common foundation, the predictions of the quantum theory ordinarily do not much resemble those of the classical theory. Even in the limit of large quantum numbers the energy eigenstates of quantum theory do not look at all like the classical elliptical orbits. Recently, Parker and Stroud1 showed that it is possible to excite a Rydberg atomic wave packet localized in the radial coordinate. Also, Yeazell and Stroud2 showed that a wave packet localized in the angular coordinates can be formed. Both wave packets exhibit an evolution describable, at least in part, by classical theory. However, neither wave packet truly corresponds to a wave packet traveling in a classical elliptical orbit. We discuss the manner in which such a wave packet might be formed using a short-pulsed laser and arf dressing field. The evolution of the resulting wave packet is compared with that of its classical counterpart.
The quantum-mechanical motion of Gaussian wave packets on elliptical and hyperbolic orbits is calculated and shown in plots. The approximation scheme makes explicit use of energy and angular-momentum conservation thus guaranteeing controlled accuracy of the approximation over long-time intervals. This allows the study of the revivals, a phenomenon of particular interest in Rydberg atoms on elliptical orbits. A comparison with the behavior of a classical phase-space distribution of the same position and momentum widths is carried out.
We discuss an extension of the theory of {\em spin-orbit pendulum} phenomenon given in [1] to relativistic approach. It is done within the so called Dirac Oscillator. Our first results, focusing on circular wave packet motion have been published recently [2]. The scope of this paper is motion of a linear wave packet. In relativistic approach we found {\em Zitterbewegung} in spin-orbit motion (in Dirac representation) due to coupling to negative energy states. This effect is washed out in the Foldy-Wouthuysen representation. Another important change with respect to non-relativistic case is the loss of periodicity. The phenomenon reminds the time evolution of population inversion in Jaynes-Cummings model.