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arXiv:quant-ph/9605042 · Journal of Physics A Mathematical and General

A generalized Pancharatnam geometric phase formula for three-level quantum systems

Arvind, K. S. Mallesh, Narasimhaiengar Mukunda

Published Apr 7, 1997• 103 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We describe a recently developed generalization of the Poincaré sphere method, to represent pure states of a three-level quantum system in a convenient geometrical manner. The construction depends on the properties of the group SU(3) and its generators in the defining representation, and uses geometrical objects and operations in an eight-dimensional real Euclidean space. This construction is then used to develop a generalization of the well known Pancharatnam geometric phase formula, for evolution of a three-level system along a geodesic triangle in state space.

DOI
10.1088/0305-4470/30/7/021

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We describe a recently developed generalization of the Poincaré sphere method, to represent pure states of a three-level quantum system in a convenient geometrical manner. The construction depends on the properties of the group SU(3) and its generators in the defining representation, and uses geometrical objects and operations in an eight-dimensional real Euclidean space. This construction is then used to develop a generalization of the well known Pancharatnam geometric phase formula, for evolution of a three-level system along a geodesic triangle in state space.
Geometric Phase in Quantum Mechanics is generally formulated entirely in terms of geometric structure of the Complex Hilbert Space. We will exploit this fact in case of mixed states for three level open systems undergoing depolarization using the eight di- mensional Poincare sphere and non unit vector rays in H3 within the limit of pure state approach may be found to be in agreement with the Pancharatnam Phase, Berry Phase and Aharonov-Anandan Phase. We will consider the Depolarization of the Three di- mensional fields by introducing the stokes parameters and by redefining the definition of Degree of Polarization using the SU(3) algebra to describe the quantum light depolariza- tion of Non-paraxial beams by minimal reservoir coupling models modeled by Lindblad Master equations and connect the solution of that with the geometric phase for systems undergoing depolarization.
By expanding the density matrix of the open system in terms of Gell-mann matrix in a three-level system, we parameterize coefficients of expansion by some azimuthal angles and find an identity mapping of the density matrices onto interior points of the unit Poincaré sphere. Thus, the relations between the points on the unit Poincaré sphere and wave functions are extended to connect the interior points in the sphere with the nonunit vector rays corresponding to an open system in complex Hilbert space. Thus,the geometric phases for the open system are proposed to be observed by the nonunit vector rays,where the geometric phase of the pure state is the limiting case of our definition. The results show that this geometric phase merely with duplicate three-dimensional Hilbert projection space geometry structure related, has nothing to do with the open system concrete evolution way; and it depends on population inversion and is a slippy and single-value curve of Bloch radius. Therefore, the mixed state of open system retains indeed a memory of its motion in the form of a geometric phase factor.
The properties of the geometric phases between three quantum states are investigated in a high-dimensional Hilbert space using the Majorana representation of symmetric quantum states. We found that the geometric phases between the three quantum states in an NNN-state quantum system can be represented by $N\ensuremath{-}1$ spherical triangles on the Bloch sphere. The parameter dependence of the geometric phase was analyzed based on this picture. We found that the geometric phase exhibits rich nonlinear behavior in a high-dimensional Hilbert space.
The Bloch sphere is a familiar and useful geometrical picture of the dynamics of a single spin or two-level system's quantum evolution. The analogous geometrical picture for three-level systems is presented, with several applications. The relevant SU(3) group and su(3) algebra are eight-dimensional objects and are realized in our picture as two four-dimensional manifolds describing the time evolution operator. The first, called the base manifold, is the counterpart of the S^2 Bloch sphere, whereas the second, called the fiber, generalizes the single U(1) phase of a single spin. Now four-dimensional, it breaks down further into smaller objects depending on alternative representations that we discuss. Geometrical phases are also developed and presented for specific applications. Arbitrary time-dependent couplings between three levels or between two spins (qubits) with SU(3) Hamiltonians can be conveniently handled through these geometrical objects.
We analyze the geometric aspects of unitary evolution of general states for a multilevel quantum system by exploiting the structure of coadjoint orbits in the unitary group Lie algebra. Using the same method in the case of SU(3) we study the effect of degeneracies on geometric phases for three-level systems. This is shown to lead to a highly nontrivial generalization of the result for two-level systems in which degeneracy results in a "monopole" structure in parameter space. The rich structures that arise are related to the geometry of adjoint orbits in SU(3). The limiting case of a two-level degeneracy in a three-level system is shown to lead to the known monopole structure.