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arXiv:quant-ph/9902039 · Journal of Physics A Mathematical and General

Quantum revivals and carpets in some exactly solvable systems

Will Loinaz A, T. J. Newman

Published Dec 2, 1999• 23 citations
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Abstract

We consider the revival properties of quantum systems with an eigenspectrum E n n 2 , and compare them with the simplest member of this class - the infinite square well. In addition to having perfect revivals at integer multiples of the revival time t R , these systems all enjoy perfect fractional revivals at quarterly intervals of t R . A closer examination of the quantum evolution is performed for the Pöschel-Teller and Rosen-Morse potentials, and comparison is made with the infinite square well using quantum carpets.

DOI
10.1088/0305-4470/32/50/309

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Quantum revivals and carpets in some exactly solvable systems

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We consider the revival properties of quantum systems with an eigenspectrum E_{n} ~ n^{2}, and compare them with the simplest member of this class - the infinite square well. In addition to having perfect revivals at integer multiples of the revival time t_{R}, these systems all enjoy perfect fractional revivals at quarterly intervals of t_{R}. A closer examination of the quantum evolution is performed for the Scarf potentials, and comparison is made with the infinite square well using quantum carpets.

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Semiclassical investigation of the revival phenomena in a one-dimensional system

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In a quantum revival, a localized wave packet re-forms or ‘revives’ into a compact reincarnation of itself long after it has spread in an unruly fashion over a region restricted only by the potential energy. This is a purely quantum phenomenon, which has no classical analog. Quantum revival and Anderson localization are members of a small class of subtle interference effects resulting in a quantum distribution radically different from the classical after long time evolution under classically nonlinear evolution. However, it is not clear that semiclassical methods, which start with the classical density and add interference effects, are in fact capable of capturing the revival phenomenon. Here we investigate two different one-dimensional systems, the infinite square well and Morse potential. In both the cases, after a long time the underlying classical manifolds are spread rather uniformly over phase space and are correspondingly spread in coordinate space, yet the semiclassical amplitudes are able to destructively interfere over most of coordinate space and constructively interfere in a small region, correctly reproducing a quantum revival. Further implications of this ability are discussed.

arXiv:0811.1936•Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical•Jun 24, 2009•22 citations
We consider the revival properties of quantum systems with an eigenspectrum E n n 2 , and compare them with the simplest member of this class - the infinite square well. In addition to having perfect revivals at integer multiples of the revival time t R , these systems all enjoy perfect fractional revivals at quarterly intervals of t R . A closer examination of the quantum evolution is performed for the Pöschel-Teller and Rosen-Morse potentials, and comparison is made with the infinite square well using quantum carpets.
We consider the revival properties of quantum systems with an eigenspectrum E_{n} ~ n^{2}, and compare them with the simplest member of this class - the infinite square well. In addition to having perfect revivals at integer multiples of the revival time t_{R}, these systems all enjoy perfect fractional revivals at quarterly intervals of t_{R}. A closer examination of the quantum evolution is performed for the Scarf potentials, and comparison is made with the infinite square well using quantum carpets.
In the infinite square well, any wave function will return to its initial state at integer multiples of the revival time. Most quantum systems do not exhibit perfect revivals, but some exhibit partial revivals in which the wave function returns close to its initial state. Subsequent partial revivals usually deteriorate in quality. We discuss the reasons for the perfect revivals in the infinite square well and how a small change in the potential disrupts the revivals. As an example, we examine partial revivals of a Gaussian wave packet in an infinite square well with a step. First-order and second-order perturbation theory show that the rate at which revivals decay depends on the location of the step.
We present an analytical investigation of revival phenomena in the finite square-well potential. The classical motion, revival, and super-revival time scales are derived exactly for wave packets excited in the finite well. These time scales exhibit a richer dependence on wave-packet energy and on potential-well depth than has been found in other quantum systems: They explain, for example, the difficulties in exciting wave packets with strong classical features at the bottom of a finite well, or with clearly resolved super-revivals in a shallow well. In the proper regions of validity, the time scales predict the instances of wave-packet reformation extremely accurately. Revivals at the bottom of the well are explored as a ``universal'' limit of the general theory, which offers the clearest connection with the series of fractional and full revivals seen in the dynamics of the infinite square-well potential.
The dynamics of a quantum mechanical particle in a time-independent potential are found to contain many interesting phenomena. These are direct consequences of the (typical) existence of more than one time scale governing the problem. This gives rise to full revivals of initial wavepackets, fractional revivals (multiple wavepackets appearing at fractions of the revival time) and the striking quantum carpets. A variety of analytic techniques are used to consider the interference that gives rise to these phenomena while skirting calculations involving cross-terms. Novel results include a new theorem on the weighting coefficients ama_mam​ that govern fractional revivals, a demonstration that ΨclΨ_{cl}Ψcl​, the function that governs the distribution and features of these fractional revivals, really does behave classically, a treatment of the wavepacket dephasing in the infinite square well by means of the Poisson summation formula, and a correct analysis of the spatial distribution of intermode traces. Also, this work presents a coherent treatment of these phenomena, which before now did not exist.
In a quantum revival, a localized wave packet re-forms or ‘revives’ into a compact reincarnation of itself long after it has spread in an unruly fashion over a region restricted only by the potential energy. This is a purely quantum phenomenon, which has no classical analog. Quantum revival and Anderson localization are members of a small class of subtle interference effects resulting in a quantum distribution radically different from the classical after long time evolution under classically nonlinear evolution. However, it is not clear that semiclassical methods, which start with the classical density and add interference effects, are in fact capable of capturing the revival phenomenon. Here we investigate two different one-dimensional systems, the infinite square well and Morse potential. In both the cases, after a long time the underlying classical manifolds are spread rather uniformly over phase space and are correspondingly spread in coordinate space, yet the semiclassical amplitudes are able to destructively interfere over most of coordinate space and constructively interfere in a small region, correctly reproducing a quantum revival. Further implications of this ability are discussed.