A logarithmic phase singularity at the heart of Landau-Zener transitions

Abstract

Three ingredients of the elementary Landau-Zener problem determine the familiar expression $a_{LZ}\equiv\exp\left[-\pi/(2\epsilon)\right]$ for the asymptotic value of the probability amplitude for remaining in the initial level: (i) A wave whose phase is determined by the product of a contour integral over a simple pole at the origin of the complex plane and the inverse of twice the scaled chirp parameter $\epsilon$. (ii) An asymptotic limit of the associated path connecting the points $\pm 1$ along the real axis and circumventing the pole in the upper half-plane, and (iii) a half-circle in the lower half plane enclosing together with the asymptotic path the pole. The Cauchy theorem immediately provides us with the value $\ii\pi$ of the asymptotic contour, and thus with $a_{LZ}$. Our analysis demonstrates not only that $a_{LZ}$ is the consequence of a logarithmic phase singularity but also explains why the Markov approximation also leads to $a_{LZ}$.