arXiv subjects

R. Englman

Publications and source records attributed to R. Englman.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2008

Large Berry phases in layered graphene

Brillouin zones of graphene systems possess Dirac points, where band degeneracies occur. We study the variety of (and large magnitude) phases that the electronic states can acquire when a uniform time-dependent electric field carries the electrons around one or more Dirac points in a non-concentric fashion. An experimentally accessible determination of excess Berry phases is proposed involving the Zitterbewegung of electronic current near an orthogonality point in adiabatic motion.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2007

Discrimination between evolution operators

Under broad conditions, evolutions due to two different Hamiltonians are shown to lead at some moment to orthogonal states. For two spin-1/2 systems subject to precession by different magnetic fields the achievement of orthogonalization is demonstrated for every scenario but a special one. This discrimination between evolutions is experimentally much simpler than procedures proposed earlier based on either sequential or parallel application of the unknown unitaries. A lower bound for the orthogonalization time is proposed in terms of the properties of the two Hamiltonians.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2006

Conductance Phases in Aharonov-Bohm Ring Quantum Dots

The regimes of growing phases (for electron numbers N~0-8) that pass into regions of self-returning phases (for N>8), found recently in quantum dot conductances by the Weizmann group are accounted for by an elementary Green function formalism, appropriate to an equi-spaced ladder structure (with at least three rungs) of electronic levels in the quantum dot. The key features of the theory are physically a dissipation rate that increases linearly with the level number (and tentatively linked to coupling to longitudinal optical phonons) and a set of Fano-like meta-stable levels, which disturb the unitarity, and mathematically the change over of the position of the complex transmission amplitude-zeros from the upper-half in the complex gap-voltage plane to the lower half of that plane. The two regimes are identified with (respectively) the Blaschke-term and the Kramers-Kronig integral term in the theory of complex variables.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2005

A "Square-root" Method for the Density Matrix and its Applications to Lindblad Operators

The evolution of open systems, subject to both Hamiltonian and dissipative forces, is studied by writing the $nm$ element of the time ($t$) dependent density matrix in the form \ber ρ_{nm}(t)&=& \frac {1}{A} \sum_{α=1}^A γ^α_n (t)γ^{α*}_m (t) \enr The so called "square root factors", the $γ(t)$'s, are non-square matrices and are averaged over $A$ systems ($α$) of the ensemble. This square-root description is exact. Evolution equations are then postulated for the $γ(t)$ factors, such as to reduce to the Lindblad-type evolution equations for the diagonal terms in the density matrix. For the off-diagonal terms they differ from the Lindblad-equations. The "square root factors" $γ(t)$ are not unique and the equations for the $γ(t)$'s depend on the specific representation chosen. Two criteria can be suggested for fixing the choice of $γ(t)$'s one is simplicity of the resulting equations and the other has to do with the reduction of the difference between the $γ(t)$ formalism and the Lindblad-equations.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2005

Perturbative Analysis of Possible Failures in the Traditional Adiabatic Conditions

Recently, Marzlin and Sanders (2004) demonstrated an inconsistency when the adiabatic approximation was applied to specific, "inverse" time-evolving systems. Following that, Tong et al. (2005) showed that the widely used traditional adiabatic conditions are insufficient to guarantee the validity of the adiabatic approximation for this class of systems. In this article we explore the origin of these observations by a perturbative approach and find that in first order approximation certain nonzero terms appear in the solution which gives rise to the breakdown of the adiabatic approximation (despite the fact that the traditional adiabatic conditions are satisfied). We argue that in this case the Hamiltonian of Marzlin and Sanders' inverse time evolving system cannot be written in terms of t/T, where T denotes the total evolution time. It is further demonstrated that the new qualitative adiabatic condition of Ye et al. (2005) performs well in some cases when the traditional conditions fail to describe properly non-adiabatic evolution.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2004

The Jahn-Teller Efect: A Permanent Presence in the Frontiers of Science

In 1937 the Jahn-Teller (JT) effect addressed the instability (potential or actual) of non-linear symmetric molecules with degenerate orbital electronic states. In view of the large variety of JT activity that has taken place since then, we might broaden our perspective to look at works whose subjects fall under the more general heading of "Strong interactions between two dissimilar systems" (where one system is usually bosonic and the other fermionic). In these intervening years we find several highly important works in Physics and Chemistry that come under this heading and were either connected with, or arose from, JT systems, problems and approaches. Apart from high temperature superconductors, we mention Yang-Mills gauge-forces, symmetry breaking (in elementary particles), conical intersections in molecular potential surfaces, surface crossings between them in chemical reactions, entanglements in the quantum theory of measurements and Berry phases. We elaborate on the last two topics. We show first that the slow evolution of a Txe coupling from the weak to strong regime can model the quantum mechanical three-state measurement situation, when the positions of the nuclei acts as the measuring device. We then employ recently derived integral relations between component moduli and phases in a time dependent wave-function to demonstrate the equivalence between the state-reduction and the phase decoherence interpretations of the measurement process.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2004

Complex States of Simple Molecular Systems

A review is given of phase properties in molecular wave functions, composed of a number of (and, at least, two) electronic states that become degenerate at some nearby values of the nuclear configuration. Apart from discussing phases and interference in classical (non-quantal) systems, including light-waves, the review looks at the constructability of complex wave functions from observable quantities ("the phase problem"), at the controversy regarding quantum mechanical phase-operators, at the modes of observability of phase and at the role of phases in some non-demolition measurements. Advances in experimental and (especially) theoretical aspects of Aharonov-Bohm and topological (Berry) phases are described, including those involving two-electron and relativistic systems. Several works in the phase control and revivals of molecular wave-packets are cited as developments and applications of complex-function theory. Further topics that this review touches on are: coherent states, semiclassical approximations and the Maslov index. The interrelation between time and the complex state is noted in the contexts of time delays in scattering, of time-reversal invariance and of the existence of a molecular time-arrow.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2004

Reciprocity between Moduli and Phases in Time-Dependent Wave-Functions

For time (t) dependent wave functions we derive rigorous conjugate relations between analytic decompositions (in the complex t-plane) of the phases and of the log moduli. We then show that reciprocity, taking the form of Kramers-Kronig integral relations (but in the time domain), holds between observable phases and moduli in several physically important instances. These include the nearly adiabatic (slowly varying) case, a class of cyclic wave-functions, wave packets and non-cyclic states in an "expanding potential". The results exhibit the interdependence of geometric-phases and related decay probabilities. Several known quantum mechanical theories possess the reciprocity property obtained in the paper.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2004

Phase-Modulus Relations in Cyclic Wave Functions

We derive reciprocal integral relations between phases and amplitude moduli for a class of wave functions that are cyclically varying in time. The relations imply that changes of a certain kind (e.g. not arising from the dynamic phase) obligate changes in the other. Numerical results indicate the approximate validity of the relationships for arbitrarily (non-cyclically) varying states in the adiabatic (slowly changing) limit.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2004

Conductance-Phase Determination in Double Slit Transmission across a Quantum Dot by Hilbert Transform Method

Recent novel mesoscopic two-arm experiments involving quantum dots, electron interferometry and Aharononov-Bohm effects have enabled measuring the electron transmission probabilities and the phases. Unexpected features in the phases as function of the gap voltage U have simulated intensive theoretical works. It is shown in this paper that the phases (f) and conductances (|C|), appearing in both the experimental and the theoretical works, are interrelated through integral expressions, causing f and log(|C|) to be Hilbert transforms. The empirically found interrelations imply remarkable analytical properties of the U-dependence of wave-functions in mesoscopic systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2004

Cortical Dynamics and Awareness State: An Interpretation of Observed Interstimulus Interval Dependence in Apparent Motion

In a recent paper on Cortical Dynamics, Francis and Grossberg raise the question how visual forms and motion information are integrated to generate a coherent percept of moving forms? In their investigation of illusory contours (which are, like Kanizsa squares, mental constructs rather than stimuli on the retina) they quantify the subjective impression of apparent motion between illusory contours that are formed by two subsequent stimuli with delay times of about 0.2 second (called the interstimulus interval ISI). The impression of apparent motion is due to a back referral of a later experience to an earlier time in the conscious representation. A model is developed which describes the state of awareness in the observer in terms of a time dependent Schroedinger equation to which a second order time derivative is added. This addition requires as boundary conditions the values of the solution both at the beginning and after the process. Satisfactory quantitative agreement is found between the results of the model and the experimental results. We recall that in the von Neumann interpretation of the collapse of the quantum mechanical wave-function, the collapse was associated with an observer's awareness. Some questions of causality and determinism that arise from later-time boundary conditions are touched upon.

q-bio.NC↗

arXiv2004

Hierarchical Construction of Finite Diabatic Sets, By Mathieu Functions

An extension is given for the standard two component model of adiabatic, Born-Oppenheimer (BO) electronic states in a polyatonic molecule, by use of Mathieu functions of arbitrary order. The curl or compatibility conditions for the construction of a diabatic set of states based on a finite- dimensional subset of BO states are not satisfied exactly. It is shown, however, that, by successively adding higher order Mathieu functions to the BO set, the compatibility conditions are satisfied with increasingly better accuracy. We then generalize to situations in which the nonadiabatic couplings (the dynamic corrections to the BO approximation) are small (though not necessarily zero) between a finite-dimensional BO subset and the rest of the BO states. We prove that approximate diabatic sets exist, with an error that is of the order of the square of the neglected nonadiabatic couplings.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2004

Phase-Modulus Relations for a Reflected Particle

We formulate analytically the reflection of a one dimensional, expanding free wave-packet (wp) from an infinite barrier. Three types of wp's are considered, representing an electron, a molecule and a classical object. We derive a threshold criterion for the values of the dynamic parameters so that reciprocal (Kramers-Kronig) relations hold {\it in the time domain} between the log-modulus of the wp and the (analytic part of its) phase acquired during the reflection. For an electron, in a typical case, the relations are shown to be satisfied. For a molecule the modulus-phase relations take a more complicated form, including the so called Blaschke term. For a classical particle characterized by a large mean momentum ($\hbar K >> \frac{\hbar trajectory length} {(size of wave-packet)^2} >>> \frac{\hbar}{size of wave-packet}$) the rate of acquisition of the relative phase between different wp components is enormous (for a bullet it is typically $10^{14}$ GHertz) with also a very large value for the phase maximum.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2004

Signed Phases and Fields Associated with Degeneracies

In the first part, expressions are given for the {\it sign} of the topological angle that is acquired upon making a loop around a degeneracy ("conical intersection") point of two molecular energy surfaces. The expressions involve the partial derivatives (with respect to the nuclear coordinates) of the matrix elements of the coupling Hamiltonian. Examples are given of a few studied cases, such as of excited states that have topological angles with a sign opposite to those in the ground states. In the second part, the two dimensional (or two parameter) situation that characterizes a conical intersection (ci) between potential surfaces in a polyatomic molecule is constructed as a limiting case of the three dimensional Dirac-monopole situation. For an electron occupying a twofold state, we obtain both the "magnetic-field" (or curl-field) and the tensorial (or Yang-Mills-) field (which is the sum of a curl and of a vector- product term). These pseudo- fields represent the reaction of the electron on the nuclear motion via the nonadiabatic coupling terms (NACTs). We find that both fields are aligned with the orthogonal, (so called) seam directions of the ci and are zero everywhere outside the seam, but they differ as regards the flux that they produce. In a two-state situation, the fields are representation dependent and the values of, e.g., the fluxes depend on the state that the electron occupies. The angular dependence of the NACTs and the fields calculated from a general linearly coupled model agrees with recently computed results for $C_2 H$ [A.M. Mebel, M. Baer and S.H. Lin, J.Chem. Phys. {\bf 115} 3673 (2001)]. An effective-Hamiltonian formalism is proposed for experimentally observing and distinguishing between the different fields.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2004

The Open Path Phase for Degenerate and Non-degenerate Systems and its Relation to the Wave-function Modulus

We calculate the open path phase in a two state model with a slowly (nearly adiabatically) varying time-periodic Hamiltonian and trace its continuous development during a period. We show that the topological (Berry) phase attains $π$ or $2 π$ depending on whether there is or is not a degeneracy in the part of the parameter space enclosed by the trajectory. Oscillations are found in the phase. As adiabaticity is approached, these become both more frequent and less pronounced and the phase jump becomes increasingly more steep. Integral relations between the phase and the amplitude modulus (having the form of Kramers-Kronig relations, but in the time domain) are used as an alternative way to calculate open path phases. These relations attest to the observable nature of the open path phase.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2004

Energy Density of a Dissipative Polarizable Solid by a Lagrangean Formalism

A Lagrangean for the dynamics of an electromagnetic field in a dispersive and dissipative material is constructed (adapting some ideas by Bekenstein and Hannay) and an expression for the energy density that is positive is obtained from it. The expression contains extra (sink) degrees of freedom that represent dissipating modes. In simplified cases the sink modes can be eliminated to yield an energy density expression in terms of the electromagnetic fields, the polarization and the magnetization only, but which contains parameters associated with the sink modes. The method of adding extra modes can be used to set up a Lagrangean formalism for dissipative systems in general, such that will reinstate time-translation invariance and will yield a unique energy density.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2004

A Variational Procedure for Time-Dependent Processes

A simple variational Lagrangian is proposed for the time development of an arbitrary density matrix, employing the "factorization" of the density. Only the "kinetic energy" appears in the Lagrangian. The formalism applies to pure and mixed state cases, the Navier-Stokes equations of hydrodynamics, transport theory, etc. It recaptures the Least Dissipation Function condition of Rayleigh-Onsager {\bf and in practical applications is flexible}. The variational proposal is tested on a two level system interacting that is subject, in one instance, to an interaction with a single oscillator and, in another, that evolves in a dissipative mode.

physics.flu-dyn↗