Four-Parameter Point-Interaction in 1-D Quantum Systems

We construct a four-parameter point-interaction for a non-relativistic particle moving on a line as the limit of a short range interaction with range tending toward zero. For particular choices of the parameters, we can obtain a delta-interaction or the so-called delta'-interaction. The Hamiltonian corresponding to the four-parameter point-interaction is shown to correspond to the four-parameter self-adjoint Hamiltonian of the free particle moving on the line with the origin excluded.Comment: 6 pages, Plain Tex file. BU-HEP-92-

Perturbation Theory for Singular Potentials in Quantum Mechanics

We study perturbation theory in certain quantum mechanics problems in which the perturbing potential diverges at some points, even though the energy eigenvalues are smooth functions of the coefficient of the potential. We discuss some of the unusual techniques which are required to obtain perturbative expansions of the energies in such cases. These include a point-splitting prescription for expansions around the Dirichlet (fermionic) limit of the $\delta$-function potential, and performing a similarity transformation to a non-Hermitian potential in the Calogero-Sutherland model. As an application of the first technique, we study the ground state of the $\delta$-function Bose gas near the fermionic limit.Comment: LaTeX, 19 pages, no figure

Novel A-B type oscillations in a 2-D electron gas in inhomogenous magnetic fields

We present results from a quantum and semiclassical theoretical study of the $\rho_{xy}$ and $\rho_{xx}$ resistivities of a high mobility 2-D electron gas in the presence of a dilute random distribution of tubes with magnetic flux $\Phi$ and radius $R$, for arbitrary values of $k_f R$ and $F=e\Phi/h$. We report on novel Aharonov-Bohm type oscillations in $\rho_{xy}$ and $\rho_{xx}$, related to degenerate quantum flux tube resonances, that satisfy the selection rule ${(k_fR)}^2=4F(n+{1\over 2})$, with $n$ an integer. We discuss possible experimental conditions where these oscillations may be observed.Comment: 11 pages REVTE

Spectral properties on a circle with a singularity

We investigate the spectral and symmetry properties of a quantum particle moving on a circle with a pointlike singularity (or point interaction). We find that, within the U(2) family of the quantum mechanically allowed distinct singularities, a U(1) equivalence (of duality-type) exists, and accordingly the space of distinct spectra is U(1) x [SU(2)/U(1)], topologically a filled torus. We explore the relationship of special subfamilies of the U(2) family to corresponding symmetries, and identify the singularities that admit an N = 2 supersymmetry. Subfamilies that are distinguished in the spectral properties or the WKB exactness are also pointed out. The spectral and symmetry properties are also studied in the context of the circle with two singularities, which provides a useful scheme to discuss the symmetry properties on a general basis.Comment: TeX, 26 pages. v2: one reference added and two update

Particle Production near an AdS Crunch

We numerically study the dual field theory evolution of five-dimensional asymptotically anti-de Sitter solutions of supergravity that develop cosmological singularities. The dual theory is an unstable deformation of the N = 4 gauge theory on R $\times$ S3, and the big crunch singularity in the bulk occurs when a boundary scalar field runs to infinity. Consistent quantum evolution requires one imposes boundary conditions at infinity. Modeling these by a steep regularization of the scalar potential, we find that when an initially nearly homogeneous wavepacket rolls down the potential, most of the potential energy of the initial configuration is converted into gradient energy during the first oscillation of the field. This indicates there is no transition from a big crunch to a big bang in the bulk for dual boundary conditions of this kind.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figure

The regulated four parameter one dimensional point interaction

The general four parameter point interaction in one dimensional quantum mechanics is regulated. It allows the exact solution, but not the perturbative one. We conjecture that this is due to the interaction not being asymptotically free. We then propose a different breakup of unperturbed theory and interaction, which now is asymptotically free but leads to the same physics. The corresponding regulated potential can be solved both exactly and perturbatively, in agreement with the conjecture.Comment: 17 pages, no figures, Tex fil

Comparing Formulations of Generalized Quantum Mechanics for Reparametrization-Invariant Systems

A class of decoherence schemes is described for implementing the principles of generalized quantum theory in reparametrization-invariant `hyperbolic' models such as minisuperspace quantum cosmology. The connection with sum-over-histories constructions is exhibited and the physical equivalence or inequivalence of different such schemes is analyzed. The discussion focuses on comparing constructions based on the Klein-Gordon product with those based on the induced (a.k.a. Rieffel, Refined Algebraic, Group Averaging, or Spectral Analysis) inner product. It is shown that the Klein-Gordon and induced products can be simply related for the models of interest. This fact is then used to establish isomorphisms between certain decoherence schemes based on these products.Comment: 21 pages ReVTe

Equivalence of Local and Separable Realizations of the Discontinuity-Inducing Contact Interaction and Its Perturbative Renormalizability

We prove that the separable and local approximations of the discontinuity-inducing zero-range interaction in one-dimensional quantum mechanics are equivalent. We further show that the interaction allows the perturbative treatment through the coupling renormalization. Keywords: one-dimensional system, generalized contact interaction, renormalization, perturbative expansion. PACS Nos: 3.65.-w, 11.10.Gh, 31.15.MdComment: ReVTeX 7pgs, doubl column, no figure, See also the website http://www.mech.kochi-tech.ac.jp/cheon

Green functions for generalized point interactions in 1D: A scattering approach

Recently, general point interactions in one dimension has been used to model a large number of different phenomena in quantum mechanics. Such potentials, however, requires some sort of regularization to lead to meaningful results. The usual ways to do so rely on technicalities which may hide important physical aspects of the problem. In this work we present a new method to calculate the exact Green functions for general point interactions in 1D. Our approach differs from previous ones because it is based only on physical quantities, namely, the scattering coefficients, $R$ and $T$, to construct $G$. Renormalization or particular mathematical prescriptions are not invoked. The simple formulation of the method makes it easy to extend to more general contexts, such as for lattices of $N$ general point interactions; on a line; on a half-line; under periodic boundary conditions; and confined in a box.Comment: Revtex, 9 pages, 3 EPS figures. To be published in PR

Holographic renormalization as a canonical transformation

The gauge/string dualities have drawn attention to a class of variational problems on a boundary at infinity, which are not well defined unless a certain boundary term is added to the classical action. In the context of supergravity in asymptotically AdS spaces these problems are systematically addressed by the method of holographic renormalization. We argue that this class of a priori ill defined variational problems extends far beyond the realm of holographic dualities. As we show, exactly the same issues arise in gravity in non asymptotically AdS spaces, in point particles with certain unbounded from below potentials, and even fundamental strings in flat or AdS backgrounds. We show that the variational problem in all such cases can be made well defined by the following procedure, which is intrinsic to the system in question and does not rely on the existence of a holographically dual theory: (i) The first step is the construction of the space of the most general asymptotic solutions of the classical equations of motion that inherits a well defined symplectic form from that on phase space. The requirement of a well defined symplectic form is essential and often leads to a necessary repackaging of the degrees of freedom. (ii) Once the space of asymptotic solutions has been constructed in terms of the correct degrees of freedom, then there exists a boundary term that is obtained as a certain solution of the Hamilton-Jacobi equation which simultaneously makes the variational problem well defined and preserves the symplectic form. This procedure is identical to holographic renormalization in the case of asymptotically AdS gravity, but it is applicable to any Hamiltonian system.Comment: 37 pages; v2 minor corrections in section 2, 2 references and a footnote on Palatini gravity added. Version to appear in JHE