Quasi-normal frequencies: Key analytic results

The study of exact quasi-normal modes [QNMs], and their associated quasi-normal frequencies [QNFs], has had a long and convoluted history - replete with many rediscoveries of previously known results. In this article we shall collect and survey a number of known analytic results, and develop several new analytic results - specifically we shall provide several new QNF results and estimates, in a form amenable for comparison with the extant literature. Apart from their intrinsic interest, these exact and approximate results serve as a backdrop and a consistency check on ongoing efforts to find general model-independent estimates for QNFs, and general model-independent bounds on transmission probabilities. Our calculations also provide yet another physics application of the Lambert W function. These ideas have relevance to fields as diverse as black hole physics, (where they are related to the damped oscillations of astrophysical black holes, to greybody factors for the Hawking radiation, and to more speculative state-counting models for the Bekenstein entropy), to quantum field theory (where they are related to Casimir energies in unbounded systems), through to condensed matter physics, (where one may literally be interested in an electron tunelling through a physical barrier).Comment: V1: 29 pages; V2: Reformatted, 31 pages. Title changed to reflect major additions and revisions. Now describes exact QNFs for the double-delta potential in terms of the Lambert W function. V3: Minor edits for clarity. Four references added. No physics changes. Still 31 page

Atom Optics Quantum Pendulum

We explain the dynamics of cold atoms, initially trapped and cooled in a magneto-optic trap, in a monochromatic stationary standing electromagnetic wave field. In the large detuning limit the system is modeled as a nonlinear quantum pendulum. We show that wave packet evolution of the quantum particle probes parametric regimes in the quantum pendulum which support classical period, quantum mechanical revival and super revival phenomena. Interestingly, complete reconstruction in particular parametric regime at quantum revival times is independent of potential height.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figure

Vibrating quantum billiards on Riemannian manifolds

Quantum billiards provide an excellent forum for the analysis of quantum chaos. Toward this end, we consider quantum billiards with time-varying surfaces, which provide an important example of quantum chaos that does not require the semiclassical (h → 0) or high quantum-number limits. We analyze vibrating quantum billiards using the framework of Riemannian geometry. First, we derive a theorem detailing necessary conditions for the existence of chaos in vibrating quantum billiards on Riemannian manifolds. Numerical observations suggest that these conditions are also sufficient. We prove the aforementioned theorem in full generality for one degree-of-freedom boundary vibrations and briefly discuss a generalization to billiards with two or more degrees-of-vibrations. The requisite conditions are direct consequences of the separability of the Helmholtz equation in a given orthogonal coordinate frame, and they arise from orthogonality relations satisfied by solutions of the Helmholtz equation. We then state and prove a second theorem that provides a general form for the coupled ordinary differential equations that describe quantum billiards with one degree-of-vibration boundaries This set of equations may be used to illustrate KAM theory and also provides a simple example of semiquantum chaos. Moreover, vibrating quantum billiards may be used as models for quantum-well nanostructures, so this study has both theoretical and practical applications

Bifurcations in one degree-of-vibration quantum billiards

We classify the local bifurcations of one dov quantum billiards, showing that only saddle-center bifurcations can occur. We analyze the resulting planar system when there is no coupling in the superposition state. In so doing, we also consider the global bifurcation structure. Using a double-well potential as a representative example, we demonstrate how to locate bifurcations in parameter space. We also discuss how to approximate the cuspidal loop using AUTO as well as how to cross it via continuation by detuning the dynamical system. Moreover, we show that when there is coupling, the resulting five-dimensional system - though chaotic - has a similar underlying structure. We verify numerically that both homoclinic orbits and cusps occur and provide an outline of an analytical argument for the existence of such homoclinic orbits. Small perturbations of the system reveal homoclinic tangles that typify chaotic behavior

A Galerkin approach to electronic near-degeneracies in molecular systems

We consider superposition states of various numbers of eigenstates in order to study vibrating quantum billiards semiquantally. We discuss the relationship between Galërkin methods, inertial manifolds, and partial differential equations such as nonlinear Schrödinger equations and Schrödinger equations with time-dependent boundary conditions. We then use a Galërkin approach to study vibrating quantum billiards. We consider one-term, two-term, three-term, d-term, and infinite-term superposition states. The number of terms under consideration corresponds to the level of electronic near-degeneracy in the system of interest. We derive a generalized Bloch transformation that is valid for any finite-term superposition and numerically simulate three-state superpositions of the radially vibrating spherical quantum billiard with null angular-momentum eigenstates. We discuss the physical interpretation of our Galërkin approach and thereby justify its use for vibrating quantum billiards. For example, d-term superposition states of one degree-of-vibration quantum billiards may be used to study nonadiabatic behavior in polyatomic molecules with one excited nuclear mode and a d-fold electronic near-degeneracy. Finally, we apply geometric methods to analyze the symmetries of vibrating quantum billiards. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved