Dynamics of quantum systems

Selectively exciting quasi-normal modes in open disordered systems

Transmission through disordered samples can be controlled by illuminating a sample with waveforms corresponding to the eigenchannels of the transmission matrix (TM). But can the TM be exploited to selectively excite quasi-normal modes and so control the spatial profile and dwell time inside the medium? We show in microwave and numerical studies that spectra of the TM can be analyzed into modal transmission matrices of rank unity. This makes it possible to enhance the energy within a sample by a factor equal to the number of channels. Limits to modal selectivity arise, however, from correlation in the speckle patterns of neighboring modes. In accord with an effective Hamiltonian model, the degree of modal speckle correlation grows with increasing modal spectral overlap and non-orthogonality of the modes of non-Hermitian systems. This is observed when the coupling of a sample to its surroundings increases, as in the crossover from localized to diffusive waves.

The authors present a study of the modal contributions to the transmission matrix in a scattering medium. They show that the incident wave form can be manipulated to control the net energy deposited in the sample, as well as the energy deposited in a selected quasi-normal mode.

Equilibrium States in Open Quantum Systems

The aim of this paper is to study the question of whether or not equilibrium states exist in open quantum systems that are embedded in at least two environments and are described by a non-Hermitian Hamilton operator H. The eigenfunctions of H contain the influence of exceptional points (EPs) and external mixing (EM) of the states via the environment. As a result, equilibrium states exist (far from EPs). They are different from those of the corresponding closed system. Their wavefunctions are orthogonal even though the Hamiltonian is non-Hermitian.

Gain and loss in open quantum systems

Photosynthesis is the basic process used by plants to convert light energy in reaction centers into chemical energy. The high efficiency of this process is not yet understood today. Using the formalism for the description of open quantum systems by means of a non-Hermitian Hamilton operator, we consider initially the interplay of gain (acceptor) and loss (donor). Near singular points it causes fluctuations of the cross section which appear without any excitation of internal degrees of freedom of the system. This process occurs therefore very quickly and with high efficiency. We then consider the excitation of resonance states of the system by means of these fluctuations. This second step of the whole process takes place much slower than the first one, because it involves the excitation of internal degrees of freedom of the system. The two-step process as a whole is highly efficient, and the decay is biexponential. We provide, if possible, the results of analytical studies, otherwise characteristic numerical results. The similarities of the obtained results to light harvesting in photosynthetic organisms are discussed.

A review of progress in the physics of open quantum systems: theory and experiment

This report on progress explores recent advances in our theoretical and experimental understanding of the physics of open quantum systems (OQSs). The study of such systems represents a core problem in modern physics that has evolved to assume an unprecedented interdisciplinary character. OQSs consist of some localized, microscopic, region that is coupled to an external environment by means of an appropriate interaction. Examples of such systems may be found in numerous areas of physics, including atomic and nuclear physics, photonics, biophysics, and mesoscopic physics. It is the latter area that provides the main focus of this review, an emphasis that is driven by the capacity that exists to subject mesoscopic devices to unprecedented control. We thus provide a detailed discussion of the behavior of mesoscopic devices (and other OQSs) in terms of the projection-operator formalism, according to which the system under study is considered to be comprised of a localized region (Q), embedded into a well-defined environment (P) of scattering wavefunctions (with Q   +   P   =   1). The Q subspace must be treated using the concepts of non-Hermitian physics, and of particular interest here is: the capacity of the environment to mediate a coupling between the different states of Q; the role played by the presence of exceptional points (EPs) in the spectra of OQSs; the influence of EPs on the rigidity of the wavefunction phases, and; the ability of EPs to initiate a dynamical phase transition (DPT). EPs are singular points in the continuum, at which two resonance states coalesce, that is where they exhibit a non-avoided crossing. DPTs occur when the quantum dynamics of the open system causes transitions between non-analytically connected states, as a function of some external control parameter. Much like conventional phase transitions, the behavior of the system on one side of the DPT does not serve as a reliable indicator of that on the other. In addition to discussing experiments on mesoscopic quantum point contacts that provide evidence of the environmentally-mediated coupling of quantum states, we also review manifestations of DPTs in mesoscopic devices and other systems. These experiments include observations of resonance-trapping behavior in microwave cavities and open quantum dots, phase lapses in tunneling through single-electron transistors, and spin swapping in atomic ensembles. Other possible manifestations of this phenomenon are presented, including various superradiant phenomena in low-dimensional semiconductors. From these discussions a generic picture of OQSs emerges in which the environmentally-mediated coupling between different quantum states plays a critical role in governing the system behavior. The ability to control or manipulate this interaction may even lead to new applications in photonics and electronics.

Localization in chaotic systems with a single-channel opening

We introduce a single-channel opening in a random Hamiltonian and a quantized chaotic map: localization on the opening occurs as a sensible deviation of the wave-function statistics from the predictions of random matrix theory, even in the semiclassical limit. Increasing the coupling to the open channel in the quantum model, we observe a similar picture to resonance trapping, made of a few fast-decaying states, whose left (right) eigenfunctions are entirely localized on the (preimage of the) opening, and plentiful long-lived states, whose probability density is instead suppressed at the opening. For the latter, we derive and test a linear relation between the wave-function intensities and the decay rates, similar to the Breit-Wigner law. We then analyze the statistics of the eigenfunctions of the corresponding (discretized) classical propagator, finding a similar behavior to the quantum system only in the weak-coupling regime.

Width bifurcation and dynamical phase transitions in open quantum systems

The states of an open quantum system are coupled via the environment of scattering wave functions. The complex coupling coefficients ω between system and environment arise from the principal value integral and the residuum. At high-level density where the resonance states overlap, the dynamics of the system is determined by exceptional points. At these points, the eigenvalues of two states are equal and the corresponding eigenfunctions are linearly dependent. It is shown in the present paper that Im(ω) and Re(ω) influence the system properties differently in the surrounding of exceptional points. Controlling the system by a parameter, the eigenvalues avoid crossing in energy near an exceptional point under the influence of Re(ω) in a similar manner as it is well known from discrete states. Im(ω), however, leads to width bifurcation and finally (when the system is coupled to one channel, i.e., to one common continuum of scattering wave functions), to a splitting of the system into two parts with different characteristic time scales. The role of observer states is discussed. Physically, the system is stabilized by this splitting since the lifetimes of some states are longer than before, while that of one state is shorter. In the cross section the short-lived state appears as a background term in high-resolution experiments. The wave functions of the long-lived states are mixed in those of the original ones in a comparably large parameter range. Numerical results for the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions are shown for N=2,4, and 10 states coupled mostly to one channel.

Geometric phases and quantum phase transitions in open systems

The relationship is established between quantum phase transitions and complex geometric phases for open quantum systems governed by a non-Hermitian effective Hamiltonian with accidental crossing of the eigenvalues. In particular, the geometric phase associated with the ground state of the one-dimensional dissipative Ising model in a transverse magnetic field is evaluated, and it is demonstrated that the related quantum phase transition is of the first order.

Phase rigidity and avoided level crossings in the complex energy plane

We consider the effective Hamiltonian of an open quantum system, its biorthogonal eigenfunctions phi(lambda), and define the value r(lambda)=(phi(lambda)|phi(lambda))/<phi(lambda)|phi(lambda)> that characterizes the phase rigidity of the eigenfunctions phi(lambda). In the scenario with avoided level crossings, r(lambda) varies between 1 and 0 due to the mutual influence of neighboring resonances. The variation of r(lambda) is an internal property of an open quantum system. In the literature, the phase rigidity rho of the scattering wave function Psi(C)(E) is considered. Since Psi(C)(E) can be represented in the interior of the system by the phi(lambda), the phase rigidity rho of the Psi(C)(E) is related to the r(lambda) and therefore also to the mutual influence of neighboring resonances. As a consequence, the reduction of the phase rigidity rho to values smaller than 1 should be considered, at least partly, as an internal property of an open quantum system in the overlapping regime. The relation to measurable values such as the transmission through a quantum dot, follows from the fact that the transmission is, in any case, resonant at energies that are determined by the real part of the eigenvalues of the effective Hamiltonian. We illustrate the relation between phase rigidity rho and transmission numerically for small open cavities.

Spectroscopic properties of large open quantum-chaotic cavities with and without separated time scales

The spectroscopic properties of an open large Bunimovich cavity are studied numerically in the framework of the effective Hamiltonian formalism. The cavity is opened by attaching two leads to it in four different ways. In some cases, the transmission takes place via standing waves with an intensity that closely follows the profile of the resonances. In other cases, short-lived and long-lived resonance states coexist. The short-lived states cause traveling waves in the transmission while the long-lived ones generate superposed fluctuations. The traveling waves oscillate as a function of energy. They are not localized in the interior of the large chaotic cavity. In all considered cases, the phase rigidity fluctuates with energy. It is mostly near to its maximum value and agrees well with the theoretical value for the two-channel case.

Avoided level crossings, diabolic points, and branch points in the complex plane in an open double quantum dot

We study the spectrum of an open double quantum dot as a function of different system parameters in order to receive information on the geometric phases of branch points in the complex plane (BPCP). We relate them to the geometrical phases of the diabolic points (DPs) of the corresponding closed system. The double dot consists of two single dots and a wire connecting them. The two dots and the wire are represented by only a single state each. The spectroscopic values follow from the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the Hamiltonian describing the double dot system. They are real when the system is closed, and complex when the system is opened by attaching leads to it. The discrete states as well as the narrow resonance states avoid crossing. The DPs are points within the avoided level crossing scenario of discrete states. At the BPCP, width bifurcation occurs. Here, different Riemann sheets evolve and the levels do not cross anymore. The BPCP are physically meaningful. The DPs are unfolded into two BPCP with different chirality when the system is opened. The geometric phase that arises by encircling the DP in the real plane, is different from the phase that appears by encircling the BPCP. This is found to be true even for a weakly opened system and the two BPCP into which the DP is unfolded.

Influence of branch points in the complex plane on the transmission through double quantum dots

We consider single-channel transmission through a double quantum dot system consisting of two single dots that are connected by a wire and coupled each to one lead. The system is described in the framework of the S matrix theory by using the effective Hamiltonian of the open quantum system. It consists of the Hamiltonian of the closed system (without attached leads) and a term that accounts for the coupling of the states via the continuum of propagating modes in the leads. This model allows one to study the physical meaning of branch points in the complex plane. They are points of coalesced eigenvalues and separate the two scenarios with avoided level crossings and without any crossings in the complex plane. They influence strongly the features of transmission through double quantum dots.

Effective Hamiltonian and unitarity of the S matrix

The properties of open quantum systems are described well by an effective Hamiltonian H that consists of two parts: the Hamiltonian H of the closed system with discrete eigenstates and the coupling matrix W between discrete states and continuum. The eigenvalues of H determine the poles of the S matrix. The coupling matrix elements W(cc')(k) between the eigenstates k of H and the continuum may be very different from the coupling matrix elements W(cc')(k) between the eigenstates of H and the continuum. Due to the unitarity of the S matrix, the W(cc')(k) depend on energy in a nontrivial manner. This conflicts with the assumptions of some approaches to reactions in the overlapping regime. Explicit expressions for the wave functions of the resonance states and for their phases in the neighborhood of, respectively, avoided level crossings in the complex plane and double poles of the S matrix are given.

Direct scattering processes and signatures of chaos in quantum waveguides

The effect of direct processes on the statistical properties of deterministic scattering processes in a chaotic waveguide is examined. The single-channel Poisson kernel describes well the distribution of S-matrix eigenphases when evaluated over an energy interval. When direct processes are transformed away, the scattering processes exhibit universal random matrix behavior. The effect of chaos on scattering wave functions, eigenphases, and time delays is discussed.

Exceptional points and double poles of the S matrix

Exceptional points and double poles of the S matrix are both characterized by the coalescence of a pair of eigenvalues. In the first case, the coalescence causes a defect of the Hilbert space. In the second case, this is not so as shown in previous papers. Mathematically, the reason for this difference is the biorthogonality of the eigenfunctions of a non-Hermitian operator that is ignored in the first case. The consequences for the topological structure of the Hilbert space are studied and compared with existing experimental data.

Effective Hamiltonian for a microwave billiard with attached waveguide

In a recent work the resonance widths in a microwave billiard with attached waveguide were studied in dependence on the coupling strength [E. Persson et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 2478 (2000)], and resonance trapping was experimentally found. In the present paper an effective Hamiltonian is derived that depends exclusively on billiard and waveguide geometry. Its eigenvalues give the poles of the scattering matrix provided that the system and environment are defined adequately. Further, we present the results of resonance trapping measurements where, in addition to our previous work, the position of the slit aperture within the waveguide was varied. Numerical simulations with the derived Hamiltonian qualitatively reproduce the experimental data.

Branch points in the complex plane and geometric phases

Laser-induced degenerate states (LIDS) are equivalent to double poles of the S matrix that are branch points in the complex plane (BPCP). These branch points cause geometric phase changes by encircling them adiabatically around a closed circuit by varying certain parameters. They cause also the well-known phase changes appearing by encircling a diabolic point (DP) being a singularity associated with level repulsion. In both cases, the wave functions are exchanged, Phi(i) --> +/- iPhi(j not equal i), at the critical value of the parameter where the states avoid crossing. Such a critical point is passed twice by encircling a DP but only once by surrounding a BPCP. As a consequence, the phase changes are different in both cases. A second surrounding restores the wave functions including their phases in both cases (when the BPCP is well isolated from others and the time of encircling is shorter than the lifetime of the two states). The different interference pictures appearing in surrounding LIDS adiabatically in opposite directions on a closed circuit represent a completion of the work by Berry.