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Title

Superadiabatic Tracking of Quantum Evolution
Authors

R. Lim
M. Berry
Journal / Anthology

Journal of Physics
Year: 1991
Volume: 24
Page range: 3255-3264
Description

The adiabatic quantum evolution of a two-state system without energy-level crossings is an example of the Stokes phenomenon. In the latter, a small (subdominant) exponential in an asymptotic series at its least term causes the multiplier of the subdominant term to rise in a smooth, compact and universal manner across the Stokes line. In quantum evolution this corresponds to a smooth transition, universal in form, between 'superadiabatic' basis states (high-order WKB approximate solutions of the time-dependent universality by constructing, for two Hamiltonians, the superadiabatic quantum bases asymptotic to the actual evolving state. Universality when a Stokes line is crossed is seen in the changing probability that the system makes a transition away from the superadiabatic state, and occurs at that order of superadiabatic approximation corresponding to truncating the asymptotic series at its least term.
Subject

*Science > Physics > Quantum Physics