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21
The mathematical formulation of the dynamics of a quantum system is not unique. Ultimately
we are interested in observables (probability amplitudes)we cant measure a wavefunction.
An alternative to propagating the wavefunction in time starts by recognizing that a unitary
transformation doesnt change an inner product.
j i = j U U i
For an observable:
j A i = j U A(U i ) = j U AU i
Two approaches to transformation:
(1)
(2)
Schrdinger Picture
We have talked about the time-development of , which is governed by
=H
t
( t )
= U ( t, t 0 ) ( t 0 )
in an integral form.
p. 22
A
=0
t
or...
Tr ( A )
t
= i Tr A
t
A
+
A +
A
t
t
t
= AH HA
=i
= [ A, H ]
= Tr ( A [ H, ])
i
A =i
t
= Tr ([ A, H ] )
= [ A, H ]
If A is independent of time (as it should be in the Schrdinger picture) and commutes with H , it
is referred to as a constant of motion.
Heisenberg Picture
= ( t 0 ) U A U ( t 0 )
H = 0 , we can write
t
S (t ) = U(t, t 0 ) H
So,
H = U (t,t 0 ) S (t ) = S (t 0 )
p. 23
In either picture the eigenvalues are preserved:
A i
= a i i
U AUU i
= a i U i
A H i
= a i i
t H
i
i
= HH AH AH HH
=
i
[ A, H ]H
A H = [ A, H ]H
t
V
p
and x =
x
m
using x n , p = i nx n1 ; x, p n = i np n1
p. 24
THE INTERACTION PICTURE
When solving problems with time-dependent Hamiltonians, it is often best to partition the
Hamiltonian and treat each part in a different representation. Lets partition
H (t ) = H0 + V (t )
H0 : Treat exactlycan be (but usually isnt) a function of time.
V (t ) : Expand perturbatively (more complicated).
i
U 0 ( t, t 0 ) = H 0 ( t ) U 0 ( t, t 0 )
t
where
i
U 0 ( t, t 0 ) = exp +
t0
d H 0 ( t )
eiH ( t t )
0
S ( t ) U 0 ( t, t 0 ) I ( t )
I = U 0 S
or
S = HS
t
for H 0 f ( t )
p. 25
i
U 0 ( t, t 0 ) I = H ( t ) U 0 ( t, t 0 ) I
t
I
U 0
i
I + U0
= ( H 0 + V ( t ) ) U 0 ( t, t 0` ) I
t
t
i
H0 U0 I + U0
I
i
=
H0 + V ( t ) U0 I
t
I
= VI I
t
where: VI ( t ) = U 0 ( t, t 0 ) V ( t ) U 0 ( t, t 0 )
I satisfies the Schrdinger equation with a new Hamiltonian: the interaction picture
Hamiltonian is the U0 unitary transformation of V (t ) .
Note: Matrix elements in VI
k VI l
I ( t ) = U I ( t, t 0 ) I ( t 0 )
i t
where U I ( t, t 0 ) = exp + d VI ( )
t0
S ( t ) = U 0 ( t, t 0 ) I ( t )
= U 0 ( t, t 0 ) U I ( t, t 0 ) I ( t 0 )
= U 0 ( t, t 0 ) U I ( t, t 0 ) S ( t 0 )
U ( t, t 0 ) = U 0 ( t, t 0 ) U I ( t, t 0 )
i t
U(t , t0 ) = U0 (t , t0 )exp + t d VI ( )
0
which is defined as
Order matters!
p. 26
U ( t, t 0 ) = U 0 ( t, t 0 ) +
n
n
2
i t
t 0 dn t 0 dn 1 t0 d1 U 0 ( t, n ) V ( n ) U 0 ( n , n 1 )
n =1
U 0 ( 2 , 1 ) V ( 1 ) U 0 ( 1 , t 0 )
where we have used the composition property of U(t , t0 ). The same positive time-ordering
applies. Note that the interactions V(i) are not in the interaction representation here. Rather we
have expanded
VI ( t ) = U 0 ( t, t 0 ) V ( t ) U 0 ( t, t 0 )
H0
1
VH
H0
H0
H0 H0
Also:
+i t
+i t
U ( t, t 0 ) = U I ( t, t 0 ) U 0 ( t, t 0 ) = exp d VI ( ) exp d H 0 ( )
t0
t0
or e
The expectation value of an operator is:
A(t ) = (t ) A (t )
= (t 0 )U (t,t0 )A U (t,t 0 ) (t0 )
= (t 0 )UIU0 AU0 UI (t 0 )
= I (t ) AI I ( t )
AI U0 AS U0
Differentiating AI gives:
iH (t t0 )
for H f (t )
p. 27
i
AI = [ H0 , AI ]
t
also,
i
I = VI ( t ) I
t
Notice that the interaction representation is a partition between the Schrdinger and Heisenberg
representations. Wavefunctions evolve under VI , while operators evolve under H0.
For H 0 = 0, V ( t ) = H
For H 0 = H, V ( t ) = 0
i
= 0;
S = H S
t
t
A i
= [ H, A ] ;
=0
t
t
Schrdinger
Heisenberg