Published January 10, 2000 | Version v1
Journal article

Quantum caustics for systems with quadratic Lagrangians in multi-dimensions

Description

We study quantum caustics (i.e., the quantum analogue of the classical singularity in the Dirichlet boundary problem) in d-dimensional systems with quadratic Lagrangians of the form L=((1)/(2))Pij(t) xixj+Qij(t) xixj+((1)/(2))Rij(t) xixj+Si(t) xi. Based on Schulman's procedure in the path-integral we derive the transition amplitude on caustics in a closed form for generic multiplicity f, and thereby complete the previous analysis carried out for the maximal multiplicity case (f=d). The unitarity relation, together with the initial condition, fulfilled by the amplitude is found to be a key ingredient for determining the amplitude, which reduces to the well-known expression with Van Vleck determinant for the non-caustics case (f=0). Multiplicity dependence of the caustics phenomena is illustrated by examples of a particle interacting with external electromagnetic fields

Additional details

Identifiers

PII
S0003491699959717;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Annals of Physics (New York)
Journal Volume
279
Journal Issue
1
Journal Page Range
p. 104-125
ISSN
0003-4916
CODEN
APNYA6

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
35002191
Subject category
S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
CAUSALITY; DIRICHLET PROBLEM; ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS; LAGRANGIAN FUNCTION; MANY-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS; PATH INTEGRALS; QUANTUM MECHANICS; VAN VLECK THEORY
Descriptors DEC
BOUNDARY-VALUE PROBLEMS; FUNCTIONS; INTEGRALS; MECHANICS

Optional Information

Copyright
Copyright (c) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.