Published March 15, 2013 | Version v1
Journal article

A dynamical composition law for boundary conditions

  • 1. Departamento de Física Teórica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, E-50009 Zaragoza (Spain)
  • 2. Dipartimento di Fisica and MECENAS, Università di Bari, I-70126 Bari (Italy)
  • 3. Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche and MECENAS, Università di Napoli 'Federico II', I-80126 Napoli (Italy)

Description

We analyze the quantum dynamics of a non-relativistic particle moving in a bounded domain of physical space, when the boundary conditions are rapidly changed. In general, this yields new boundary conditions, via a dynamical composition law that is a very simple instance of the superposition of different topologies. In all cases, unitarity is preserved and the quick change of boundary conditions does not introduce any decoherence in the system. Among the emerging boundary conditions, the Dirichlet case (vanishing wavefunction at the boundary) plays the role of an attractor. Possible experimental implementations with superconducting quantum interference devices are explored and analyzed. (fast track communication)

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1751-8113/46/10/102001

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Journal of Physics. A, Mathematical and Theoretical (Online)
Journal Volume
46
Journal Issue
10
Journal Page Range
[8 p.]
ISSN
1751-8121

INIS

Country of Publication
United Kingdom
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
44094321
Subject category
S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
ATTRACTORS; BOUNDARY CONDITIONS; DIRICHLET PROBLEM; IMPLEMENTATION; INTERFERENCE; QUANTUM MECHANICS; RELATIVISTIC RANGE; TOPOLOGY; UNITARITY; WAVE FUNCTIONS
Descriptors DEC
BOUNDARY-VALUE PROBLEMS; ENERGY RANGE; FUNCTIONS; MATHEMATICS; MECHANICS