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1978

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July

  

Reviews of topical problems


’Jarring’ of a quantum system and the corresponding stimulated transitions

A systematic theory of sudden perturbations is derived for quantum systems whose states are described both by wave functions (a pure ensemble) and by a quantum density operator (a mixed ensemble). A perturbation series is written in powers of the parameter $\omega\tau$, which is small when the perturbation is ``sudden''; $\hbar\omega$ is the typical eigenvalue of the unperturbed system; and $\tau$ is the characteristic collision time. When the perturbation $V(t)$, taken at different times, commutes with itself, the theory yields a compact analytic expression for the probabilities for stimulated transitions for any value of $V(t)/\hbar$. The results of many cross-section calculations for atomic collision processes are discussed from a common standpoint: the processes are treated as ``jarring'' processes which stimulate transitions in the quantum system. If a momentum $\delta_p$ is rapidly transferred to the system in a collision, regardless of the physical nature of the ``jarring'', the probabilities for the stimulated transitions are governed by the parameter $N\sim\delta_p\cdot\delta R/\hbar$ where $\delta R$ is a measure of the uncertainty in the coordinates which is due to the relatively slow motions in the unperturbed system.

PACS: 03.65.Ca, 05.30.Ch, 03.65.Nk, 03.80.+r (all)
DOI: 10.1070/PU1978v021n07ABEH005663
URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/1978/7/a/
Citation: Dykhne A M, Yudin G L "'Jarring' of a quantum system and the corresponding stimulated transitions" Sov. Phys. Usp. 21 549–565 (1978)
BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS) MedlineRefWorks
PT Journal Article
TI "Jarring" of a quantum system and the corresponding stimulated transitions
AU Dykhne A M
FAU Dykhne AM
AU Yudin G L
FAU Yudin GL
DP 10 Jul, 1978
TA Phys. Usp.
VI 21
IP 7
PG 549-565
RX 10.1070/PU1978v021n07ABEH005663
URL https://ufn.ru/en/articles/1978/7/a/
SO Phys. Usp. 1978 Jul 10;21(7):549-565

Оригинал: Дыхне А М, Юдин Г Л «„Встряхивание“ квантовой системы и характер стимулированных им переходов» УФН 125 377–407 (1978); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0125.197807a.0377

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