ON ADIABATIC INVARIANCE IN QUANTUM MECHANICS

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1958 · Kgl. Norske Videnskab. Selskabs, Forh.

OSTI ID:4219669

Kolsrud, M

A connection between quantum mechanical and classical adiabatic invariance is shown for the special case of a charged particle moving in a homogeneous, time-dependent magnetic field. The relationship consists of the fact that the transition probability between energy eigenstates corresponding to the magnnetic field at two different times is a function of a certain classical adiabatic invariant alone. From this relation follows the well-known result that during sufficiently slow changes of the magnetic field the particle will remain in one quantum state which passes continuously through the different instantaneous energies. The adiabatic invariance of this classical quantity is shown directly by solving the equations of niotion when the magnetic field changes linearly with time. (auth)

• Research Organization: Univ. of Oslo
• NSA Number: NSA-14-004866
• OSTI ID: 4219669
• Journal Information: Kgl. Norske Videnskab. Selskabs, Forh., Journal Name: Kgl. Norske Videnskab. Selskabs, Forh. Vol. Vol: 31
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ADIABATIC INVARIANCE
CHARGED PARTICLES
ENERGY LEVELS
EQUATIONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MOTION
PHYSICS
QUANTUM MECHANICS
VARIATIONS