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Wave-Packet Dynamics: The Free-Particle Physics

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A Trajectory Description of Quantum Processes. II. Applications

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Physics ((LNP,volume 831))

Abstract

In spite of its apparent simplicity, the dynamics of single wave packets contains valuable physical information to understand more complex quantum-mechanical time-dependent problems and phenomena. In this chapter, an analysis of wave packet dynamics stressing different aspects of physical interest is presented, such as the role of translational motion and spreading, and how they influence its subsequent evolution are widely discussed. Diffraction will be considered in the context of how boundaries influence the subsequent wave-packet evolution, and the concepts of nonlocality and classical limit will be revisited. Going beyond standard treatments, phenomena such as space localization under the influence of a (quantum) viscid or viscous medium, or the quantum Zeno (and anti-Zeno) effect arising after a series of frequently repeated measurements will be considered. In this regard, the concept of quantum stochastic trajectory will also be introduced, discussing its connection to the so-called weak measurements.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In brief, the main difference between the Lagrangian and Eulerian descriptions [11, 12] is that in the Lagrangian approach one observes the evolution of the fluid as a whole, while in the Eulerian one the fluid is studied within a co-moving framework.

  2. 2.

    For convenience in the notation, throughout this section operators will not be denoted with the usual ‘hat’. They can be distinguished, though, from simple variables by context.

  3. 3.

    Here we will also consider the same notation convention of Sect. 1.7.

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  1. Instituto de Física Fundamental (IFF-CSIC), CSIC, Madrid, Spain

    Dr. Ángel S. Sanz & Prof. Salvador Miret-Artés

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  1. Dr. Ángel S. Sanz
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  2. Prof. Salvador Miret-Artés
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Sanz, Á.S., Miret-Artés, S. (2014). Wave-Packet Dynamics: The Free-Particle Physics. In: A Trajectory Description of Quantum Processes. II. Applications. Lecture Notes in Physics, vol 831. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-17974-7_1

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