Mixed states: children of quantum mechanics with nonquantal behavior

Michael Brieger

doi:10.1117/12.281336

22 September 1997 Mixed states: children of quantum mechanics with nonquantal behavior

Michael Brieger

Proceedings Volume 3110, 10th Meeting on Optical Engineering in Israel; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.281336
Event: 10th Meeting on Optical Engineering in Israel, 1997, Jerusalem, Israel

Abstract

The established notion of angular momentum coupling is shown to be incomplete. Using diagonalization most existing theories try to understand the dynamics of angular momentum coupling by concluding form the stationary aspects they cover. Missing the insight into the real dynamics they fail to correctly interpret the most general wave functions that are obtained from superpositions of, e.g., fine-structure eigenfunctions. The here presented new theory emphasizes the importance of nutation as an intrinsic energy bearing degree of freedom in spin-orbit coupling that has been overlooked in the past. The conclusions were made possible by rigorously solving the time-dependent one-electron Schroedinger equation in a reduced Hilbert space with spin- orbit and electric dipole interactions treated simultaneously. The energy expectation values of the resulting nonstationary precession states with nutation are shown to lye in a dynamical energy band limited by the stationary eigenvalues. Thus, this theory comprises the stationary eigenstates as precession states without nutation. As a precession state represents the most general state vector of an individual one-electron atom with spin- orbit interaction the same conclusions hold for mixed states representing statistical ensembles of such atoms.

Citation Download Citation

Michael Brieger "Mixed states: children of quantum mechanics with nonquantal behavior", Proc. SPIE 3110, 10th Meeting on Optical Engineering in Israel, (22 September 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.281336

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