dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaQuantum mechanical analysis of the equilateral triangle billiard: periodic orbit theory and wave packet revivals
| Authors | M. A. Doncheski, R. W. Robinett |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | quant-ph/0307063 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0307063 |
| DOI | 10.1006/aphy.2002.6276 |
| Journal | Annals of Physics 299, 208 (2002) |
Abstract
Using the fact that the energy eigenstates of the equilateral triangle infinite well (or billiard) are available in closed form, we examine the connections between the energy eigenvalue spectrum and the classical closed paths in this geometry, using both periodic orbit theory and the short-term semi-classical behavior of wave packets. We also discuss wave packet revivals and show that there are exact revivals, for all wave packets, at times given by $T_{rev} = 9 \mu a^2/4\hbar \pi$ where $a$ and $\mu$ are the length of one side and the mass of the point particle respectively. We find additional cases of exact revivals with shorter revival times for zero-momentum wave packets initially located at special symmetry points inside the billiard. Finally, we discuss simple variations on the equilateral ($60^{\circ}-60^{\circ}-60^{\circ}$) triangle, such as the half equilateral ($30^{\circ}-60^{\circ}-90^{\circ}$) triangle and other `foldings', which have related energy spectra and revival structures.
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"abstract": "Using the fact that the energy eigenstates of the equilateral triangle\ninfinite well (or billiard) are available in closed form, we examine the\nconnections between the energy eigenvalue spectrum and the classical closed\npaths in this geometry, using both periodic orbit theory and the short-term\nsemi-classical behavior of wave packets. We also discuss wave packet revivals\nand show that there are exact revivals, for all wave packets, at times given by\n$T_{rev} = 9 \\mu a^2/4\\hbar \\pi$ where $a$ and $\\mu$ are the length of one side\nand the mass of the point particle respectively. We find additional cases of\nexact revivals with shorter revival times for zero-momentum wave packets\ninitially located at special symmetry points inside the billiard. Finally, we\ndiscuss simple variations on the equilateral\n($60^{\\circ}-60^{\\circ}-60^{\\circ}$) triangle, such as the half equilateral\n($30^{\\circ}-60^{\\circ}-90^{\\circ}$) triangle and other `foldings\u0027, which have\nrelated energy spectra and revival structures.",
"arxiv_id": "quant-ph/0307063",
"authors": [
"M. A. Doncheski",
"R. W. Robinett"
],
"categories": [
"quant-ph"
],
"doi": "10.1006/aphy.2002.6276",
"journal_ref": "Annals of Physics 299, 208 (2002)",
"title": "Quantum mechanical analysis of the equilateral triangle billiard: periodic orbit theory and wave packet revivals",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0307063"
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