Semiclassical propagation of Gaussian wave packets

We analyze the semiclassical evolution of Gaussian wave packets in chaotic systems. We show that after some short time a Gaussian wave packet becomes a primitive WKB state. From then on, the state can be propagated using the standard time-dependent WKB scheme. Complex trajectories are not necessary to account for the long-time propagation. The Wigner function of the evolving state develops the structure of a classical filament plus quantum oscillations, with phase and amplitude being determined by geometric properties of a classical manifold.     

Nonlocal potentials and their exact and approximate local and velocity-dependent equivalents

We show that good approximations to the exact equivalent local potential (ELP) and damping factor of a nonlocal Perey-Buck potential can be calculated in the partial wave WKB approximation of Horiuchi. The exact ELP and damping factor are obtained by means of a method previously given by one of us. We also confirm that an approximate ELP proposed by Bauhoff et al. is of comparable accuracy as the Horiuchi approximation. Thesel-dependent ELP's exhibit reduced attraction in the interior and provide a test for higher order WKB approximations. We subsequently obtain an equivalent velocity dependent potential (EVDP) which is even exactly wave function equivalent to the original nonlocal potential. This almost local potential, unlike the trivial equivalent local potential, is smooth and well-behaved and is therefore particularly useful in nuclear reactions where the off-shell behaviour of the potential is important.     

Tunneling and energy splitting in an asymmetric double-well potential

An asymmetric double-well potential is considered, assuming that the minima of the wells are quadratic with a frequency ω and the difference of the minima is close to a multiple of ?ω. A WKB wave function is constructed on both sides of the local maximum between the wells, by matching the WKB function to the exact wave functions near the classical turning points. The continuities of the wave function and its first derivative at the local maximum then give the energy-level splitting formula, which not only reproduces the instanton result for a symmetric potential, but also elucidates the appearance of resonances of tunneling in the asymmetric potential.     

Effects of barrier penetration on energy spectrum and wave functions in the path integral formalism

We present a systematic approximation scheme for the non-relativistic Green function in the path integral representation which takes into account barrier penetration effects on the energy spectrum and wave functions for potentials having several minima. The method is applied to the cases of a symmetric potential with two minima and to a periodic potential. The energy spectrum is shown to agree with the usual WKB results. For the first mentioned case we also determine the wave functions in the classically allowed and forbidden regions from the residues of the Green function. They agree with those obtained in the standard WKB approximation.     

Multidimensional WKB Approximation for Tunneling Along Curved Escape Paths

Asymptotics of the perturbation series for the ground state energy of the coupled anharmonic oscillators for the positive coupling constant is related to the lifetime of the quasistationary states for the negative coupling constant. The latter is determined by means of the multidimensional WKB approximation for tunneling along curved escape paths. General method for obtaining such approximation is described. The cartesian coordinates (x,y) are choosen in such a way that the x-axis has the direction of the probability flux at large distances from the well. The WKB wave function is then obtained by the simultaneous expansion of the wave function in the coordinate y and the parameter γ determining the curvature of the escape path. It is argued, both physically and mathematically, that these two expansions are mutually consistent. Several simplifications in the integrations of equations are pointed out. It is shown that to calculate outgoing probability flux it is not necessary to deal with inadequacy of the WKB approximation at the classical turning point. The WKB formulas for the large-order behavior of the perturbation series are compared with numerical results and an excellent agreement between the two is found.     

New WKB method in supersymmetry quantum mechanics

In this paper, we combine the perturbation method in supersymmetric quantum mechanics with the WKB method to restudy an angular equation coming from the wave equations for a Schwarzschild black hole with a straight string passing through it. This angular equation serves as a naive model for our investigation of the combination of supersym- metric quantum mechanics and the WKB method, and will provide valuable insight for our further study of the WKB approximation in real problems, like the one in spheroidal equations, etc.     

Localization or tunneling in asymmetric double-well potentials

An asymmetric double-well potential is considered, assuming that the wells are parabolic around the minima. The WKB wave function of a given energy is constructed inside the barrier between the wells. By matching the WKB function to the exact wave functions of the parabolic wells on both sides of the barrier, for two almost degenerate states, we find a quantization condition for the energy levels which reproduces the known energy splitting formula between the two states. For the other low-lying non-degenerate states, we show that the eigenfunction should be primarily localized in one of the wells with negligible magnitude in the other. Using Dekker’s method (Dekker, 1987), the present analysis generalizes earlier results for weakly biased double-well potentials to systems with arbitrary asymmetry.     

WKB and exact wave functions for inverse power-law potentials

We compare WKB and exact wave functions for inverse power-law potentials and derive a universal algebraic formula reproducing reflection phases and scattering phase shifts with uniform high accuracy for any wave length. Appropriately modified quantization gives competitive accuracy for the spiked harmonic oscillator. The asymptotic accuracy of WKB wave functions is discussed.     

Quantization rules for low dimensional quantum dots

This paper applies the analytical transfer matrix method （ATMM） to calculate energy eigenvalues of a particle in low dimensional sharp confining potential for the first time, and deduces the quantization rules of this system. It presents three cases in which the applied method works very well. In the first quantum dot, the energy eigenvalues and eigenfunction are obtained, and compared with those acquired from the exact numerical analysis and the WKB （Wentzel, Kramers and Brillouin） method; in the second or the third case, we get the energy eigenvalues by the ATMM, and compare them with the EBK （Einstein, Brillouin and Keller） results or the wavefunction outcomes. From the comparisons, we find that the semiclassical method （WKB, EBK or wavefunction） is inexact in such systems.     

Raman自由电子激光的半经典理论

采用Ｔｈｏｍａｓ-Ｆｅｒｍｉ近似势，将多电子系统简化为单电子问题，并用微扰论求解了Ｋｌｅｉｎ-Ｇｏｒｄｏｎ方程．由电子的零级波函数求得了电荷密度和电流密度的零级表达式．通过适当简化Ｋｌｅｉｎ-Ｇｏｒｄｏｎ方程，用分离变量和ＷＫＢ近似，求得了电子波函数及相应的电荷密度与电流密度的表达式 关键词：     

Divergence-free WKB theory

We present a divergence-free WKB theory, which is a new semiclassical theory modified by nonperturbative quantum corrections. Conventionally, the WKB theory is constructed upon a trajectory that obeys the bare classical dynamics expressed by a quadratic equation in momentum space. Contrary to this, the divergence-free WKB theory is based on a higher-order algebraic equation in momentum space, which represents a dressed classical dynamics. More precisely, this higher-order algebraic equation is obtained by including quantum corrections to the quadratic equation, which is the bare classical limit. An additional solution of the higher-order algebraic equation enables us to construct a uniformly converging perturbative expansion of the wavefunction. Namely, our theory removes the notorious divergence of wavefunction at a turning point from the WKB theory. Moreover, our theory is able to produce wavefunctions and eigenenergies more accurate than those given by the traditional WKB method. In addition, the divergence-free WKB theory that is based on the cubic equation allows us to construct a uniformly valid wavefunction for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE). A recent short letter [T. Hyouguchi, S. Adachi, M. Ueda, Phys. Rev. Lett. 88 (2002) 170404] is the opening of the divergence-free WKB theory. This paper presents full formalism of this theory and its several applications concerning wavefunction and eigenenergy to show that our theory is a natural extension of the traditional WKB theory that incorporates nonperturbative quantum corrections.     

Quantum Cosmology in CGBD Theory

We apply the theory developed in quantum cosmology to a model of charged generalized Brans–Dicke gravity. This is a quantum model of gravitation interacting with a charged Brans–Dicke type scalar field which is considered in the Pauli frame. The Wheeler–DeWitt equation describing the evolution of the quantum Universe is solved in the semiclassical approximation by applying the WKB approximation. The wave function of the Universe is also obtained by applying both the Vilenkin-like and the Hartle–Hawking-like boundary conditions. We then make predictions from the wave functions and infer that the Vilenkin's boundary condition is more reasonable in the Brans–Dicke gravity models leading a large vacuum energy density at the beginning of the inflation.     

Alfvén Waves in Non-Stationary and Non-Uniform Media: An Exactly Solvable Model

The modulation of Alfvén waves interacting with a non-uniform and non-stationary plasma is considered. The waveforms are allowed to change rapidly. We examine our phenomena by means of exact analytical solutions of the MHD equations in the presence of large amplitude disturbances of the magnetic field and plasma density. In contrast to the WKB approach, we do not have to use limiting assumptions regarding the variations of the background medium. We show that the large amplitude time and space disturbances lead to a new cut-off frequency for Alfvén wave propagation. A rapid reshaping of the Alfvén waveform can also obstruct the resonant interactions between the waves and the plasma particles.     

Variational analysis of directional couplers with graded index profile

A variational analysis of graded optical directional couplers is presented. Fabrication of such directional couplers by an electron-beam writing method has recently been reported. We have shown that our analysis gives better results than the WKB method which has been used previously to analyse such couplers. Further, our analysis involves much less algebraic and numerical work than the WKB method.     

Semiclassical theory of potential scattering for massless Dirac fermions

In this paper we study scattering of two-dimensional massless Dirac fermions by a potential that depends on a single Cartesian variable. Depending on the energy of the incoming particle and its angle of incidence, there are three different regimes of scattering. To find the reflection and transmission coefficients in these regimes, we apply the Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin (WKB), also called semiclassical, approximation. We use the method of comparison equations to extend our prediction to nearly normal incidence, where the conventional WKB method should be modified due to the degeneracy of turning points. We compare our results to numerical calculations and find good agreement.     

A generalization of variable phase equation

This paper describes a new formulation of phase equation based on a decomposition of wave function into two parts. An equation closely related to the WKB approximation is derived and solved numerically with exponential and Wood-Saxons potential.The author is indebted very much to Doc. J.Kvasnica CSc for the valuable discussions and interest in this work.     

Adiabatic theory,Liapunov exponents,and rotation number for quadratic Hamiltonians

We consider the adiabatic problem for general time-dependent quadratic Hamiltonians and develop a method quite different from WKB. In particular, we apply our results to the Schrödinger equation in a strip. We show that there exists a first regular step (avoiding resonance problems) providing one adiabatic invariant, bounds on the Liapunov exponents, and estimates on the rotation number at any order of the perturbation theory. The further step is shown to be equivalent to a quantum adiabatic problem, which, by the usual adiabatic techniques, provides the other possible adiabatic invariants. In the special case of the Schrödinger equation our method is simpler and more powerful than the WKB techniques.     

Divergence-free WKB method

A new semiclassical approach to the linear and nonlinear one-dimensional Schr?dinger equation is presented. For both equations our zeroth-order solutions include nonperturbative quantum corrections to the WKB solution and the Thomas-Fermi solution, thereby allowing us to make uniformly converging perturbative expansions of the wave functions. Our method leads to a new quantization condition that yields exact eigenenergies for the harmonic-oscillator and Morse potentials.     

Quantization of Higher-Order Constrained Lagrangian Systems Using the WKB Approximation

A general theory is given for solving the Hamilton–Jacobi partial differential equations (HJPDEs) for both constrained and unconstrained systems with arbitrarily higher-order Lagrangians. The Hamilton–Jacobi function is obtained for both types of systems by solving the appropriate set of HJPDEs. This is used to determine the solutions of the equations of motion. The quantization of both systems is then achieved using the WKB approximation. In constrained systems, the constraints become conditions on the wave function to be satisfied in the semiclassical limit.     

Specific features of optical properties of helical liquid crystals with a large helix pitch

Light propagation in helical liquid crystals with the helix pitch considerably exceeding the light wavelength is studied. Using a multidimensional analog of the WKB method, the Green function of the electromagnetic field in such a medium is calculated. This function contains terms corresponding to ordinary and extraordinary waves. The behavior of the Green function in the far-field region is analyzed. It is shown that for the extraordinary ray there exists, on the surface of the wave vectors, a forbidden zone, which, due to periodic changes of the refractive index, corresponds to conditions of the beam turn with the formation of a flat wave channel. The extraordinary beam trajectory, both inside and outside the wave channel, determined by the ray vector, is not flat. The asymptotic behavior of the Green function inside and outside the wave channel is substantially different.