How fast can a quantum state change with time?
- 31 May 1993
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Physical Society (APS) in Physical Review Letters
- Vol. 70 (22) , 3365-3368
- https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.70.3365
Abstract
Lower and upper bounds are derived for the decay and transitions of quantum states, evolving under a time-dependent Hamiltonian, in terms of the energy uncertainty of the initial and final state. The bounds are simultaneously a rigorous version of Fermi’s golden rule and of the time-energy uncertainty relation. They are sharp, refer to short times, and are compared with recent long-time results for time-independent Hamiltonians. Illustrations for tunneling systems, laser-driven processes, and neutron interferometry in time-dependent magnetic fields are given.Keywords
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