Complex trajectories in a classical periodic potential

DOI10.1088/1751-8113/45/45/455101MaRDI QIDQ4920331zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Alexander G. Anderson, Carl M. Bender

Publication date 17 May 2013

Published in Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1205.3330

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Nonlinear ordinary differential equations and systems (34A34) Periodic and almost periodic solutions for problems in Hamiltonian and Lagrangian mechanics (70H12) Special quantum systems, such as solvable systems (81Q80)

Abstract: This paper examines the complex trajectories of a classical particle in the potential V(x)=-cos(x). Almost all the trajectories describe a particle that hops from one well to another in an erratic fashion. However, it is shown analytically that there are two special classes of trajectories x(t) determined only by the energy of the particle and not by the initial position of the particle. The first class consists of periodic trajectories; that is, trajectories that return to their initial position x(0) after some real time T. The second class consists of trajectories for which there exists a real time T such that $x(t+T)=x(t)pm2pi$. These two classes of classical trajectories are analogous to valence and conduction bands in quantum mechanics, where the quantum particle either remains localized or else tunnels resonantly (conducts) through a crystal lattice. These two special types of trajectories are associated with sets of energies of measure 0. For other energies, it is shown that for long times the average velocity of the particle becomes a fractal-like function of energy.

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