Non-exponential decay in quantum field theory and in quantum mechanics: the case of two (or more) decay channels

DOI10.1007/S10701-012-9667-3zbMATH Open1261.81101arXiv1110.5923OpenAlexW2142675909MaRDI QIDQ1929319FDOQ1929319

Authors: Francesco Giacosa 

Publication date: 7 January 2013

Published in: Foundations of Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We study the deviations from the exponential decay law, both in quantum field theory (QFT) and quantum mechanics (QM), for an unstable particle which can decay in (at least) two decay channels. After a review of general properties of non-exponential decay in QFT and QM, we evaluate in both cases the decay probability that the unstable particle decays in a given channel in the time interval between $t$ and $t+dt.$ An important quantity is the ratio of the probability of decay into the first and the second channel: this ratio is constant in the Breit-Wigner limit (in which the decay law is exponential) and equals the quantity $Gamm{a}_1/Gamm{a}_2$, where $Gamm{a}_1$ and $Gamm{a}_2$ are the respective tree-level decay widths. However, in the full treatment (both for QFT and QM) it is an oscillating function around the mean value $Gamm{a}_1/Gamm{a}_2$ and the deviations from this mean value can be sizable. Technically, we study the decay properties in QFT in the context of a superrenormalizable Lagrangian with scalar particles and in QM in the context of Lee Hamiltonians, which deliver formally analogous expressions to the QFT case.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1110.5923

Recommendations

• Multichannel decay law
• To the theory of unstable states
• Decays of unstable quantum systems
• Deviation from the exponential decay law in relativistic quantum field theory: the example of strongly decaying particles
• On the decay law for unstable open systems

zbMATH Keywords

quantum mechanicsquantum field theorynon-exponential decaytwo decay channels

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Closed and approximate solutions to the Schrödinger, Dirac, Klein-Gordon and other equations of quantum mechanics (81Q05) Quantum field theory on curved space or space-time backgrounds (81T20) Quantum scattering theory (81U99)

Cites Work

• Some Special Examples in Renormalizable Field Theory
• Quantum Anti-Zeno Paradox
• Deviation from the exponential decay law in relativistic quantum field theory: the example of strongly decaying particles
• Title not available (Why is that?)

Cited In (9)

• Propagator poles and an emergent stable state below threshold: general discussion and the \(E(38)\) state
• Decays of unstable quantum systems
• Deviation from the exponential decay law in relativistic quantum field theory: the example of strongly decaying particles
• Breit-Wigner distribution, quantum beats and GSI anomaly
• The evolution of the FRW universe with decaying metastable dark energy—a dynamical system analysis
• The role of the next-to-leading order triangle-shaped diagram in two-body hadronic decays
• Multichannel decay law
• To the theory of unstable states
• Non-exponential decay for polaron model

This page was built for publication: Non-exponential decay in quantum field theory and in quantum mechanics: the case of two (or more) decay channels

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q1929319)