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  Adiabatic theorem for a 3 level system

+ 1 like - 0 dislike
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Hello! If I have a 2 level system, with the energy splitting between the 2 levels $\omega_{12}$ and an external perturbation characterized by a frequency $\omega_P$, if $\omega_{12}>>\omega_P$ I can use the adiabatic approximation, and assume that the initial state of the system changes slowly in time while for $\omega_{12}<<\omega_P$ I can assume that the perturbation doesn't have any effect on the system (it averages out over the relevant time scales). I was wondering if I have a 3 level system with $E_1<E_2<E_3$ such that $\omega_{12}<<\omega_P<<\omega_{23}$. In general, the Hamiltonian of the system would look like this:

$$
\begin{pmatrix}
E_1 & f_{12}(t) & f_{13}(t)  \\
f_{12}^*(t) & E_2 & f_{23}(t) \\
f_{13}^*(t) & f_{23}^*(t) & E_3
\end{pmatrix}
$$

But using the intuition from the 2 level system case, can I ignore $f_{12}(t)$, as the system of these 2 levels (1 and 2) moves on time scales much slower than $\omega_P$, and assume that $f_{23}(t)$ and $f_{13}(t)$ move very slow and thus use the adiabatic approximation? In practice I would basically have:

$$
\begin{pmatrix}
E_1 & 0 & f_{13}(t)  \\
0 & E_2 & f_{23}(t) \\
f_{13}^*(t) & f_{23}^*(t) & E_3
\end{pmatrix}
$$

Or in this case I would need to fully solve the SE, without being able to make any approximations? Thank you

asked Dec 14, 2022 in Theoretical Physics by anonymous [ no revision ]

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