The Gamow vector description of resonances is compared with the S-matrix and the Green function descriptions using the example of the square barrier potential. By imposing different boundary conditions on the time independent Schrödinger equation, we obtain either eigenvectors corresponding to real eigenvalues and the physical spectrum or eigenvectors corresponding to complex eigenvalues (Gamow vectors) and the resonance spectrum. We show that the poles of the S matrix are the same as the poles of the Green function and are the complex eigenvalues of the Schrödinger equation subject to a purely outgoing boundary condition. The intrinsic time asymmetry of the purely outgoing boundary condition is discussed. Finally, we show that the probability of detecting the decay within a shell around the origin of the decaying state follows an exponential law if the Gamow vector (resonance) contribution to this probability is the only contribution that is taken into account.
The ability of the Rigged Hilbert Space formalism to deal with continuous spectrum is demonstrated within the example of the square barrier potential. The non-square integrable solutions of the time-independent Schrödinger equation are used to define Dirac kets, which are (generalized) eigenvectors of the Hamiltonian. These Dirac kets are antilinear functionals over the space of physical wave functions. They are also basis vectors that expand any physical wave function in a Dirac basis vector expansion. It is shown that an acceptable physical wave function must fulfill stronger conditions than just square integrability-the space of physical wave functions is not the whole Hilbert space but rather a dense subspace of the Hilbert space. We construct the position and energy representations of the Rigged Hilbert Space generated by the square barrier potential Hamiltonian. We shall also construct the unitary operator that transforms from the position into the energy representation. We shall see that in the energy representation the Dirac kets act as the antilinear Schwartz delta functional. In constructing the Rigged Hilbert Space of the square barrier potential, we will find a systematic procedure to construct the Rigged Hilbert Space of a large class of spherically symmetric potentials. The example of the square barrier potential will also make apparent that the natural framework for the solutions of a Schrödinger operator with continuous spectrum is the Rigged Hilbert Space rather than just the Hilbert space.
We introduce the differential and the total decay widths of a resonant (Gamow) state decaying into a continuum of stable states. When the resonance has several decay modes, we introduce the corresponding partial decay widths and branching fractions. In the approximation that the resonance is sharp, the expressions for the differential, partial and total decay widths of a resonant state bear a close resemblance with the Golden Rule. In such approximation, the branching fractions of a resonant state are the same as the standard branching fractions obtained by way of the Golden Rule. We also introduce dimensionless decay constants along with their associated differential decay constants, and we express experimentally measurable quantities such as the branching fractions and the energy distributions of decay events in terms of those dimensionless decay constants.
The goal of this contribution is to discuss various resonance expansions that have been proposed in the literature.Comment: 10 pages and 1 figure; presented at the Istanbul workshop on pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian
Abstract. The spectrum of a quantum system has in general bound, scattering and resonant parts. The Hilbert space includes only the bound and scattering spectra, and discards the resonances. One must therefore enlarge the Hilbert space to a rigged Hilbert space, within which the physical bound, scattering and resonance spectra are included on the same footing. In these lectures, I will explain how this is done.
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