The Adiabatic Theorem of quantum mechanics states that a physical system starting in an eigenstate of a slowly and continuously varying Hamiltonian will remain, at each later time, in the corresponding instantaneous eigenstate of that Hamiltonian, provided the variation is slow enough relative to the gaps between the system's energy levels. First stated by Max Born and Vladimir Fock, it justifies the widespread practice of tracking a quantum state by tracking the eigenstate it began in, and underlies techniques such as adiabatic quantum computation.
Facts
StatementA quantum mechanical system subjected to gradually changing external conditions adapts its functional form to the changing conditions, while a system subjected to rapidly varying conditions has no time to adapt, so its spatial probability density remains unchanged. 1 Classification
Statement FormCharacterization Theorem 1 Connections
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Source Adiabatic Theorem (Wikipedia)
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Source Adiabatic Theorem (Wikipedia)
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1. Adiabatic Theorem (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundationopening paragraph
Its original form, due to Max Born and Vladimir Fock (1928), was stated as follows:
In Branch: Mathematical Physics, Lead
The adiabatic theorem is a concept in quantum mechanics
In Group: Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Field Theory, Lead section
The adiabatic theorem is a concept in quantum mechanics. Its original form, due to Max Born and Vladimir
Proved By: Max Born, Lead
Its original form, due to Max Born and Vladimir Fock (1928), was stated as follows:
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