Dynamical invariants in systems with and without broken time-reversal symmetry

Abstract

In the first part of the lectures dynamical invariants in classical mechanics and conventional quantum mechanics will be considered. In particular, we will begin with some remarks on classical mechanics and on quantization in order to establish the theory in the form that will be used later on. Starting from the time‐dependent Schrödinger equation, the dynamics of Gaussian wave packets and Ermakov invariants, the time‐dependent Green function/Feynman kernel, quantum‐classical connections, energetics and Lagrange—Hamilton formalism for quantum uncertainties, momentum space representation and the relation between the Wigner function and the Ermakov invariant will be discussed. The representation of canonical transformations in time‐independent and time‐dependent quantum mechanics, factorization of the Ermakov invariant and generalized creation/annihilation operators will be studied. Subsequently, the time‐independent Schrödinger equation, leading to nonlinear quantum mechanics related to Riccati/Ermakov systems as well as the occurrence of Riccati/Ermakov systems in the treatment of Bose—Einstein condensates via the so‐called moment method will be analyzed.In part two, irreversible dynamics of dissipative systems, classical and quantum mechanical descriptions and corresponding invariants will be treated. After some general remarks on classical and quantum mechanics with unitary time‐evolution and energy conservation, phenomenological Langevin and Fokker—Planck equations, master equations in classical and quantum mechanics and the system‐plus‐reservoir approach will be mentioned briefly. Then follows a more detailed discussion of modified Schrödinger equations and, particularly, of a nonlinear Schrödinger equation with complex logarithmic nonlinearity; its properties, solutions, invariants and energetics will be studied. Finally, a comparison with a classical description in expanding coordinates will lead to a non‐unitary connection between the logarithmic nonlinear Schrödinger equation, the Caldirola‐Kanai approach and the expanding coordinate approach.