Eigenvectors of a Floquet Hamiltonian

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the eigenvectors of a Floquet Hamiltonian derived from the Hamiltonian of graphene near the Dirac point under periodic external irradiation. The Floquet formalism is employed to eliminate time dependence, leading to a rewritten Hamiltonian in an extended Hilbert space. The eigenvectors are expressed as quasienergy states, and the user initially struggles with the transition from the extended to the standard Hilbert space representation. Ultimately, the correct eigenvector solution is identified as a 2x1 matrix, correcting earlier notation errors.

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  • Understanding of Floquet theory and its application to quantum mechanics
  • Familiarity with Hamiltonian mechanics, particularly in condensed matter physics
  • Knowledge of eigenvalue problems and matrix representations in quantum systems
  • Proficiency in manipulating complex numbers and exponential functions in quantum states
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  • Study the Floquet formalism in detail, focusing on its applications in quantum mechanics
  • Explore the derivation and implications of the Hamiltonian for graphene under external fields
  • Learn about eigenvalue problems in quantum mechanics, specifically for 2x2 and 4x4 matrices
  • Investigate the role of quasienergy states in time-periodic systems and their physical interpretations
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Researchers and students in condensed matter physics, quantum mechanics enthusiasts, and anyone studying the effects of periodic external fields on quantum systems, particularly in relation to graphene.

DeathbyGreen
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I'm trying to recreate some results from a paper:

https://arxiv.org/pdf/1406.1711.pdf

Basically they take the Hamiltonian of graphene near the Dirac point (upon irradiation by a time periodic external field) and use Floquet formalism to rewrite it in an extended Hilbert space incorporating time periodic functions; in doing this they effectively remove the time dependence of the periodically modulated Hamiltonian. Skipping a few steps, they rewrite this Floquet Hamiltonian in a subspace of two potentially degenerate eigenvector branches near the Dirac point (eigenvalues of this matrix are equation (15)). The matrix is (for only the m=0 and m=1 modes)

<br /> H_f =<br /> \left[<br /> \begin{array}{cc}<br /> \hbar\Omega -\hbar v_fk_p&amp; \frac{v_fe}{2c}A_0e^{i\theta}\\<br /> \frac{v_fe}{2c}A_0e^{-i\theta}&amp; \hbar v_f k_p<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right]<br />

The eigenvectors of this matrix are quasienergy states |\phi^\alpha\rangle from the equation H_F |\phi^\alpha\rangle = \epsilon_\alpha|\phi^\alpha\rangle. My problem is from going from equation (9)
|\phi^\alpha\rangle = (|u^\alpha_1\rangle, |u^\alpha_0\rangle)^Tto (8) |\phi^\alpha(t)\rangle = |u^\alpha_0\rangle + |u^\alpha_1\rangle e^{i\Omega t} in which the coefficients |u^\alpha_m\rangle are 1x2 kets. Expanding |\phi^\alpha\rangle:

<br /> |\phi^\alpha\rangle =<br /> \left[<br /> \begin{array}{cc}<br /> u^\alpha_{1a}&amp;u^\alpha_{1b}\\<br /> u^\alpha_{0a}&amp;u^\alpha_{0b}<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right]<br />

I need to apply this to the 2x2 Hamiltonian and solve for the u^\alpha_mcoefficients. Then take those coefficients and put them into

<br /> |\phi^\alpha(t)\rangle =<br /> \left[<br /> \begin{array}{c}<br /> u^\alpha_{0a}\\<br /> u^\alpha_{0b}<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right]+<br /> \left[<br /> \begin{array}{c}<br /> u^\alpha_{1a}\\<br /> u^\alpha_{1b}<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right]e^{i\Omega t}<br />

to get the final answer they have in equation (17). In doing so I get a system of 2 equations and 4 unknowns. When I work this out my answer doesn't come out like theirs. Is this the right way to go about going from the form in the extended Hilbert space
|\phi^\alpha\rangle = (|u^\alpha_1\rangle, |u^\alpha_0\rangle)^Tto the form in the standard Hilbert space (8) |\phi^\alpha(t)\rangle = |u^\alpha_0\rangle + |u^\alpha_1\rangle e^{i\Omega t}?
 
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For any people from the future who come across this and are curious about the answer, I figured it out. So after finding the eigenvectors of the 2x2 Hamiltonian

<br /> H_f =<br /> \left[<br /> \begin{array}{cc}<br /> \hbar\Omega-\hbar v_vk&amp;\frac{A_0ev_f}{c2}e^{i\theta}\\<br /> \frac{A_0ev_f}{c2}e^{-i\theta}&amp;\hbar v_fk<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right]<br />

you get the solution

<br /> |\phi^\alpha\rangle =<br /> \left[<br /> \begin{array}{c}<br /> -\sin(\psi_k^\pm/2)e^{-i\theta}\\<br /> \cos(\psi_k^\pm/2)<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right]<br />

where the psi angle is specified in the paper (a combination of variables). You then take the upper element of this matrix, corresponding to the u1 mode and multiply it by the corresponding eigenvector of the 4x4 matrix to convert it back to the original basis. Also, my initial statement of |\phi_\alpha\rangle is incorrect and was due to some confusing notation used in the paper. It should be a 2x1 for the 2x2 and a 4x1 for the 4x4.
 

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