Variable of integration in geometric phase calculation

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the geometric phase change when the infinite square well expands adiabatically from width w1 to w2. The geometric phase is defined by the equation γ_n(t) = i ∫_{R_i}^{R_f} <ψ_n | ∂ψ_n/∂R> dR, where ψ_n represents the wave function of the infinite square well. Participants highlight the challenge of integrating the wave function's derivative over width w and question the validity of integrating over dx instead. The conversation emphasizes the importance of recognizing the relationship between the wave functions and their derivatives to simplify the integration process.

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  • Proficiency in calculus, particularly integration techniques
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  • Learn about the adiabatic approximation in quantum mechanics
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Students and researchers in quantum mechanics, particularly those studying geometric phases, adiabatic processes, and the infinite square well model.

yeshuamo
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Homework Statement


Calculate the geometric phase change when the infinite square well expands adiabatically from width w1 to w2.

Homework Equations


Geometric phase:
\gamma_n(t) = i \int_{R_i}^{R_f} \Bigg&lt; \psi_n \Bigg | \frac{\partial \psi_n}{\partial R} \Bigg &gt; dR

Infinite square well wave function:
\psi_n = \sqrt{\frac{2}{w}}sin \Big(\frac{n \pi x}{w}\Big)

The Attempt at a Solution


This is an adiabatic approximation problem, and the variable R(t) here is the width of the well, w.
I took a derivative of the wave function and am integrating a dot product of the wave function with its derivative over w.

\gamma_i (t) = i \int_{w_1}^{w_2} \Big(-\frac{1}{2 w^2}\Big) sin^2 \Big(\frac{n \pi x}{w}\Big) dw - 2 i \int_{w_1}^{w_2} \frac{n \pi x}{w^3} sin\Big(\frac{n \pi x}{w}\Big) cos\Big(\frac{n \pi x}{w}\Big) dw

The first element appears to be unintegrable. I have looked at the solutions to this problem done by other people, and the integration is done over dx instead of dw, which clearly alleviates the integration problem above. Why is it valid to integrate over dx, even though the geometric phase formula above indicates integration over R, i.e. w?
 
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yeshuamo said:
\gamma_i (t) = i \int_{w_1}^{w_2} \Big(-\frac{1}{2 w^2}\Big) sin^2 \Big(\frac{n \pi x}{w}\Big) dw - 2 i \int_{w_1}^{w_2} \frac{n \pi x}{w^3} sin\Big(\frac{n \pi x}{w}\Big) cos\Big(\frac{n \pi x}{w}\Big) dw

The first element appears to be unintegrable. I have looked at the solutions to this problem done by other people, and the integration is done over dx instead of dw, which clearly alleviates the integration problem above. Why is it valid to integrate over dx, even though the geometric phase formula above indicates integration over R, i.e. w?

Note that there are two integrations involved in ##\gamma_n(t) = i \int_{R_i}^{R_f} \left< \psi_n \Bigg | \frac{\partial \psi_n}{\partial R} \right > dR##. In addition to the integration with respect to R, the bra-ket ##\left< \psi_n \Bigg | \frac{\partial \psi_n}{\partial R} \right >## implies an additional integration (over what variable?).
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There is a nice way to deduce the value of ##\int_{R_i}^{R_f} \left< \psi_n \Bigg | \frac{\partial \psi_n}{\partial R} \right> dR ## using just the fact that the wave functions ##\psi_n## are real and normalized. The trick is to relate ##\left< \psi_n \Bigg | \frac{\partial \psi_n}{\partial R} \right>## to ##\frac{\partial }{\partial R}\left< \psi_n | \psi_n\right>## .
 
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