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We analyze a general class of difference operators Hε=Tε+Vε on ℓ2((εZ)d), where Vε is a multi-well potential and ε is a small parameter. We derive full asymptotic expansions of the prefactor of the exponentially small eigenvalue splitting due to interactions between two “wells” (minima) of the potential energy, i.e., for the discrete tunneling effect. We treat both the case where there is a single minimal geodesic (with respect to the natural Finsler metric induced by the leading symbol h0(x,ξ) of Hε) connecting the two minima and the case where the minimal geodesics form an ℓ+1 dimensional manifold, ℓ≥1. These results on the tunneling problem are as sharp as the classical results for the Schrödinger operator in Helffer and Sjöstrand (Commun PDE 9:337–408, 1984). Technically, our approach is pseudo-differential and we adapt techniques from Helffer and Sjöstrand [Analyse semi-classique pour l’équation de Harper (avec application à l’équation de Schrödinger avec champ magnétique), Mémoires de la S.M.F., 2 series, tome 34, pp 1–113, 1988)] and Helffer and Parisse (Ann Inst Henri Poincaré 60(2):147–187, 1994) to our discrete setting.
We analyze a general class of difference operators on where is a multi-well potential and is a small parameter. We decouple the wells by introducing certain Dirichlet operators on regions containing only one potential well, and we shall treat the eigenvalue problem for as a small perturbation of these comparison problems. We describe tunneling by a certain interaction matrix, similar to the analysis for the Schrodinger operator [see Helffer and Sjostrand in Commun Partial Differ Equ 9:337-408, 1984], and estimate the remainder, which is exponentially small and roughly quadratic compared with the interaction matrix.
We analyze a general class of difference operators containing a multi-well potential and a small parameter. We decouple the wells by introducing certain Dirichlet operators on regions containing only one potential well, and we treat the eigenvalue problem as a small perturbation of these comparison problems. We describe tunneling by a certain interaction matrix similar to the analysis for the Schrödinger operator, and estimate the remainder, which is exponentially small and roughly quadratic compared with the interaction matrix.
In quantum mechanics the temporal decay of certain resonance states is associated with an effective time evolution e(-ith(kappa)), where h(.) is an analytic family of non-self-adjoint matrices. In general the corresponding resonance states do not decay exponentially in time. Using analytic perturbation theory, we derive asymptotic expansions for e(-ith(kappa)), simultaneously in the limits kappa -> 0 and t -> infinity, where the corrections with respect to pure exponential decay have uniform bounds in one complex variable kappa(2)t.
In the Appendix we briefly review analytic perturbation theory, replacing the classical reference to the 1920 book of Knopp [Funktionentheorie II, Anwendungen und Weiterfuhrung der allgemeinen Theorie, Sammlung Goschen, Vereinigung wissenschaftlicher Verleger Walter de Gruyter, 1920] and its terminology by standard modern references. This might be of independent interest.
In the semiclassical limit (h) over bar -> 0, we analyze a class of self-adjoint Schrodinger operators H-(h) over bar = (h) over bar L-2 + (h) over barW + V center dot id(E) acting on sections of a vector bundle E over an oriented Riemannian manifold M where L is a Laplace type operator, W is an endomorphism field and the potential energy V has non-degenerate minima at a finite number of points m(1),... m(r) is an element of M, called potential wells. Using quasimodes of WKB-type near m(j) for eigenfunctions associated with the low lying eigenvalues of H-(h) over bar, we analyze the tunneling effect, i.e. the splitting between low lying eigenvalues, which e.g. arises in certain symmetric configurations. Technically, we treat the coupling between different potential wells by an interaction matrix and we consider the case of a single minimal geodesic (with respect to the associated Agmon metric) connecting two potential wells and the case of a submanifold of minimal geodesics of dimension l + 1. This dimension l determines the polynomial prefactor for exponentially small eigenvalue splitting.
We analyze a general class of self-adjoint difference operators H-epsilon = T-epsilon + V-epsilon on l(2)((epsilon Z)(d)), where V-epsilon is a multi-well potential and v(epsilon) is a small parameter. We give a coherent review of our results on tunneling up to new sharp results on the level of complete asymptotic expansions (see [30-35]). Our emphasis is on general ideas and strategy, possibly of interest for a broader range of readers, and less on detailed mathematical proofs. The wells are decoupled by introducing certain Dirichlet operators on regions containing only one potential well. Then the eigenvalue problem for the Hamiltonian H-epsilon is treated as a small perturbation of these comparison problems. After constructing a Finslerian distance d induced by H-epsilon, we show that Dirichlet eigenfunctions decay exponentially with a rate controlled by this distance to the well. It follows with microlocal techniques that the first n eigenvalues of H-epsilon converge to the first n eigenvalues of the direct sum of harmonic oscillators on R-d located at several wells. In a neighborhood of one well, we construct formal asymptotic expansions of WKB-type for eigenfunctions associated with the low-lying eigenvalues of H-epsilon. These are obtained from eigenfunctions or quasimodes for the operator H-epsilon acting on L-2(R-d), via restriction to the lattice (epsilon Z)(d). Tunneling is then described by a certain interaction matrix, similar to the analysis for the Schrodinger operator (see [22]), the remainder is exponentially small and roughly quadratic compared with the interaction matrix. We give weighted l(2)-estimates for the difference of eigenfunctions of Dirichlet-operators in neighborhoods of the different wells and the associated WKB-expansions at the wells. In the last step, we derive full asymptotic expansions for interactions between two "wells" (minima) of the potential energy, in particular for the discrete tunneling effect. Here we essentially use analysis on phase space, complexified in the momentum variable. These results are as sharp as the classical results for the Schrodinger operator in [22].
Consider the operator T = -d(2)/dx(2) + x(2) + q(x) in L-2 (R), where q is a real function with q' and integral(0)(x) q(s) ds bounded. The spectrum of T is purely discrete and consists of simple eigenvalues. We determine their asymptotics mu(n) = (2n + 1) + (2 pi)(-1) integral(-pi)(pi) q(root 2n+1 sin theta)d theta + O(n(-1/3)) and we extend these results for complex q.
We study resonances for the generator of a diffusion with small noise in R(d) : L = -∈∆ + ∇F * ∇, when the potential F grows slowly at infinity (typically as a square root of the norm). The case when F grows fast is well known, and under suitable conditions one can show that there exists a family of exponentially small eigenvalues, related to the wells of F. We show that, for an F with a slow growth, the spectrum is R+, but we can find a family of resonances whose real parts behave as the eigenvalues of the "quick growth" case, and whose imaginary parts are small.
Metastability in reversible diffusion processes : II. Precise asymptotics for small eigenvalues
(2005)
We continue the analysis of the problem of metastability for reversible diffusion processes, initiated in [BEGK3], with a precise analysis of the low-lying spectrum of the generator. Recall that we are considering processes with generators of the form -epsilonDelta + delF(.) del on R-d or subsets of Rd, where F is a smooth function with finitely many local minima. Here we consider only the generic situation where the depths of all local minima are different. We show that in general the exponentially small part of the spectrum is given, up to multiplicative errors tending to one, by the eigenvalues of the classical capacity matrix of the array of capacitors made of balls of radius epsilon centered at the positions of the local minima of F. We also get very precise uniform control on the corresponding eigenfunctions. Moreover, these eigenvalues can be identified with the same precision with the inverse mean metastable exit times from each minimum. In [BEGK3] it was proven that these mean times are given, again up to multiplicative errors that tend to one, by the classical Eyring- Kramers formula
Metastability in reversible diffusion processes : I. Sharp asymptotics for capacities and exit times
(2004)
We develop a potential theoretic approach to the problem of metastability for reversible diffusion processes with generators of the form -epsilonDelta+ delF(.) del on R-d or subsets of R-d, where F is a smooth function with finitely many local minima. In analogy to previous work on discrete Markov chains, we show that metastable exit times from the attractive domains of the minima of F can be related, up to multiplicative errors that tend to one as epsilon down arrow 0, to the capacities of suitably constructed sets. We show that these capacities can be computed, again up to multiplicative errors that tend to one, in terms of local characteristics of F at the starting minimum and the relevant saddle points. As a result, we are able to give the first rigorous proof of the classical Eyring - Kramers formula in dimension larger than 1. The estimates on capacities make use of their variational representation and monotonicity properties of Dirichlet forms. The methods developed here are extensions of our earlier work on discrete Markov chains to continuous diffusion processes