A Unified Theory of Quantum Holonomies

Atushi Tanaka, Taksu Cheon

Published 2009-02-17, updated 2009-03-18Version 2

A periodic change of slow environmental parameters of a quantum system induces quantum holonomy. The phase holonomy is a well-known example. Another is a more exotic kind that exhibits eigenvalue and eigenspace holonomies. We introduce a theoretical formulation that describes the phase and eigenspace holonomies on an equal footing. The building block of the theory is a gauge connection for an ordered basis, which is conceptually distinct from Mead-Truhlar-Berry's connection and its Wilczek-Zee extension. A gauge invariant treatment of eigenspace holonomy based on Fujikawa's formalism is developed. Example of adiabatic quantum holonomy, including the exotic kind with spectral degeneracy, are shown.