- Title Pages
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- General References
- 1 Algebraic Preliminaries
- 2 Euclidean Path Integrals In Quantum Mechanics
- 3 Path Integrals In Quantum Mechanics: Generalizations
- 4 Stochastic Differential Equations: Langevin, Fokker–Planck Equations
- 5 Path And Functional Integrals In Quantum Statistical Physics
- 6 Quantum Evolution: From Particles To Fields
- 7 Quantum Field Theory: Functional Methods and Perturbation Theory
- 8 Relativistic Fermions
- 9 Quantum Field Theory: Divergences and Regularization
- 10 Introduction to Renormalization Theory. Renormalization Group Equations
- 11 Dimensional Regularization, Minimal Subtraction: RG Functions
- 12 Renormalization Of Composite Operators. Short Distance Expansion
- 13 Symmetries And Renormalization
- 14 The Non-Linear σ-Model: An Example Of a Non-Linear Symmetry
- 15 General Non-Linear Models In Two Dimensions
- 16 St And Brs Symmetries, Stochastic Field Equations
- 17 From Langevin Equation To Supersymmetry
- 18 Abelian Gauge Theories
- 19 Non-Abelian Gauge Theories: Introduction
- 20 The Standard Model. Anomalies
- 21 Gauge Theories: Master Equation And Renormalization
- 22 Classical And Quantum Gravity. Riemannian Manifolds And Tensors
- 23 Critical Phenomena: General Considerations
- 24 Mean Field Theory For Ferromagnetic Systems
- 25 General Renormalization Group. The Critical Theory Near Dimension Four
- 26 Scaling Behaviour In The Critical Domain
- 27 Corrections to Scaling Behaviour
- 28 Non-Magnetic Systems and The (φ<sup>2</sup>)<sup>2</sup> Field Theory
- 29 Calculation Of Universal Quantities
- 30 The <i>O</i>(<i>N</i>) Vector Model For <i>N</i> Large
- 31 Phase Transitions Near Two Dimensions
- 32 Two-Dimensional Models and Bosonization Method
- 33 The <i>O</i>(2) Classical Spin Model In Two Dimensions
- 34 Critical Properties Of Gauge Theories
- 35 Uv Fixed Points In Quantum Field Theory
- 36 Critical Dynamics
- 37 Field Theory in a Finite Geometry: Finite Size Scaling
- 38 Quantum Field Theory At Finite Temperature: Equilibrium Properties
- 39 Instantons In Quantum Mechanics
- 40 Unstable Vacua In Quantum Field Theory
- 41 Degenerate Classical Minima And Instantons
- 42 Perturbation Series At Large Orders. Summation Methods
- 43 Multi-Instantons In Quantum Mechanics
- Index
Instantons In Quantum Mechanics
Instantons In Quantum Mechanics
- Chapter:
- (p.931) 39 INSTANTONS IN QUANTUM MECHANICS
- Source:
- Quantum Field Theory and Critical Phenomena
- Author(s):
JEAN ZINN-JUSTIN
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This chapter explains the role of instantons in unstable systems in quantum mechanics. It first discusses the quartic anharmonic oscillator with negative coupling and calculates the contributions of instantons at leading order. In particular, it shows that instantons determine, in the semi-classical limit, the decay rate of metastable states initially confined in a relative minimum of a potential and decaying through barrier penetration. The chapter then generalizes the method to a large class of analytic potentials, and obtains explicit expressions at leading order for one-dimensional systems. The appendix describes how analogous results can be obtained from calculations based on the WKB method, and comments about the average action in path integrals.
Keywords: instantons, quantum mechanics, quartic anharmonic oscillator, negative coupling, analytic potentials
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- Title Pages
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- General References
- 1 Algebraic Preliminaries
- 2 Euclidean Path Integrals In Quantum Mechanics
- 3 Path Integrals In Quantum Mechanics: Generalizations
- 4 Stochastic Differential Equations: Langevin, Fokker–Planck Equations
- 5 Path And Functional Integrals In Quantum Statistical Physics
- 6 Quantum Evolution: From Particles To Fields
- 7 Quantum Field Theory: Functional Methods and Perturbation Theory
- 8 Relativistic Fermions
- 9 Quantum Field Theory: Divergences and Regularization
- 10 Introduction to Renormalization Theory. Renormalization Group Equations
- 11 Dimensional Regularization, Minimal Subtraction: RG Functions
- 12 Renormalization Of Composite Operators. Short Distance Expansion
- 13 Symmetries And Renormalization
- 14 The Non-Linear σ-Model: An Example Of a Non-Linear Symmetry
- 15 General Non-Linear Models In Two Dimensions
- 16 St And Brs Symmetries, Stochastic Field Equations
- 17 From Langevin Equation To Supersymmetry
- 18 Abelian Gauge Theories
- 19 Non-Abelian Gauge Theories: Introduction
- 20 The Standard Model. Anomalies
- 21 Gauge Theories: Master Equation And Renormalization
- 22 Classical And Quantum Gravity. Riemannian Manifolds And Tensors
- 23 Critical Phenomena: General Considerations
- 24 Mean Field Theory For Ferromagnetic Systems
- 25 General Renormalization Group. The Critical Theory Near Dimension Four
- 26 Scaling Behaviour In The Critical Domain
- 27 Corrections to Scaling Behaviour
- 28 Non-Magnetic Systems and The (φ<sup>2</sup>)<sup>2</sup> Field Theory
- 29 Calculation Of Universal Quantities
- 30 The <i>O</i>(<i>N</i>) Vector Model For <i>N</i> Large
- 31 Phase Transitions Near Two Dimensions
- 32 Two-Dimensional Models and Bosonization Method
- 33 The <i>O</i>(2) Classical Spin Model In Two Dimensions
- 34 Critical Properties Of Gauge Theories
- 35 Uv Fixed Points In Quantum Field Theory
- 36 Critical Dynamics
- 37 Field Theory in a Finite Geometry: Finite Size Scaling
- 38 Quantum Field Theory At Finite Temperature: Equilibrium Properties
- 39 Instantons In Quantum Mechanics
- 40 Unstable Vacua In Quantum Field Theory
- 41 Degenerate Classical Minima And Instantons
- 42 Perturbation Series At Large Orders. Summation Methods
- 43 Multi-Instantons In Quantum Mechanics
- Index
