Is the quantum adiabatic theorem consistent?

TL;DR

This paper experimentally investigates the conditions under which the quantum adiabatic theorem holds, revealing that traditional and recent conditions are often insufficient or unnecessary, using nuclear spin experiments.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence showing the limitations of traditional and recent adiabatic conditions for the quantum adiabatic theorem.

Findings

Traditional adiabatic condition is not sufficient.

Some recently suggested conditions are not necessary.

Experimental validation with nuclear spins.

Abstract

The quantum adiabatic theorem states that if a quantum system starts in an eigenstate of the Hamiltonian, and this Hamiltonian varies sufficiently slowly, the system stays in this eigenstate. We investigate experimentally the conditions that must be fulfilled for this theorem to hold. We show that the traditional adiabatic condition as well as some conditions that were recently suggested are either not sufficient or not necessary. Experimental evidence is presented by a simple experiment using nuclear spins.