Analogy of RKKY oscillations to the heat exchange in cold atoms

TL;DR

This paper uncovers oscillatory behavior in the energy and dynamics of wave-packets in time-varying potentials, drawing an analogy to RKKY oscillations, and highlights its implications for quantum friction.

Contribution

It demonstrates the universality of oscillatory terms in quantum systems with time-dependent potentials and connects them to RKKY interactions, revealing new insights into quantum interference effects.

Findings

Oscillatory terms appear in energy expectation and wave-packet dynamics.

Oscillations depend on transition energy cutoffs and potential variation routes.

Analogy established between quantum oscillations and RKKY interactions.

Abstract

An oscillatory term is found in both the energy expectation and dynamics of a wave-packet in a time-varying harmonic trap and infinite potential well. They are proved to oscillate in coherence with the time lapse within each period depending on both the cutoff in transition energies and the specific route via which the potential is being varied. This oscillatory term is general to arbitrary potential forms since it derives from the interference between crossed transition trajectories. Close analogy is made to the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida interaction for giant-magnetoresistance trilayers, where many-body quantum interference among scattering states renders the oscillation as a function of spacer width. This connection reveals the generality of quantum friction due to parasitic oscillations.