Quantum carpets: A probe to identify wave packet fractional revivals

TL;DR

This paper explores quantum carpets formed by wave packet interference in potential wells, demonstrating how their patterns reveal quantum revivals and fractional revivals through space-time and momentum-time analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a method to identify fractional revivals using interference patterns in quantum carpets, providing a visual and analytical tool for understanding wave packet dynamics.

Findings

Quantum carpets display self-interference patterns in position and momentum space.

Fractional revivals are identifiable through space-time and momentum-time interference patterns.

The study offers a new approach to analyze wave packet evolution in quantum systems.

Abstract

Quantum carpets- in position and momentum space- woven by the self-interference of de Broglie wave of an atom or an electron, trapped in an infinitely deep potential well, are explained. The recurrence of self-similar structures in designs of these carpets mimics the phenomena of quantum revivals and fractional revivals. We identify fractional revivals of various order by means of these space-time and momentum-time interference patterns.