Dynamical Symmetries of the 2D Newtonian Free Fall Problem Revisited

Among the few exactly solvable problems in theoretical physics, the 2D (two-dimensional) Newtonian free fall problem in Euclidean space is perhaps the least known as compared to the harmonic oscillator or the Kepler–Coulomb problems. The aim of this article is to revisit this problem at the classical level as well as the quantum level, with a focus on its dynamical symmetries. We show how these dynamical symmetries arise as a special limit of the dynamical symmetries of the Kepler–Coulomb problem, and how a connection to the quartic anharmonic oscillator problem, a long-standing unsolved problem in quantum mechanics, can be established. To this end, we construct the Hilbert space of states with free boundary conditions as a space of square integrable functions that have a special functional integral representation. In this functional space, the free fall dynamical symmetry algebra is shown to be isomorphic to the so-called Klink’s algebra of the quantum quartic anharmonic oscillator problem. Furthermore, this connection entails a remarkable integral identity for the quantum quartic anharmonic oscillator eigenfunctions, which implies that these eigenfunctions are in fact zonal functions of an underlying symmetry group representation. Thus, an appropriate representation theory for the 2D Newtonian free fall quantum symmetry group may potentially open the way to exactly solving the difficult quantization problem of the quartic anharmonic oscillator. Finally, the initial value problem of the acoustic Klein–Gordon equation for wave propagation in a sound duct with a varying circular section is solved as an illustration of the techniques developed here.

Symmetries and Selection Rules of the Spectra of Photoelectrons and High-Order Harmonics Generated by Field-Driven Atoms and Molecules

Using the strong-field approximation we systematically investigate the selection rules for high-order harmonic generation and the symmetry properties of the angle-resolved photoelectron spectra for various atomic and molecular targets exposed to one-component and two-component laser fields. These include bicircular fields and orthogonally polarized two-color fields. The selection rules are derived directly from the dynamical symmetries of the driving field. Alternatively, we demonstrate that they can be obtained using the conservation of the projection of the total angular momentum on the quantization axis. We discuss how the harmonic spectra of atomic targets depend on the type of the ground state or, for molecular targets, on the pertinent molecular orbital. In addition, we briefly discuss some properties of the high-order harmonic spectra generated by a few-cycle laser field. The symmetry properties of the angle-resolved photoelectron momentum distribution are also determined by the dynamical symmetry of the driving field. We consider the first two terms in a Born series expansion of the T matrix, which describe the direct and the rescattered electrons. Dynamical symmetries involving time translation generate rotational symmetries obeyed by both terms. However, those that involve time reversal generate reflection symmetries that are only observed by the direct electrons. Finally, we explain how the symmetry properties, imposed by the dynamical symmetry of the driving field, are altered for molecular targets.

Duality in quantum transport models

We develop the `duality approach', that has been extensively studied for classical models of transport, for quantum systems in contact with a thermal `Lindbladian' bath. The method provides (a) a mapping of the original model to a simpler one, containing only a few particles and (b) shows that any dynamic process of this kind with generic baths may be mapped onto one with equilibrium baths. We exemplify this through the study of a particular model: the quantum symmetric exclusion process introduced in [1]. As in the classical case, the whole construction becomes intelligible by considering the dynamical symmetries of the problem.

New cosmological solutions in hybrid metric-Palatini gravity from dynamical symmetries

We investigate the existence of Liouville integrable cosmological models in hybrid metric-Palatini theory. Specifically, we use the symmetry conditions for the existence of quadratic in the momentum conservation laws for the field equations as constraint conditions for the determination of the unknown functional form of the theory. The exact and analytic solutions of the integrable systems found in this study are presented in terms of quadratics and Laurent expansions.

Quantum many-body attractors

Real-world complex systems often show robust, persistent oscillatory dynamics, e.g.~non-trivial attractors. On the quantum level this behaviour has only been found in semi-classical or weakly correlated systems under restrictive assumptions. However, strongly interacting systems without classical limits, e.g.~electrons on a lattice or spins, typically relax quickly to a stationary state (trivial attractors). This raises the puzzling question of how non-trivial attractors can arise from the quantum laws. Here, we introduce strictly local dynamical symmetries that lead to extremely robust and persistent oscillations in quantum many-body systems without a classical limit. Observables that do not have overlap with the symmetry operators can relax, losing memory of their initial conditions. The remaining observables enter complex dynamical cycles, signalling the emergence of a quantum many-body attractor. We provide a recipe for constructing Hamiltonians featuring local dynamical symmetries. As an example, we introduce the spin lace – a model of a quasi-1D quantum magnet.