Abstract
We provide a physical prescription based on interferometry for introducing the total phase of a mixed state undergoing unitary evolution, which has been an elusive concept in the past. We define the parallel transport condition that provides a connection form for obtaining the geometric phase for mixed states. The expression for the geometric phase for mixed state reduces to well known formulas in the pure state case when a system undergoes noncyclic and unitary quantum evolution.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2845-2849 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Physical Review Letters |
| Volume | 85 |
| Issue number | 14 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2 Oct 2000 |
Keywords
- quantum physics
- neutrons
- interferometry
- geometric phases