Regular Article

Quantum dynamics of a hydrogen-like atom in a time-dependent box: non-adiabatic regime

¹ Physics Department, National Universty of Uzbekistan, Vuzgorodok, 100074 Tashkent, Uzbekistan
² Turin Polytechnic University in Tashkent, 17 Niyazov Str., 100095 Tashkent, Uzbekistan
³ Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, nab. Severnoi Dviny 23, Arkhangelsk 163000, Russia
⁴ Northern (Arctic) Federal University, nab. Severnoi Dviny 17, Arkhangelsk 163002, Russia

^a e-mail: dmatrasulov@gmail.com

Received: 25 April 2018
Received in final form: 31 July 2018
Published online: 11 October 2018

Abstract

We consider a hydrogen atom confined in time-dependent trap created by a spherical impenetrable box with time-dependent radius. For such model we study the behavior of atomic electron under the (non-adiabatic) dynamical confinement caused by the rapidly moving wall of the box. The expectation values of the total and kinetic energy, average force, pressure and coordinate are analyzed as a function of time for linearly expanding, contracting and harmonically breathing boxes. It is shown that linearly extending box leads to de-excitation of the atom, while the rapidly contracting box causes the creation of very high pressure on the atom and transition of the atomic electron into the unbound state. In harmonically breathing box diffusive excitation of atomic electron may occur in analogy with that for atom in a microwave field.