Center for Theory of Quantum Matter Seminar

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Motion Meets Quantum Geometry, presented by Anatoly Polkovnikov

Fast quantum dynamics and slow classical motion often coexist, as in electrons coupled to moving ions. The Born–Oppenheimer approximation describes the fast subsystem using states determined by the instantaneous configuration of the slow one. But motion itself can change the appropriate internal state: water in a rotating bucket does not have the same equilibrium as water in a stationary one. I will introduce quantum geometry and explain its connection to familiar pseudoforces, including inertial and Coriolis forces, emphasizing that these geometric ideas also apply to classical systems. Beyond the static Born–Oppenheimer picture, the geometry depends on motion and feeds back on it, modifying both the fast states and the slow trajectories. Using simple examples, I will show how this interplay produces collective variables that combine the original fast and slow degrees of freedom, providing a new perspective on the emergence of classical motion.

CTQM Seminars start at 12:30pm, with lunch served starting at 12pm.