Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 29, 2025

Quantum State Engineering of Light with Continuous-wave Optical Parametric Oscillators
Published on: May 30, 2014
A quadratic time-dependent quantum harmonic oscillator
F E Onah1,2, E García Herrera3, J A Ruelas-Galván3
1Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, 64849, Monterrey, NL, Mexico. a00834081@tec.mx.
Abstract:
We present a Lie algebraic approach to a Hamiltonian class covering driven, parametric quantum harmonic oscillators where the parameter set-mass, frequency, driving strength, and parametric pumping-is time-dependent. Our unitary-transformation-based approach provides a solution to our general quadratic time-dependent quantum harmonic model. As an example, we show an analytic solution to the periodically driven quantum harmonic oscillator without the rotating wave approximation; it works for any given detuning and coupling strength regime. For the sake of validation, we provide an analytic solution to the historical Caldirola-Kanai quantum harmonic oscillator and show that there exists a unitary transformation within our framework that takes a generalized version of it onto the Paul trap Hamiltonian. In addition, we show how our approach provides the dynamics of generalized models whose Schrödinger equation becomes numerically unstable in the laboratory frame.
Related Concept Videos
The Quantum-Mechanical Model of an Atom
RLC Circuit as a Damped Oscillator
Consider a series RLC circuit. Here, the presence of resistance in the circuit leads to energy loss due to joule heating in the resistance. Therefore, the total electromagnetic energy in the circuit is no longer constant and decreases with time. Since the magnitude of charge, current, and potential difference continuously decreases, their oscillations are said to be damped. This is...
Characteristics of Simple Harmonic Motion
Oscillations about an Equilibrium Position
Simple Harmonic Motion
Problem Solving: Dimensional Analysis

