Berry phase I: Mathematical Concepts   back  
The investigation of Hamiltonians that depend on slowly 
(adiabatically) varying parameters lead to the discovery of 
the Berry phase  (geometric phase). The Berry phase has 
found numerous applications in condensed matter physics.

Adiabatic approximation for time-dependent  hamiltonians, 
range of validity of this approximation,

Definition of Berry Phase and Mead-Berry vector potential.

Connection to differential one-forms, Gauge transformations,
Mead-Berry curvature.

Example, spinning quantum system in external magnetic field, 
magnetic monopole potential.

Experiment, photonic Berry Phase in optical fibers.


--
[1] Bohm et al.,The geometric phase in quantum systems, 
    Springer, Berlin (2003), chapter 2.1-2.3.
[2] M.V. Berry, Quantal phase factors accompanying
    adiabatic changes, Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A 392, 
    45-57 (1984).
[3] A. Bohm et al.,The geometric phase in
    quantum systems, Springer, Berlin (2003),
    chapter 2.1-2.3,3.1-3.3.
[4] A. Tomita and R.Y. Chiao, Observation of Berry's
    topological phase by use of an optical fiber,
    Phys. Rev. Lett. 57, 937 (1986).