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Can the validity of time-independent perturbation theory wavefunctions decrease over time?

Physics Asked on March 21, 2021

In time independent perturbation theory one obtains an approximation $psi^{(1)}$ to the actual energy eigenstates $psi$ of the new system.

However since this approximation is not itself a stationary state in the new system, it will evolve over time. Does this mean that, in the Hilbert space, the discrepancy between the approximated eigenstate and the actual eigenstate could increase and decrease over time since the values of $psi^{(1)}(t)$ in state space will change over time and could get closer to the actual eigenstate $psi(t)$ which evolves only by a phase?

One Answer

Assume a discrete spectrum. If the approximate eigenstate is a good approximation, it will be a superposition of the corresponding actual eigenstate with coefficient $approx 1$ and other actual eigenstates with small coefficients. Since the other eigenstates are orthogonal, the discrepancy (as I would define it) does not change with time.

Correct answer by Keith McClary on March 21, 2021

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