Variational principle for time-periodic quantum systems

Abstract

A variational principle enabling one to compute individual Floquet states of a periodically time-dependent quantum system is formulated, and successfully tested against the benchmark system provided by the analytically solvable model of a linearly driven harmonic oscillator. The principle is particularly well suited for tracing individual Floquet states through parameter space, and may allow one to obtain Floquet states even for very high-dimensional systems which cannot be treated by the known standard numerical methods.