Optical simulation of quantum mechanics on the Möbius strip, Klein’s bottle and other manifolds, and Talbot effect

Abstract

We analyse the evolution of the wavefunction of a quantum particle propagating on several compact manifolds, including the Klein bottle, Möbius strip and projective plane. We find analytically the stationary states and the energy spectrum and show that the wavefunction exhibits perfect revivals. Using the orbifold structure of the discussed manifolds, we establish the relation of wave evolution on the manifolds to Fresnel diffraction and consequently to the Talbot effect. This connection provides a novel method of optical simulation of the quantum motion on compact manifolds. We discuss some novel phenomena as well as the effects of topology on the properties of the waves on the manifolds.