Potentiaalierot

Potentiaalierot is a neologism used in theoretical discussions to denote a rotating potential field or a system in which the potential landscape changes orientation with time. The term is not widely adopted in established scientific literature and is primarily found in pedagogical or exploratory contexts.

In a planar or three-dimensional system, a rotating potential can be described by a time-dependent function V(x, t) whose spatial pattern rotates with angular velocity ω. For example, in polar coordinates a common form is V(r, φ, t) = V0(r) + V1(r) cos[m(φ − ωt)], where m is an integer representing the pattern’s symmetry. The key feature is that the forces experienced by particles derive from a potential that, while locally well defined, changes orientation as time progresses.

Origins and usage: The concept arises in discussions of non-autonomous dynamical systems, Floquet theory, and driven or time-dependent Hamiltonians. It is closely related to the idea of transforming to a rotating frame, where the explicit time dependence can be simplified or recast as additional terms in the effective equations of motion.

Applications and interpretation: Potentiaalierot is used as a pedagogical tool to illustrate how time-dependent potentials affect motion, energy exchange, and transport. It helps compare dynamics in rotating frames with stationary frames and to explore phenomena such as resonance, adiabatic following, or geometric phases in driven systems.

Limitations: Because potentiaalierot is not a standard term, precise definitions and applicable models vary across discussions. Real-world implementations typically require approximations and may introduce dissipation or additional couplings that complicate the idealized rotating-potential picture.

See also: Potential theory, rotating frame, Floquet theory, time-dependent Hamiltonian, adiabatic invariant.