Coherent State Path Integral for Bloch Particle

Abstract

We construct a coherent state path integral formalism for the one-dimensional Bloch particle within the single band model. The transition amplitude between two coherent states is a sum of transition amplitudes with different winding numbers on the two-dimensional phase space which has the same topology as that of the cylinder. Appearance of the winding number is due to the periodicity of the quasi-momentum of the Bloch particle. Our formalism is successfully applied to a semiclassical motion of the Bloch particle under a uniform electric field. The wave packet exhibits not only the Bloch oscillation but also a similar breathing to the one for the squeezed state of a harmonic oscillator.