We consider the effective Hamiltonian of an open quantum system, its biorthogonal eigenfunctions $\phi_\lambda$ and define the value $r_\lambda = (\phi_\lambda|\phi_\lambda)/<\phi_\lambda|\phi_\lambda>$ that characterizes the phase rigidity of the eigenfunctions $\phi_\lambda$. In the scenario with avoided level crossings, $r_\lambda$ varies between 1 and 0 due to the mutual influence of neighboring resonances. The variation of $r_\lambda$ may be considered as an internal property of an { \it open} quantum system. In the literature, the phase rigidity $\rho$ of the scattering wave function $\Psi^E_C$ is considered. Since $\Psi^E_C$ can be represented in the interior of the system by the $\phi_\lambda$, the phase rigidity $\rho$ of the $\Psi^E_C$ is related to the $r_\lambda$ and therefore also to the mutual influence of neighboring resonances. As a consequence, the reduction of the phase rigidity $\rho$ to values smaller than 1 should be considered, at least partly, as an internal property of an open quantum system in the overlapping regime. The relation to measurable values such as the transmission through a quantum dot, follows from the fact that the transmission is, in any case, resonant with respect to the effective Hamiltonian. We illustrate the relation between phase rigidity $\rho$ and transmission numerically for small open cavities.
Categories: quant-ph