On the evaluation of the norm of an integral operator associated with the stability of one-electron atoms

We consider a relativistic no-pair model of a hydrogenic atom in a classical, exterior magnetic field. First, we prove that the corresponding Hamiltonian is semi-bounded below, for all coupling constants less than or equal to the critical one known for the Brown-Ravenhall model, i.e., for vanishing magnetic fields. We give conditions ensuring that its essential spectrum equals [1,\infty) and that there exist infinitely many eigenvalues below 1. (The rest energy of the electro...

In the Dirac operator framework we characterize and estimate the ground state energy of relativistic hydrogenic atoms in a constant magnetic field and describe the asymptotic regime corresponding to a large field strength using relativistic Landau levels. We also define and estimate a critical magnetic field beyond which stability is lost.

In the present paper we study two challenging problems for helium-type systems. Existence of eigenvalues at thresholds and the asymptotic behavior of the corresponding eigenfunctions. Since the usual methods for addressing these problems need a safety distance to the essential spectrum, they cannot be applied in critical cases, when an eigenvalue enters the continuum. We develop a method to address both problems and derive sharp upper and lower bounds for the asymptotic behav...

It is well known that $N$-electron atoms undergoes unbinding for a critical charge of the nucleus $Z_c$, i.e. the atom has eigenstates for the case $Z> Z_c$ and it has no bound states for $Z<Z_c$. In the present paper we derive upper bound for the bound state for the case $Z=Z_c$ under the assumption $Z_c<N-K$ where $K$ is the number of electrons to be removed for atom to be stable for $Z=Z_c$ without any change in the ground state energy. We show that the eigenvector decays ...

We describe atoms by a pseudo-relativistic model that has its origin in the work of Chandrasekhar. We prove that the leading energy correction for heavy atoms, the Scott correction, exists. It turns out to be lower than in the non-relativistic description of atoms. Our proof is valid up to and including the critical coupling constant. It is based on a renormalization of the energy whose zero level we adjust to be the ground-state energy of the corresponding non-relativistic p...

We present analytic formulae that simplify the evaluation of the normalization of continuous spectrum stationary states in the one-dimensional Schr\"odinger equation.

We consider the zero mass limit of a relativistic Thomas-Fermi-Weizsaecker model of atoms and molecules. We find bounds for the critical nuclear charges that ensure stability.

It is shown that the ground state energy of heavy atoms is, to leading order, given by the non-relativistic Thomas-Fermi energy. The proof is based on the relativistic Hamiltonian of Brown and Ravenhall which is derived from quantum electrodynamics yielding energy levels correctly up to order $\alpha^2$Ry.

We examine the binding conditions for atoms in non-relativistic QED, and prove that removing one electron from an atom requires a positive energy. As an application, we establish the existence of a ground state for the Helium atom.

A survey of the stability of matter problem is given, starting with the stability of the hydrogen atom. The stablity of bulk matter with Coulomb potentials, with or without relativistic mechanics, and with or without magnetic fields is discussed. The final section discusses the stability of matter in a relativistic model with the Dirac operator as kinetic energy (but restricted to the positive subspace) and with the quantized electromagnetic field in the Coulomb gauge.