A discrete density matrix theory for atoms in strong magnetic fields

We consider asymptotics of the ground state energy of heavy atoms and molecules in the strong external magnetic field and derive it including Schwinger and Dirac corrections (if magnetic field is not too strong). We also consider related topics: an excessive negative charge, ionization energy and excessive positive charge when atoms can still bind into molecules.

The purpose of this paper is to derive sharp asymptotics of the ground state energy for the heavy atoms and molecules in the relativistic settings, with the self-generated magnetic field, and, in particular, to derive relativistic Scott correction term and also Dirac, Schwinger and relativistic correction terms. Also we will prove that Thomas-Fermi density approximates the actual density of the ground state, which opens the way to estimate the excessive negative and positive ...

The high-density electron gas in a strong magnetic field B and at zero temperature is investigated. The quantum strong-field limit is considered in which only the lowest Landau level is occupied. It is shown that the perturbation series of the ground-state energy can be represented in analogy to the Gell-Mann Brueckner expression of the ground-state energy of the field-free electron gas. The role of the expansion parameter is taken by $r_B= (2/3 \pi^2) (B/m^2) (\hbar r_S/e)^3...

The properties of matter are significantly modified by strong magnetic fields, $B>>2.35\times 10^9$ Gauss ($1 G =10^{-4} Tesla$), as are typically found on the surfaces of neutron stars. In such strong magnetic fields, the Coulomb force on an electron acts as a small perturbation compared to the magnetic force. The strong field condition can also be mimicked in laboratory semiconductors. Because of the strong magnetic confinement of electrons perpendicular to the field, atoms...

We study the structure of 2D electronic states in a strong magnetic field in the presence of a large number of resonant scatterers. For an electron in the lowest Landau level, we derive the exact density of states by mapping the problem onto a zero-dimensional field-theoretical model. We demonstrate that the interplay between resonant and non-resonant scattering leads to a non-analytic energy dependence of the electron Green function. In particular, for strong resonant scatte...

The quantum mechanical ground state of a 2D $N$-electron system in a confining potential $V(x)=Kv(x)$ ($K$ is a coupling constant) and a homogeneous magnetic field $B$ is studied in the high density limit $N\to\infty$, $K\to \infty$ with $K/N$ fixed. It is proved that the ground state energy and electronic density can be computed {\it exactly} in this limit by minimizing simple functionals of the density. There are three such functionals depending on the way $B/N$ varies as $...

This paper is divided into two parts. In the first one the von Weizs\"acker term is introduced to the Magnetic TF theory and the resulting MTFW functional is mathematically analyzed. In particular, it is shown that the von Weizs\"acker term produces the Scott correction up to magnetic fields of order $B \ll Z^2$, in accordance with a result of V. Ivrii on the quantum mechanical ground state energy. The second part is dedicated to gradient corrections for semiclassical theorie...

We demonstrate that the finiteness of the limiting values of the lower energy levels of a hydrogen atom under an unrestricted growth of the magnetic field, into which this atom is embedded, is achieved already when the vacuum polarization (VP) is calculated in the magnetic field within the approximation of the local action of Euler--Heisenberg. We find that the mechanism for this saturation is different from the one acting, when VP is calculated via the Feynman diagram in the...

The problem of diamagnetism, solved by Landau, continues to pose fascinating issues which have relevance even today. These issues relate to inherent quantum nature of the problem, the role of boundary and dissipation, the meaning of thermodynamic limits, and above all, the quantum-classical crossover occasioned by environment-induced decoherence. The Landau Diamagnetism provides a unique paradigm for discussing these issues, the significance of which are far-reaching. Our cen...

This paper investigates origin of the extra stability associated with particular values (magic numbers) of the total angular momentum of electrons in a quantum dot under strong magnetic field. The ground-state energy, distribution functions of density and angular momentum, and pair correlation function are calculated in the strong field limit by numerical diagonalization of the system containing up to seven electrons. It is shown that the composite fermion picture explains th...