Which Nuclear Shape Generates the Strongest Attraction on a Relativistic Electron? An Open Problem in Relativistic Quantum Mechanics

Maria J. Esteban, Mathieu Lewin, Éric Séré

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

In this article we formulate several conjectures concerning the lowest eigenvalue of a Dirac operator with an external electrostatic potential. The latter describes a relativistic quantum electron moving in the field of some (pointwise or extended) nuclei. The main question we ask is whether the eigenvalue is minimal when the nuclear charge is concentrated at one single point. This well-known property in non-relativistic quantum mechanics has escaped all attempts of proof in the relativistic case.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationLecture Notes in Mathematics
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages487-497
Number of pages11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2023
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Mathematics
Volume2313
ISSN (Print)0075-8434
ISSN (Electronic)1617-9692

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