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Journal of Mathematical Physics

Solution of the One-Dimensional N-Body Problems with Quadratic and/or Inversely Quadratic Pair Potentials

Francesco Calogero

Published Mar 1, 1971• 1,383 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The quantum-mechanical problems of N 1-dimensional equal particles of mass m interacting pairwise via quadratic (``harmonical'') and/or inversely quadratic (``centrifugal'') potentials is solved. In the first case, characterized by the pair potential ¼mω2(xi − xj)2 + g(xi − xj)−2, g > −ℏ2/(4m), the complete energy spectrum (in the center-of-mass frame) is given by the formula E=ℏω(12N)12[12(N−1)+12N(N−1)(a+12)+ ∑ l=2Nlnl],with a = ½(1 + 4mgℏ−2)½. The N − 1 quantum numbers nl are nonnegative integers; each set {nl; l = 2, 3, ⋯, N} characterizes uniquely one eigenstate. This energy spectrum can also be written in the form Es = ℏω(½N)½ [½(N − 1) + ½N(N − 1)(a + ½) + s], s = 0, 2, 3, 4, ⋯, the multiplicity of the sth level being then given by the number of different sets of N − 1 nonnegative integers nl that are consistent with the condition s=∑l=2Nlnl. These equations are valid independently of the statistics that the particles satisfy, if g ≠ 0; for g = 0, the equations remain valid with a = ½ for Fermi statistics, a = −½ for Bose statistics. The eigenfunctions corresponding to these energy levels are not obtained explicitly, but they are rather fully characterized. A more general model is similarly solved, in which the N particles are divided in families, with the same quadratic interaction acting between all pairs, but with the inversely quadratic interaction acting only between particles belonging to the same family, with a strength that may be different for different families. The second model, characterized by the pair potential g(xi − xj)−2, g > −ℏ2/(4m), contains only scattering states. It is proved that an initial scattering configuration, characterized (in the phase space sector defined by the inequalities xi ≥ xi.1, i = 1, 2, ⋯, N = 1, to which attention may be restricted without loss of generality) by (initial) momenta pi, i = 1, 2, ⋯, N, goes over into a final configuration characterized uniquely by the (final) momenta pi′, with pi′=pN+1−i. This remarkably simple outcome is a peculiarity of the case with equal particles (i.e., equal masses and equal strengths of all pair potentials).

DOI
10.1063/1.1665604

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The quantum-mechanical problems of N 1-dimensional equal particles of mass m interacting pairwise via quadratic (harmonical'') and/or inversely quadratic (centrifugal'') potentials is solved. In the first case, characterized by the pair potential ¼mω2(xi − xj)2 + g(xi − xj)−2, g > −ℏ2/(4m), the complete energy spectrum (in the center-of-mass frame) is given by the formula E=ℏω(12N)12[12(N−1)+12N(N−1)(a+12)+ ∑ l=2Nlnl],with a = ½(1 + 4mgℏ−2)½. The N − 1 quantum numbers nl are nonnegative integers; each set {nl; l = 2, 3, ⋯, N} characterizes uniquely one eigenstate. This energy spectrum can also be written in the form Es = ℏω(½N)½ [½(N − 1) + ½N(N − 1)(a + ½) + s], s = 0, 2, 3, 4, ⋯, the multiplicity of the sth level being then given by the number of different sets of N − 1 nonnegative integers nl that are consistent with the condition s=∑l=2Nlnl. These equations are valid independently of the statistics that the particles satisfy, if g ≠ 0; for g = 0, the equations remain valid with a = ½ for Fermi statistics, a = −½ for Bose statistics. The eigenfunctions corresponding to these energy levels are not obtained explicitly, but they are rather fully characterized. A more general model is similarly solved, in which the N particles are divided in families, with the same quadratic interaction acting between all pairs, but with the inversely quadratic interaction acting only between particles belonging to the same family, with a strength that may be different for different families. The second model, characterized by the pair potential g(xi − xj)−2, g > −ℏ2/(4m), contains only scattering states. It is proved that an initial scattering configuration, characterized (in the phase space sector defined by the inequalities xi ≥ xi.1, i = 1, 2, ⋯, N = 1, to which attention may be restricted without loss of generality) by (initial) momenta pi, i = 1, 2, ⋯, N, goes over into a final configuration characterized uniquely by the (final) momenta pi′, with pi′=pN+1−i. This remarkably simple outcome is a peculiarity of the case with equal particles (i.e., equal masses and equal strengths of all pair potentials).
Complete energy spectrum is obtained for the quantum mechanical problem of N one dimensional equal mass particles interacting via potential V(x1,x2,...,xN)=g∑i<jN1(xi−xj)2−α∑i<j(xi−xj)2V(x_1,x_2,...,x_N) = g\sum^N_{i < j}{1\over (x_i-x_j)^2} - {α\over \sqrt{\sum_{i < j} (x_i-x_j)^2}}V(x1​,x2​,...,xN​)=g∑i<jN​(xi​−xj​)21​−∑i<j​(xi​−xj​)2​α​ Further, it is shown that scattering configuration, characterized by initial momenta pi(i=1,2,...,N)p_i (i=1,2,...,N)pi​(i=1,2,...,N) goes over into a final configuration characterized uniquely by the final momenta pi′p'_ipi′​ with pi′=pN+1−ip'_i=p_{N+1-i}pi′​=pN+1−i​.
A many-boson model is formulated and expressions for its exact eigenstates and energies are obtained for both an arbitrary finite and an infinite number of bosons. The Hamiltonian of the model contains interactions between bosons whose momenta have equal magnitudes but opposite directions. The matrix elements of this interaction are taken to be a constant over a range of momenta surrounding k = 0. The ground state of the 2N-particle system is shown to be a product of N pair-creation operators acting on the vacuum state. Each of these pair-creation operators depends upon one of N parameters which are called pair energies. The N pair energies are shown to satisfy a coupled system of nonlinear algebraic equations. The energy of the state is the sum of the pair energies and the occupation probabilities of the single-particle levels are given as simple functions of the pair energies. Similar results are derived for the excited states of the system and for the states of an odd number of particles. These results are valid for both a repulsive and an attractive interaction, since they only depend upon the form of the interaction. The equations are solved algebraically for two model systems. The first of these is one whose single-particle kinetic energy takes on only one value. The equations for this system are solved for an arbitrary interaction strength and it is shown that the pair energies are proportional to the zeros of certain Laguerre polynomials. The second system is one in which the single-particle kinetic energy can take on two values. The equations for this system are solved in the strong repulsive-interaction limit and it is shown that the pair energies are proportional to the zeros of certain Jacobi polynomials. The excitation energies of this second system are shown to be proportional to 1/n and the occupations of the two single-particle levels in the ground state are shown to be proportional to n, where n is the total number of particles. For a repulsive interaction and an arbitrary single-particle spectrum, the algebraic equations for the pair energies are converted into an approximate integral equation for the density of roots which is accurate to order 1/n. This integral equation is solved for a strong interaction which, in the context of this model, means an interaction whose strength is greater than a constant times 1/V⅔ in the limit of a large volume. From this solution, the following results are obtained: (1) the lowest two single-particle levels have occupations of order n; (2) the excitation spectrum is that of a set of noninteracting quasiparticles; and (3) the quasiparticle spectrum has two zeros corresponding to the lowest two single-particle levels. Apart from the presence of two zeros, the quasiparticle spectrum does not differ significantly from that of the noninteracting particles.
The wave functions of boson and fermion gases are known even when the particles have harmonic interactions. Here we generalize these results by solving exactly the N–body Schrödinger equation for potentials V that can be any function of the sum of the squares of the distances of the particles from one another in three dimensions. For the harmonic case that function is linear in r2. Explicit N–body solutions are given when U(r) = –2Mh–2V(r) = 𝛇r–1 – 𝛇2r–2. Here M is the sum of the masses and r2 = 1/2 M–2ΣmImJ(xI – xJ)2. For general U(r) the solution is given in terms of the one– or two–body problem with potential U(r) in three dimensions. The degeneracies of the levels are derived for distinguishable particles, for bosons of spin zero and for spin 1/2 fermions. The latter involve significant combinatorial analysis which may have application to the shell model of atomic nuclei. For large N the fermionic ground state gives the binding energy of a degenerate white dwarf star treated as a giant atom with an N–body wave function. The N–body forces involved in these extraordinary N–body problems are not the usual sums of two–body interactions, but nor are forces between quarks or molecules. Bose–Einstein condensation of particles in three dimensions interacting via these strange potentials can be treated by this method.