Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review A

Classical dynamics of three-body systems in the Efimov potential

V. Dmitrašinović

Published May 4, 2020• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We investigate the classical nonrelativistic dynamics of three bodies in Efimov's $\ensuremath{-}1/{R}^{2}$ potential in three spatial dimensions, with a view towards semiclassical quantization and insight into the geometry of Efimov states. Without the short-distance cutoff, these dynamics are superintegrable, which allows an exact integration of the equations of motion for arbitrary initial conditions. We show that periodic orbits necessarily lead to exactly vanishing binding energy of the bound states, in disagreement with Efimov's quantum-mechanical results. A scaling anomaly demands that the quantum dynamics of three bodies in this potential be augmented by additional boundary conditions affecting all three particles at the short-distance cutoff point, i.e., near the triple collision. We discuss the inherent difficulties in the definition of appropriate three-body boundary conditions in three spatial dimensions and briefly discuss their consequences for (quasi)periodic orbits. Consequently, the classical orbits corresponding to Efimov states cannot be exactly periodic, but must have a finite timescale (lifetime), associated with the time it takes the system's hyperradius to fall to zero, or to the cutoff value, which is typically much longer than the (quasi)period of the hyperangular motion. The scaling properties of the lifetime are in agreement with the quantum-mechanical predictions of the half-life (width) of Efimov states surrounded by an ultracold gas. Detailed spatiotemporal evolution of the system is generally unpredictable beyond the three-body collision point, even though global conservation laws ensure that the system's hyperradius must be periodic.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.101.053605

Related papers

Non-Hermitian Efimov physics in dissipative three-body systems

Mingyuan Sun, Chang Liu, Zhe-Yu Shi

Efimov effect is characterized by an infinite number of three-body bound states following a universal geometric scaling law at two-body resonances. In this paper, we investigate the influence of two-body losses which can be described by a complex scattering length ${a}_{c}$ on these states. Interestingly, the non-Hermiticity allows the system to have three-body bound states of energies with nonvanishing imaginary parts and real parts that may exceed the three-body or the atom-dimer scattering threshold. By taking the $^{133}\mathrm{Cs}\text{\ensuremath{-}}^{133}\mathrm{Cs}\text{\ensuremath{-}}^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ system as a concrete example, we calculate the trimer energies by solving the generalized Skorniakov--Ter-Martirosian equation and find such three-body bound states with energies that have positive real parts and obey a generalized geometric scaling law. Remarkably, we also find that in some regions these three-body bound states have longer lifetimes compared with the corresponding two-body bound states. In the absence of other loss mechanisms such as three-atom loss, the lifetimes for these trimer states can tend to infinity. Our work paves the way for the future exploration of few-body bound states in the complex plane.

arXiv:2109.11206•Physical Review Research•Oct 4, 2023•6 citations

Semiclassical analysis of the Efimov energy spectrum in the unitary limit

Rajat K. Bhaduri, M. Brack, M. V. N. Murthy

We demonstrate that the ($s$-wave) geometric spectrum of the Efimov energy levels in the unitary limit is generated by the radial motion of a primitive periodic orbit (and its harmonics) of the corresponding classical system. The action of the primitive orbit depends logarithmically on the energy. It is shown to be consistent with an inverse-squared radial potential with a lower cutoff radius. The lowest-order WKB quantization, including the Langer correction, is shown to reproduce the geometric scaling of the energy spectrum. The (WKB) mean-squared radii of the Efimov states scale geometrically like the inverse of their energies. The WKB wave functions, regularized near the classical turning point by Langer's generalized connection formula, are practically indistinguishable from the exact wave functions even for the lowest ($n=0$) state, apart from a tiny shift of its zeros that remains constant for large $n$.

arXiv:1103.1737•Physical Review A•Jun 13, 2011•2 citations

Three-body continuum states and Efimov physics in noninteger geometry

Eric Garrido, E.R. Christensen, A. S. Jensen

Continuum structures of three short-range interacting particles in a deformed external one-body field are investigated. We use the equivalent $d$ method employing noninteger dimension, $d$, in a spherical calculation with a dimension-dependent angular momentum barrier. We focus on dimensions close to the critical dimension, $d={d}_{E}$, between 2 and 3, defined by zero two-body energies, where the Efimov effect can occur. We design for this dimension region a schematic, long-distance realistic, square-well based, three-body spherical model, which is used to derive analytic expressions for the wave functions, scattering lengths, phase shifts, and elastic-scattering cross sections. The procedure and the results are universal, valid for all short-range potentials, and for large scattering lengths. We discuss the properties and validity of the derived expressions by means of the simplest system of three identical bosons. The derived expressions are particularly useful for very small energies, where full numerical calculations are often not feasible. For energies where the numerical calculations can be performed, a good agreement with the analytic results is found. These model results may be tested by scattering experiments for three particles in an equivalent external deformed oscillator potential. The cross sections all vanish in the zero-energy limit for $d<3$ with definite $d$-dependent power of energy.

arXiv:2206.13106•Physical Review A•Jul 8, 2022•6 citations

Analytical solution of the Schrödinger equation with $1/r^3$ and attractive $1/r^2$ potentials: Universal three-body parameter of mixed-dimensional Efimov states

Yuki Ohishi, Kazuki Oi, Shimpei Endo

We study the Schrödinger equation with $1/r^3$ and attractive $1/r^2$ potentials. Using the quantum defect theory, we obtain analytical solutions for both repulsive and attractive $1/r^3$ interactions. The obtained discrete-scale-invariant energies and wave functions, validated by excellent agreement with numerical results, provide a natural framework for describing the universality of Efimov states in mixed dimension. Specifically, we consider a three-body system consisting of two heavy particles with large dipole moments confined to a quasi-one-dimensional geometry and resonantly interacting with an unconfined light particle. With the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, this system is effectively reduced to the Schrödinger equation with $1/r^3$ and $1/r^2$ potentials, and manifests the Efimov effect. Our analytical solution suggests that, for repulsive dipole interactions, the three-body parameter of the mixed-dimensional Efimov states is universally set by the dipolar length scale, whereas for attractive interactions it explicitly depends on the short-range phase. We also investigate the effects of finite transverse confinement and find that our analytical results are useful for describing the Efimov states composed of two polar molecules and a light atom.

cond-mat.quant-gasCross-listedarXiv:2601.19517•Physical Review Research•Jan 28, 2026•1 citation

The short-range three-body phase and other issues impacting the observation of Efimov physics in ultracold quantum gases

José Paulo D'Incao, Chris H. Greene, Brett D. Esry

We discuss several issues important for experimentally observing Efimov physics in ultracold quantum gases. By numerically solving the three-boson Schrödinger equation over a broad range of scattering lengths and energies, and by including model potentials with multiple bound states, we address the complications of relating experimental observations to available analytic expressions. These more realistic potentials introduce features that can mask the predicted Efimov physics at small scattering lengths. They also allow us to verify that positive and negative scattering lengths are universally connected only across a pole, not across a zero. Additionally, we show that the spacing between Efimov features for the relatively small scattering lengths accessible experimentally fails to precisely follow the geometric progression expected for Efimov physics. Finally, we emphasize the importance of the short-range three-body physics in determining the position of Efimov features and show that theoretically reproducing two-body physics is not generally sufficient to predict three-body properties quantitatively.

arXiv:cond-mat/0703269•Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Feb 3, 2009•76 citations

Quantum Mechanical Three-Body Problem with Short-Range Interactions

Richard Mohr

We have investigated S-wave bound states composed of three identical bosons interacting via regulated delta function potentials in non-relativistic quantum mechanics. For low-energy systems, these short-range potentials serve as an approximation to the underlying physics, leading to an effective field theory. A method for perturbatively expanding the three-body bound-state equation in inverse powers of the cutoff is developed. This allows us to extract some analytical results concerning the behavior of the system. Further results are obtained by solving the leading order equations numerically to 11 or 12 digits of accuracy. The limit-cycle behavior of the required three-body contact interaction is computed, and the cutoff-independence of bound-state energies is shown. By studying the relationship between the two- and three-body binding energies, we obtain a high accuracy numerical calculation of Efimov's universal function. Equations for the first order corrections, necessary for the study of cutoff dependence, are derived. However, a numerical solution of these equations is not attempted.

arXiv:nucl-th/0306086•Jun 29, 2003•4 citations
We investigate the classical nonrelativistic dynamics of three bodies in Efimov's \ensuremath−1/R2\ensuremath{-}1/{R}^{2}\ensuremath−1/R2 potential in three spatial dimensions, with a view towards semiclassical quantization and insight into the geometry of Efimov states. Without the short-distance cutoff, these dynamics are superintegrable, which allows an exact integration of the equations of motion for arbitrary initial conditions. We show that periodic orbits necessarily lead to exactly vanishing binding energy of the bound states, in disagreement with Efimov's quantum-mechanical results. A scaling anomaly demands that the quantum dynamics of three bodies in this potential be augmented by additional boundary conditions affecting all three particles at the short-distance cutoff point, i.e., near the triple collision. We discuss the inherent difficulties in the definition of appropriate three-body boundary conditions in three spatial dimensions and briefly discuss their consequences for (quasi)periodic orbits. Consequently, the classical orbits corresponding to Efimov states cannot be exactly periodic, but must have a finite timescale (lifetime), associated with the time it takes the system's hyperradius to fall to zero, or to the cutoff value, which is typically much longer than the (quasi)period of the hyperangular motion. The scaling properties of the lifetime are in agreement with the quantum-mechanical predictions of the half-life (width) of Efimov states surrounded by an ultracold gas. Detailed spatiotemporal evolution of the system is generally unpredictable beyond the three-body collision point, even though global conservation laws ensure that the system's hyperradius must be periodic.
Efimov effect is characterized by an infinite number of three-body bound states following a universal geometric scaling law at two-body resonances. In this paper, we investigate the influence of two-body losses which can be described by a complex scattering length ac{a}_{c}ac​ on these states. Interestingly, the non-Hermiticity allows the system to have three-body bound states of energies with nonvanishing imaginary parts and real parts that may exceed the three-body or the atom-dimer scattering threshold. By taking the $^{133}\mathrm{Cs}\text{\ensuremath{-}}^{133}\mathrm{Cs}\text{\ensuremath{-}}^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ system as a concrete example, we calculate the trimer energies by solving the generalized Skorniakov--Ter-Martirosian equation and find such three-body bound states with energies that have positive real parts and obey a generalized geometric scaling law. Remarkably, we also find that in some regions these three-body bound states have longer lifetimes compared with the corresponding two-body bound states. In the absence of other loss mechanisms such as three-atom loss, the lifetimes for these trimer states can tend to infinity. Our work paves the way for the future exploration of few-body bound states in the complex plane.
We demonstrate that the (sss-wave) geometric spectrum of the Efimov energy levels in the unitary limit is generated by the radial motion of a primitive periodic orbit (and its harmonics) of the corresponding classical system. The action of the primitive orbit depends logarithmically on the energy. It is shown to be consistent with an inverse-squared radial potential with a lower cutoff radius. The lowest-order WKB quantization, including the Langer correction, is shown to reproduce the geometric scaling of the energy spectrum. The (WKB) mean-squared radii of the Efimov states scale geometrically like the inverse of their energies. The WKB wave functions, regularized near the classical turning point by Langer's generalized connection formula, are practically indistinguishable from the exact wave functions even for the lowest (n=0n=0n=0) state, apart from a tiny shift of its zeros that remains constant for large nnn.
Continuum structures of three short-range interacting particles in a deformed external one-body field are investigated. We use the equivalent ddd method employing noninteger dimension, ddd, in a spherical calculation with a dimension-dependent angular momentum barrier. We focus on dimensions close to the critical dimension, d=dEd={d}_{E}d=dE​, between 2 and 3, defined by zero two-body energies, where the Efimov effect can occur. We design for this dimension region a schematic, long-distance realistic, square-well based, three-body spherical model, which is used to derive analytic expressions for the wave functions, scattering lengths, phase shifts, and elastic-scattering cross sections. The procedure and the results are universal, valid for all short-range potentials, and for large scattering lengths. We discuss the properties and validity of the derived expressions by means of the simplest system of three identical bosons. The derived expressions are particularly useful for very small energies, where full numerical calculations are often not feasible. For energies where the numerical calculations can be performed, a good agreement with the analytic results is found. These model results may be tested by scattering experiments for three particles in an equivalent external deformed oscillator potential. The cross sections all vanish in the zero-energy limit for d<3d<3d<3 with definite ddd-dependent power of energy.
Analytical solution of the Schrödinger equation with 1/r31/r^31/r3 and attractive 1/r21/r^21/r2 potentials: Universal three-body parameter of mixed-dimensional Efimov states
We study the Schrödinger equation with 1/r31/r^31/r3 and attractive 1/r21/r^21/r2 potentials. Using the quantum defect theory, we obtain analytical solutions for both repulsive and attractive 1/r31/r^31/r3 interactions. The obtained discrete-scale-invariant energies and wave functions, validated by excellent agreement with numerical results, provide a natural framework for describing the universality of Efimov states in mixed dimension. Specifically, we consider a three-body system consisting of two heavy particles with large dipole moments confined to a quasi-one-dimensional geometry and resonantly interacting with an unconfined light particle. With the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, this system is effectively reduced to the Schrödinger equation with 1/r31/r^31/r3 and 1/r21/r^21/r2 potentials, and manifests the Efimov effect. Our analytical solution suggests that, for repulsive dipole interactions, the three-body parameter of the mixed-dimensional Efimov states is universally set by the dipolar length scale, whereas for attractive interactions it explicitly depends on the short-range phase. We also investigate the effects of finite transverse confinement and find that our analytical results are useful for describing the Efimov states composed of two polar molecules and a light atom.
We discuss several issues important for experimentally observing Efimov physics in ultracold quantum gases. By numerically solving the three-boson Schrödinger equation over a broad range of scattering lengths and energies, and by including model potentials with multiple bound states, we address the complications of relating experimental observations to available analytic expressions. These more realistic potentials introduce features that can mask the predicted Efimov physics at small scattering lengths. They also allow us to verify that positive and negative scattering lengths are universally connected only across a pole, not across a zero. Additionally, we show that the spacing between Efimov features for the relatively small scattering lengths accessible experimentally fails to precisely follow the geometric progression expected for Efimov physics. Finally, we emphasize the importance of the short-range three-body physics in determining the position of Efimov features and show that theoretically reproducing two-body physics is not generally sufficient to predict three-body properties quantitatively.
We have investigated S-wave bound states composed of three identical bosons interacting via regulated delta function potentials in non-relativistic quantum mechanics. For low-energy systems, these short-range potentials serve as an approximation to the underlying physics, leading to an effective field theory. A method for perturbatively expanding the three-body bound-state equation in inverse powers of the cutoff is developed. This allows us to extract some analytical results concerning the behavior of the system. Further results are obtained by solving the leading order equations numerically to 11 or 12 digits of accuracy. The limit-cycle behavior of the required three-body contact interaction is computed, and the cutoff-independence of bound-state energies is shown. By studying the relationship between the two- and three-body binding energies, we obtain a high accuracy numerical calculation of Efimov's universal function. Equations for the first order corrections, necessary for the study of cutoff dependence, are derived. However, a numerical solution of these equations is not attempted.