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Full-Text Articles in Physics

Perspectives On Determinism In Quantum Mechanics: Born, Bohm, And The “Quantal Newtonian” Laws, Viraht Sahni Dec 2022

Perspectives On Determinism In Quantum Mechanics: Born, Bohm, And The “Quantal Newtonian” Laws, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

Quantum mechanics has a deterministic Schrödinger equation for the wave function. The Göttingen–Copenhagen statistical interpretation is based on the Born Rule that interprets the wave function as a “probability amplitude.” A precept of this interpretation is the lack of determinism in quantum mechanics. The Bohm interpretation is that the wave function is a source of a field experienced by the electrons, thereby attributing determinism to quantum theory. In this paper, we present a new perspective on such determinism. The ideas are based on the equations of motion or “Quantal Newtonian” Laws obeyed by each electron. These Laws, derived from …


The 'Quantal Newtonian' First Law: A Complementary Perspective To The Stationary-State Quantum Theory Of Electrons, Viraht Sahni Aug 2022

The 'Quantal Newtonian' First Law: A Complementary Perspective To The Stationary-State Quantum Theory Of Electrons, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

A complementary perspective to the Göttingen-Copenhagen interpretation of stationary-state quantum theory of electrons in an electromagnetic field is described. The perspective, derived from Schrödinger-Pauli theory, is that of the individual electron via its equation of motion or ‘Quantal Newtonian’ First Law. The Law is in terms of ‘classical’ fields experienced by each electron: the sum of the external and internal fields vanishes. The external field is a sum of the electrostatic and Lorentz fields. The internal field is a sum of fields’ representative of Pauli and Coulomb correlations; kinetic effects; electron density; and internal magnetic component. The energy is obtained …


Correlations Between The Rotations And Magnetospheres Of The Terrestrial Planets And The Sun's Formation In Our Solar System, Fred J. Cadieu May 2022

Correlations Between The Rotations And Magnetospheres Of The Terrestrial Planets And The Sun's Formation In Our Solar System, Fred J. Cadieu

Publications and Research

Correlations between the rotations of the terrestrial planets in our solar system and the magnetic field of the Sun have been previously noted. These correlations account for the opposite rotation of Venus as a result of the magnetic field of the Sun being dragged across the conducting core of Venus. Currently the Sun’s magnetic field is not sufficiently strong to account for the proposed correlations. But recently meteorite paleomagnetism measurements have indicated that during the Sun’s formation the magnetic field of the Sun was of sufficient strength to have resulted in the observed correlations. As a part of these correlations …


Perspectives On Determinism In Quantum Mechanics: Born, Bohm, And The 'Quantal Newtonian' Laws, Viraht Sahni Jan 2022

Perspectives On Determinism In Quantum Mechanics: Born, Bohm, And The 'Quantal Newtonian' Laws, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

Quantum mechanics has a deterministic Schrödinger equation for the wave function. The Göttingen-Copenhagen statistical interpretation is based on the Born Rule that interprets the wave function as a ‘probability amplitude’. A precept of this interpretation is the lack of determinism in quantum mechanics. The Bohm interpretation is that the wave function is a source of a field experienced by the electrons, thereby attributing determinism to quantum theory. In this paper we present a new perspective on such determinism. The ideas are based on the equations of motion or ‘Quantal Newtonian’ Laws obeyed by each electron. These Laws, derived from the …


Wave Function Identity: A New Symmetry For 2-Electron Systems In An Electromagnetic Field, Marlina Slamet, Viraht Sahni Oct 2021

Wave Function Identity: A New Symmetry For 2-Electron Systems In An Electromagnetic Field, Marlina Slamet, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

Stationary-state Schrödinger-Pauli theory is a description of electrons with a spin moment in an external electromagnetic field. For 2-electron systems as described by the Schrödinger-Pauli theory Hamiltonian with a symmetrical binding potential, we report a new symmetry operation of the electronic coordinates. The symmetry operation is such that it leads to the equality of the transformed wave function to the wave function. This equality is referred to as the Wave Function Identity. The symmetry operation is a two-step process: an interchange of the spatial coordinates of the electrons whilst keeping their spin moments unchanged, followed by an inversion. The Identity …


Superfluid Swimmers, German Kolmakov, Igor S. Aranson Feb 2021

Superfluid Swimmers, German Kolmakov, Igor S. Aranson

Publications and Research

The propulsion of living microorganisms ultimately relies on viscous drag for body-fluid interactions. The self-locomotion in superfluids such as 4He is deemed impossible due to the apparent lack of viscous resistance. Here, we investigate the self-propulsion of a Janus (two-face) light-absorbing particle suspended in superfluid helium 4He (He-II). The particle is energized by the heat flux due to the absorption of light from an external source. We show that a quantum mechanical propulsion force originates due to the transformation of the superfluid to a normal fluid on the heated particle face. The theoretical analysis is supported by the …


Triplet 23S State Of A Quantum Dot In A Magnetic Field: A 'Quantal Newtonian' First Law Study, Marlina Slamet, Viraht Sahni Feb 2021

Triplet 23S State Of A Quantum Dot In A Magnetic Field: A 'Quantal Newtonian' First Law Study, Marlina Slamet, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

The triplet 23S state of a 2-electron 2-dimensional quantum dot in a magnetic field is studied via a complementary perspective of Schrödinger-Pauli theory. The perspective is that of the individual electron via its equation of motion or ‘Quantal Newtonian’ first law. According to the law, each electron experiences an external and internal field, the sum of which vanishes. The external field is the sum of the binding and Lorentz fields. The internal field is a sum of the electron-interaction, kinetic, differential density, and internal magnetic fields. The energy is expressed in integral virial form in terms of these …


Transmission Zeros With Topological Symmetry In Complex Systems, Yuhao Kang, Azriel Genack Jan 2021

Transmission Zeros With Topological Symmetry In Complex Systems, Yuhao Kang, Azriel Genack

Publications and Research

Understanding vanishing transmission in Fano resonances in quantum systems and metamaterials and perfect and ultralow transmission in disordered media, has advanced the understanding and applications of wave interactions. Here we use analytic theory and numerical simulations to understand and control the transmission and transmission time in complex systems by deforming a medium and by adjusting the level of gain or loss. Unlike the zeros of the scattering matrix, the position and motion of the zeros of the determinant of the transmission matrix in the complex plane of frequency and field decay rate have robust topological properties. In systems without loss …


Schrödinger-Pauli Theory Of Electrons: New Perspectives, Viraht Sahni Oct 2020

Schrödinger-Pauli Theory Of Electrons: New Perspectives, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

The Schrödinger-Pauli (SP) theory of electrons in an electromagnetic field explicitly accounts for the electron spin moment. The many-electron theory is complemented via a new descriptive perspective viz. that of the individual electron via its equation of motion or ‘Quantal Newtonian’ first law. The law is in terms of ‘classical’ fields whose sources are quantum mechanical expectation values of Hermitian operators taken with respect to the system wave function. The law states that each electron experiences an external and an internal field, the sum of which vanish. The external field is the sum of the binding electrostatic and a Lorentz …


Fabrication Of Magnetocaloric La(Fe,Si)13 Thick Films, N H. Dung, N B. Doan, P De Rango, L Ranno, Karl G. Sandeman, N M. Dempsey Jun 2020

Fabrication Of Magnetocaloric La(Fe,Si)13 Thick Films, N H. Dung, N B. Doan, P De Rango, L Ranno, Karl G. Sandeman, N M. Dempsey

Publications and Research

La(Fe,Si)13–based compounds are considered to be very promising magnetocaloric materials for magnetic refrigeration applications. Many studies have focused on this material family but only in bulk form. In this paper we report on the fabrication of thick films of La(Fe,Si)13, both with and without post-hydriding. These films exhibit magnetic and structural properties comparable to bulk materials. We also observe that the ferromagnetic phase transition has a negative thermal hysteresis, a phenomenon not previously found in this material but which may have its origins in the availability of a strain energy reservoir, as in the cases of …


New Perspectives On The Schrödinger-Pauli Theory Of Electrons: Part Ii: Application To The Triplet State Of A Quantum Dot In A Magnetic Field, Marlina Slamet, Viraht Sahni Jan 2019

New Perspectives On The Schrödinger-Pauli Theory Of Electrons: Part Ii: Application To The Triplet State Of A Quantum Dot In A Magnetic Field, Marlina Slamet, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

The Schrödinger-Pauli (SP) theory of electrons in the presence of a static electromagnetic field can be described from the perspective of the individual electron via its equation of motion or 'Quantal Newtonian' first law. The law is in terms of 'classical' fields whose sources are quantum-mechanical expectation values of Hermitian operators taken with respect to the wave function. The law states that the sum of the external and internal fields experienced by each electron vanishes. The external field is the sum of the binding electrostatic and Lorentz fields. The internal field is the sum of fields representative of properties of …


New Perspectives On The Schrödinger-Pauli Theory Of Electrons: Part I, Viraht Sahni Jan 2019

New Perspectives On The Schrödinger-Pauli Theory Of Electrons: Part I, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

Schrödinger-Pauli (SP) theory is a description of electrons in the presence of a static electromagnetic field in which the interaction of the magnetic field with both the orbital and spin moments is explicitly considered. The theory is described from the new perspective of the individual electron via its equation of motion or ‘Quantal Newtonian’ first law. The law is in terms of ‘classical’ fields whose sources are quantum mechanical expectation values of Hermitian operators taken with respect to the system wave function. The law states that each electron experiences an external and an internal field, the sum of which vanish. …


Study Of The Kinetic Energy Densities Of Electrons As Applied To Quantum Dots In A Magnetic Field, Marlina Slamet, Viraht Sahni Oct 2018

Study Of The Kinetic Energy Densities Of Electrons As Applied To Quantum Dots In A Magnetic Field, Marlina Slamet, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

There are three expressions for the kinetic energy density t(r) expressed in terms of its quantal source, the single‐particle density matrix: tA(r), the integrand of the kinetic energy expectation value; tB(r), the trace of the kinetic energy tensor; tC(r), a virial form in terms of the 'classical' kinetic field. These kinetic energy densities are studied by application to 'artificial atoms' or quantum dots in a magnetic field in a ground and excited singlet state. A comparison with the densities for natural atoms and molecules in their ground state is made. The near nucleus …


Kinetic Effects In 2d And 3d Quantum Dots: Comparison Between High And Low Electron Correlation Regimes, Marlina Slamet, Viraht Sahni Aug 2018

Kinetic Effects In 2d And 3d Quantum Dots: Comparison Between High And Low Electron Correlation Regimes, Marlina Slamet, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

Kinetic related ground state properties of a two-electron 2D quantum dot in a magnetic field and a 3D quantum dot (Hooke's atom) are compared in the Wigner high (HEC) and low (LEC) electron correlation regimes. The HEC regime corresponds to low densities sufficient for the creation of a Wigner molecule. The LEC regime densities are similar to those of natural atoms and molecules. The results are determined employing exact closed-form analytical solutions of the Schrödinger-Pauli and Schrödinger equations, respectively. The properties studied are the local and nonlocal quantal sources of the density and the single particle density matrix; the kinetic …


Dissipation Effects In Schrödinger And Quantal Density Functional Theories Of Electrons In An Electromagnetic Field, Xiao-Yin Pan, Viraht Sahni Mar 2018

Dissipation Effects In Schrödinger And Quantal Density Functional Theories Of Electrons In An Electromagnetic Field, Xiao-Yin Pan, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

Dissipative effects arise in an electronic system when it interacts with a time-dependent environment. Here, the Schrödinger theory of electrons in an electromagnetic field including dissipative effects is described from a new perspective. Dissipation is accounted for via the effective Hamiltonian approach in which the electron mass is time-dependent. The perspective is that of the individual electron: the corresponding equation of motion for the electron or time-dependent differential virial theorem—the ‘Quantal Newtonian’ second law—is derived. According to the law, each electron experiences an external field comprised of a binding electric field, the Lorentz field, and the electromagnetic field. In addition, …


Dynamic Self-Assembly And Self-Organized Transport Of Magnetic Micro-Swimmers, Gašper Kokot, German Kolmakov V, Igor S. Aranson, Alexey Snezhko Nov 2017

Dynamic Self-Assembly And Self-Organized Transport Of Magnetic Micro-Swimmers, Gašper Kokot, German Kolmakov V, Igor S. Aranson, Alexey Snezhko

Publications and Research

We demonstrate experimentally and in computer simulations that magnetic microfloaters can self-organize into various functional structures while energized by an external alternating (ac) magnetic field. The structures exhibit self-propelled motion and an ability to carry a cargo along a pre-defined path. The morphology of the self-assembled swimmers is controlled by the frequency and amplitude of the magnetic field.


Schrödinger Theory Of Electrons In Electromagnetic Fields: New Perspectives, Viraht Sahni, Xiao-Yin Pan Jan 2017

Schrödinger Theory Of Electrons In Electromagnetic Fields: New Perspectives, Viraht Sahni, Xiao-Yin Pan

Publications and Research

The Schrödinger theory of electrons in an external electromagnetic field is described from the new perspective of the individual electron. The perspective is arrived at via the time-dependent "Quantal Newtonian" law (or differential virial theorem). (The time-independent law, a special case, provides a similar description of stationary-state theory). These laws are in terms of "classical" fields whose sources are quantal expectations of Hermitian operators taken with respect to the wave function. The laws reveal the following physics: (a) in addition to the external field, each electron experiences an internal field whose components are representative of a specific property of the …


Electron Correlations In An Excited State Of A Quantum Dot In A Uniform Magnetic Field, Marlina Slamet, Viraht Sahni Jan 2017

Electron Correlations In An Excited State Of A Quantum Dot In A Uniform Magnetic Field, Marlina Slamet, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

Electron correlations in a two-electron two-dimensional ‘artificial atom’ or quantum dot (with harmonic confining potential) in the presence of a uniform magnetic field in an excited singlet state are studied via quantal density functional theory (QDFT). QDFT allows for the separation of the electron correlations due to the Pauli exclusion principle and Coulomb repulsion, as well as the determination of the contribution of these correlations to the kinetic energy. The QDFT mapping is from the excited state of the quantum dot to one of noninteracting fermions in their ground state possessing the same basic variables of the density and physical …


Generalization Of The Schrödinger Theory Of Electrons, Viraht Sahni Jan 2017

Generalization Of The Schrödinger Theory Of Electrons, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

The Schrödinger theory for a system of electrons in the presence of both a static and time-dependent electromagnetic field is generalized so as to exhibit the intrinsic self-consistent nature of the corresponding Schrödinger equations. This is accomplished by proving that the Hamiltonian in the stationary-state and time-dependent cases {\hat{H}; \hat{H}(t)} are exactly known functionals of the corresponding wave functions {\Psi; \Psi(t)}, i.e. \hat{H} = \hat{H}[\Psi] and \hat{H}(t) = \hat{H}[\Psi(t)]. Thus, the Schrödinger equations may be written as \hat{H}[\Psi]\Psi = E[\Psi]\Psi and \hat{H}[\Psi(t)]\Psi(t) = i\partial\Psi(t)/\partial t. As a consequence the eiegenfunctions and energy eigenvalues {\Psi; E} of the stationary-state equation, and …


Properties Of The Schrödinger Theory Of Electrons In Electromagnetic Fields, Viraht Sahni, Xiao-Yin Pan Nov 2016

Properties Of The Schrödinger Theory Of Electrons In Electromagnetic Fields, Viraht Sahni, Xiao-Yin Pan

Publications and Research

The Schrödinger theory of electrons in an external electromagnetic field can be described from the perspective of the individual electron via the ‘Quantal Newtonian’ laws (or differential virial theorems). These laws are in terms of ‘classical’ fields whose sources are quantal expectations of Hermitian operators taken with respect to the wave function. The laws reveal the following physics: (a) In addition to the external field, each electron experiences an internal field whose components are representative of a specific property of the system such as the correlations due to the Pauli exclusion principle and Coulomb repulsion, the electron density, kinetic effects, …


Electron Correlations In Local Effective Potential Theory, Viraht Sahni, Xiao-Yin Pan, Tao Yang Aug 2016

Electron Correlations In Local Effective Potential Theory, Viraht Sahni, Xiao-Yin Pan, Tao Yang

Publications and Research

Local effective potential theory, both stationary-state and time-dependent, constitutes the mapping from a system of electrons in an external field to one of the noninteracting fermions possessing the same basic variable such as the density, thereby enabling the determination of the energy and other properties of the electronic system. This paper is a description via Quantal Density Functional Theory (QDFT) of the electron correlations that must be accounted for in such a mapping. It is proved through QDFT that independent of the form of external field, (a) it is possible to map to a model system possessing all the basic …


Hohenberg-Kohn Theorems In Electrostatic And Uniform Magnetostatic Fields, Xiao-Yin Pan, Viraht Sahni Nov 2015

Hohenberg-Kohn Theorems In Electrostatic And Uniform Magnetostatic Fields, Xiao-Yin Pan, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

The Hohenberg-Kohn (HK) theorems of bijectivity between the external scalar potential and the gauge invariant nondegenerate ground state density, and the consequent Euler variational principle for the density, are proved for arbitrary electrostatic field and the constraint of fixed electron number. The HK theorems are generalized for spinless electrons to the added presence of an external uniform magnetostatic field by introducing the new constraint of fixed canonical orbital angular momentum. Thereby, a bijective relationship between the external scalar and vector potentials, and the gauge invariant nondegenerate ground state density and physical current density, is proved. A corresponding Euler variational principle …


Hohenberg-Kohn Theorems In Electrostatic And Uniform Magnetostatic Fields, Xiao-Yin Pan, Viraht Sahni Oct 2015

Hohenberg-Kohn Theorems In Electrostatic And Uniform Magnetostatic Fields, Xiao-Yin Pan, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

The Hohenberg-Kohn (HK) theorems of bijectivity between the external scalar potential and the gauge invariant nondegenerate ground state density, and the consequent Euler variational principle for the density, are proved for arbitrary electrostatic field and the constraint of fixed electron number. The HK theorems are generalized for spinless electrons to the added presence of an external uniform magnetostatic field by introducing the new constraint of fixed canonical orbital angular momentum. Thereby a bijective relationship between the external scalar and vector potentials, and the gauge invariant nondegenerate ground state density and physical current density, is proved. A corresponding Euler variational principle …


C-Metrics In Gauged Stu Supergravity And Beyond, H. Lu, Justin F. Vázquez-Poritz Dec 2014

C-Metrics In Gauged Stu Supergravity And Beyond, H. Lu, Justin F. Vázquez-Poritz

Publications and Research

We construct charged generalizations of the dilaton C-metric in various fourdimensional theories, including STU gauged supergravity as well as a one-parameter family of Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton theories whose scalar potential can be expressed in terms of a superpotential. In addition, we present time-dependent generalizations of the dilaton C-metric and dilaton Ernst solutions, for which the time evolution is driven by the dilaton. These C-metric solutions provide holographic descriptions of a strongly-coupled three-dimensional field theory on the background of a black hole, a gravitational soliton, and a black hole undergoing time evolution.


Wigner High-Electron-Correlation Regime Of Nonuniform Density Systems: A Quantal-Density-Functional-Theory Study, Douglas Achan, Lou Massa, Viraht Sahni Aug 2014

Wigner High-Electron-Correlation Regime Of Nonuniform Density Systems: A Quantal-Density-Functional-Theory Study, Douglas Achan, Lou Massa, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

The Wigner regime of a system of electrons in an external field is characterized by a low electron density and a high electron-interaction energy relative to the kinetic energy. The low-correlation regime is in turn described by a high electron density and an electron-interaction energy smaller than the kinetic energy. The Wigner regime of a nonuniform-electron-density system is investigated via quantal density functional theory (QDFT). Within QDFT, the contributions of electron correlations due to the Pauli exclusion principle, Coulomb repulsion, and correlation-kinetic effects are separately delineated and explicitly defined. The nonuniform-electron-density system studied is that of the Hooke's atom in …


Wave Function For Harmonically Confined Electrons In Time-Dependent Electric And Magnetostatic Fields, Hong-Ming Zhu, Jin-Wang Chen, Xiao-Yin Pan, Viraht Sahni Jan 2014

Wave Function For Harmonically Confined Electrons In Time-Dependent Electric And Magnetostatic Fields, Hong-Ming Zhu, Jin-Wang Chen, Xiao-Yin Pan, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

We derive via the interaction “representation” the many-body wave function for harmonically confined electrons in the presence of a magnetostatic field and perturbed by a spatially homogeneous time-dependent electric field—the Generalized Kohn Theorem (GKT) wave function. In the absence of the harmonic confinement – the uniform electron gas – the GKT wave function reduces to the Kohn Theorem wave function. Without the magnetostatic field, the GKTwave function is the Harmonic Potential Theorem wave function. We further prove the validity of the connection between the GKT wave function derived and the system in an accelerated frame of reference. Finally, we provide …


Wave Function For Time-Dependent Harmonically Confined Electrons In A Time-Dependent Electric Field, Yu-Qi Li, Xiao-Yin Pan, Viraht Sahni Sep 2013

Wave Function For Time-Dependent Harmonically Confined Electrons In A Time-Dependent Electric Field, Yu-Qi Li, Xiao-Yin Pan, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

The many-body wave function of a system of interacting particles confined by a time-dependent harmonic potential and perturbed by a time-dependent spatially homogeneous electric field is derived via the Feynman path-integral method. The wave function is comprised of a phase factor times the solution to the unperturbed time-dependent Schrödinger equation with the latter being translated by a time-dependent value that satisfies the classical driven equation of motion. The wave function reduces to that of the Harmonic Potential Theorem wave function for the case of the time-independent harmonic confining potential.


Comment On "Density And Physical Current Density Functional Theory", Xiao-Yin Pan, Viraht Sahni Jan 2013

Comment On "Density And Physical Current Density Functional Theory", Xiao-Yin Pan, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

In this letter to the editor, the authors comment on an earlier article they had published, "Density and Physical Current Density Functional Theory" (Pan, X.-Y. and Sahni, V. (2010), Density and physical current density functional theory. Int. J. Quantum Chem., 110: 2833–2843. doi: 10.1002/qua.22862).


Hohenberg-Kohn Theorem Including Electron Spin, Xiao-Yin Pan, Viraht Sahni Oct 2012

Hohenberg-Kohn Theorem Including Electron Spin, Xiao-Yin Pan, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

The Hohenberg-Kohn theorem is generalized to the case of a finite system of N electrons in external electrostatic epsilon(r) = -del nu(r) and magnetostatic B(r) = del x A(r) fields in which the interaction of the latter with both the orbital and spin angular momentum is considered. For a nondegenerate ground state a bijective relationship is proved between the gauge invariant density rho(r) and physical current density j(r) and the potentials {nu(r), A(r)}. The possible many-to-one relationship between the potentials {v(r), A(r)} and the wave function is explicitly accounted for in the proof. With the knowledge that the basic variables …


Hohenberg-Kohn And Percus-Levy-Lieb Proofs Of Density-Functional Theory, Viraht Sahni, Xiao-Yin Pan May 2012

Hohenberg-Kohn And Percus-Levy-Lieb Proofs Of Density-Functional Theory, Viraht Sahni, Xiao-Yin Pan

Publications and Research

The premise of density-functional theory is that knowledge of the ground-state density uniquely determines the Hamiltonian, and thereby, via solution of the corresponding time-independent Schrodinger equation, all the properties of the system. The density therefore constitutes a basic variable of quantum mechanics. There are at present two paths from the density to the Hamiltonian: the Hohenberg and Kohn proof of the bijectivity between the external potential and the basic variable, and the Percus, Levy, and Lieb constrained-search proof. We argue the Hohenberg- and Kohn-type proof to be the more fundamental, and that this is the case in general when both …