Wavefunction Localization for the Hydrogen Atom in Parallel External Electric and Magnetic Fields

Bivona, S.; O’Mahony, P. F.; Taylor, K. T.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-1061-7_21

S. Bivona⁶,
P. F. O’Mahony⁷ &
K. T. Taylor⁷

Part of the book series: Physics of Atoms and Molecules ((PAMO))

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Abstract

A quantum mechanical study of a simple two dimensional problem identifies lines in coordinate space about which the probability densities are localized. These lines in general do not correspond to extrema in the system’s static potential energy surface. The subject of this study has been the hydrogen atom in externally applied parallel electric and magnetic fields. Probability density plots of eigenstates, in which the electron experiences comparable influences from all three fields: Coulomb, electric and magnetic are each found to display a localization at a polar angle related to an invariant previously obtained in a classical study of the problem. The line about which localization occurs is found to vary with energy.

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Authors and Affiliations

Facolta di Ingegneria, Istituto di Fisica, 90128, Parco d’Orleans, Palermo, Italy
S. Bivona
Department of Mathematics, Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, Egham, TW20 0EX, Surrey, UK
P. F. O’Mahony & K. T. Taylor

Authors

S. Bivona
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P. F. O’Mahony
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K. T. Taylor
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Editors and Affiliations

Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK
K. T. Taylor
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
M. H. Nayfeh
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
C. W. Clark

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Bivona, S., O’Mahony, P.F., Taylor, K.T. (1988). Wavefunction Localization for the Hydrogen Atom in Parallel External Electric and Magnetic Fields. In: Taylor, K.T., Nayfeh, M.H., Clark, C.W. (eds) Atomic Spectra and Collisions in External Fields. Physics of Atoms and Molecules. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1061-7_21

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1061-7_21
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-8315-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-1061-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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