Wavefunction localisation for the hydrogen atom in parallel electric and magnetic fields
- 28 October 1988
- journal article
- Published by IOP Publishing in Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
- Vol. 21 (20) , L617-L623
- https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/21/20/001
Abstract
A quantum mechanical study of a simple two-dimensional problem identifies lines in coordinate space about which the probability densities are localised. 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 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 localisation at a polar angle related to an invariant previously obtained in a classical study of the problem. The line about which localisation occurs is found to vary with energy and is in coincidence with a periodic trajectory found within a classical framework.Keywords
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