Abstract
We consider the Schrödinger operatorP(h) for a polyatomic molecule in the semiclassical limit where the mass ratioh 2 of electronic to nuclear mass tends to zero. We obtain WKB-type expansions of eigenvalues and eigenfunctions ofP(h) to all orders inh. This allows to treat the splitting of the ground state energy of a non-planar molecule. Our class of potentials covers the physical case of the Coulomb interaction. We use methods ofh-pseudodifferential operators with operator valued symbols, which by use of appropriate coordinate changes in local coordinate patches covering the classically accessible region become applicable even to our class of singular potentials.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
[A] Agmon, S.: Lectures on exponential decay of solutions of second-order elliptic equations. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press 1982
[AS] Aventini, P., Seiler, R.: On the electronic spectrum of the diatomic molecule. Commun. Math. Phys.22, 269–279 (1971)
[BK] Balazard-Konlein, A.: Calcul fonctionel pour des opérateurh-admissible à symbole opérateurs at applications. Thése de 3ème cycle, Université de Nantes (1985)
[BO] Born, M., Oppenheimer, R.: Zur Quantentheorie der Molekeln. Annal. Phys.84, 457 (1927)
[BT] Bott, R., Tu, L.W.: Differential forms in algebraic topology. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer 1982
[CDS] Combes, J.M., Duclos, P., Seiler, R.: The Born-Oppenheimer approximation. In: Rigorous atomic and molecular physics. Velo, G., Wightman, A. (eds.). pp. 185–212. New York: Plenum Press 1981
[CS] Combes, J.M., Seiler, R.: Regularity and asymptotic properties of the discrete spectrum of electronic hamiltonians. Int. J. Quant. Chem.XIV, 213–229 (1978)
[GMS] Gerard, C., Martinez, A., Sjöstrand, J.: A mathematical approach to the effective Hamiltonian in perturbed periodic problems. Preprint Orsay 1990, submitted to Commun. Math. Phys.
[HS1] Helffer, B., Sjöstrand, J.: Multiple wells in the semiclassical limit I. Commun. Partial Differ. Equations9, (4), 337–408 (1984)
[HS2] Helffer, B., Sjöstrand, J.: Puits multiples en mécanique semi-classique VI (Cas des puits sous-variétés). Ann. Inst. Henri Poincaré46, 353–372 (1987)
[Ha1] Hagedorn, G.A.: High order corrections to the time-independent Born-Oppenheimer approximation. I. Smooth potentials. Ann. Inst. Henri Poincaré47, 1–16 (1987)
[Ha2] Hagedorn, G.A.: High order corrections to the time-independent Born-Oppenheimer approximation. II. Diatomic Coulomb systems. Commun. Math. Phys.116, 23–44 (1988)
[Hu] Hunziker, W.: Distortion analycity and molecular resonance curves. Ann. Inst. H. Poincaré45, 339–358 (1986)
[Hus] Husemoller, D.: Fiber bundles. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer 1975
[K] Klein, M.: On the mathematical theory of predissociation. Ann. Phys.178, 48–73 (1987)
[Ma1] Martinez, A.: Estimations de l'effet tunnel pour le double puits I. J. Math. Pures Appl.66, 195–215 (1987)
[Ma2] Martinez, A.: Développements asymptotiques et effet tunnel dans l'approximation de Born-Oppenheimer: Ann. Inst. Henri Poincaré49, 239–257 (1989)
[Ma3] Martinez, A.: Resonances dans l'approximation de Born-Oppenheimer I.J. Diff. Eq. (to appear)
[Ma4] Martinez, A.: Resonances dans l'approximation de Born-Oppenheimer II — Largeur des resonances. Commun. Math. Phys.135, 517–530 (1991)
[S] Seiler, R.: Does the Born-Oppenheimer approximation work? Helv. Phys. Acta46, 230–234 (1973)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by T. Spencer
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Klein, M., Martinez, A., Seiler, R. et al. On the Born-Oppenheimer expansion for polyatomic molecules. Commun.Math. Phys. 143, 607–639 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02099269
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02099269