Bound for the Kinetic Energy of Fermions Which Proves the Stability of Matter

  • Elliott H. Lieb
  • Walter E. Thirring
Chapter

Abstract

We first prove that Σ|e(V)|, the sum of the negative energies of a single particle in a potential V, is bounded above by (4/15π)∫|V|5/2. This, in turn, implies a lower bound for the kinetic energy of N fermions of the form 3/5(3π)/4)2/3∫ρ5/3, where ρ(x) is the one-particle density. From this, using the no-binding theorem of Thomas-Fermi theory, we present a short proof of the stability of matter with a reasonable constant for the bound.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. 2.
    F. J. Dyson and A. Lenard, J. Math. Phys. (N.Y.) 8, 423 (1967); A. Lenard and F. J. Dyson, J. Math. Phys. (N.Y.) 9, 698 (1968).MATHCrossRefMathSciNetADSGoogle Scholar
  2. 3.
    A. Lenard, in Statistical Mechanics and Mathematical Problems, edited by A. Lenard (Springer, Berlin, 1973).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. 4.
    P. Federbush, J. Math. Phys. (N.Y.) 16, 347, 706 (1975).ADSMathSciNetCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. 5.
    J. P. Eckmann, “Sur la Stabilité de Matière” (to be published).Google Scholar
  5. 6.
    E. Teller, Rev. Mod. Phys. 34, 627 (1962). A rigorous proof of this theorem is given by E. Lieb and B. Simon, “Thomas-Fermi Theory of Atoms, Molecules, and Solids” (to be published). See also E. Lieb and B. Simon, Phys. Rev. Lett. 31, 681 (197CrossRefADSMATHGoogle Scholar
  6. 7.
    J. Schwinger, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 47, 122 (1961).ADSMathSciNetCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. 10.
    J. L. Lebowitz and E. H. Lieb, Phys. Rev. Lett. 22, 631 (1969); E. H. Lieb and J. Lebowitz, Adv. Math. 9, 316 (1972).CrossRefADSGoogle Scholar

References

  1. 1.
    A. M. Boyarski et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 35, 196 (1975).CrossRefADSGoogle Scholar
  2. 2.
    S. L. Glashow, J. Hiopoulos, and L. Maiani, Phys. Rov. D 2, 1285 (1970).ADSCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. 3.
    G. Altarelli, N. Cabibbo, and L. Maiani, Nuel, Phys. B88, 285 (1975). The same result was given independently by P. L. Kingsley, S. B. Treiman, F. Wilczek, and A. Zee, Phys. Rev. D 11, 1919 (1975)ADSCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. 4.
    Kingsley, Treiman, Wilczek, and Zee, Ref. 3. The same result was given independently by P. L. Kingsley, S. B. Treiman, F. Wilczek, and A. Zee, Phys. Rev. D 11, 1919 (1975)Google Scholar
  5. 5.
    M. B. Einhorn and C. Quigg, Phys. Rev. D (to be published).Google Scholar
  6. 6.
    M. K. Gaillard, B. W. Lec, and J. L. Rosner, Rev. Mod. Phys. 47, 277 (1975).CrossRefADSGoogle Scholar
  7. 7.
    J.-E. Augustin et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 34, 764 (1975).ADSCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. 8.
    V. Chaloupka et al., Phys. Lett. 50B, 1 (1974)Google Scholar
  9. 9.
    Y. Dothan and H. Harari, Nuovo Cimento, Suppl. No. 3, 48 (1965). The statement in Ref. 1 that the modes Kπ+π+, K̄0̄0K+, ̄0π+ η, and ̄0π+π0 should occur in the ratios 4:4:3:1 is correct only if they are in the totally symmetric 10. It is not true iIn general.MathSciNetGoogle Scholar
  10. 10.
    M. K. Gaillard and B. W. Lee, Phys. Rev. Lett. 33, 108 (1974).CrossRefADSGoogle Scholar
  11. 11.
    G. Altarelli and L. Maiani, Phys. Lett. 52B, 351 (1974).ADSGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York 2005

Authors and Affiliations

  • Elliott H. Lieb
    • 1
  • Walter E. Thirring
    • 2
  1. 1.Departments of MathematicsPrinceton UniversityPrinceton
  2. 2.Institut für Theoretische Physik der Universität WienWienAustria

Personalised recommendations