Scott Correction for Large Atoms and Molecules in a Self-Generated Magnetic Field

We consider a large neutral molecule with total nuclear charge Z in non-relativistic quantum mechanics with a self-generated classical electromagnetic field. To ensure stability, we assume that Z α ² ≤ κ ₀ for a sufficiently small κ ₀, where α denotes the fine structure constant. We show that, in the simultaneous limit Z → ∞, α → 0 such that κ = Z α ² is fixed, the ground state energy of the system is given by a two term expansion c ₁ Z ^7/3 + c ₂(κ) Z ² + o(Z ²). The leading term is given by the non-magnetic Thomas-Fermi theory. Our result shows that the magnetic field affects only the second (so-called Scott) term in the expansion.