On Gravitational Effects in the Schrödinger Equation

The Schrödinger  equation for a particle of rest mass $m$ and electrical charge $ne$ interacting with a four-vector potential $A_i$ can be derived as the non-relativistic limit of the Klein–Gordon  equation $\left( \Box '+m^2\right) \varPsi =0$ for the wave function $\varPsi $ , where $\Box '=\eta ^{jk}\partial '_j\partial '_k$ and $\partial '_j=\partial _j -\mathrm {i}n e A_j$ , or equivalently from the one-dimensional  action $S_1=-\int m ds +\int neA_i dx^i$ for the corresponding point particle in the semi-classical approximation $\varPsi \sim \exp {(\mathrm {i}S_1)}$ , both methods yielding the equation $\mathrm {i}\partial _0\varPsi \approx \left( \frac{1}{2m}\eta ^{\alpha \beta }\partial '_{\alpha }\partial '_{\beta } + m + n e\phi \right) \varPsi $ in Minkowski  space–time  , where $\alpha ,\beta =1,2,3$ and $\phi =-A_0$ . We show that these two methods generally yield equations  that differ in a curved background  space–time   $g_{ij}$ , although they coincide when $g_{0\alpha }=0$ if $m$ is replaced by the effective mass $\mathcal{M}\equiv \sqrt{m^2-\xi R}$ in both the Klein–Gordon  action $S$ and $S_1$ , allowing for non-minimal coupling to the gravitational  field, where $R$ is the Ricci scalar and $\xi $ is a constant. In this case $\mathrm {i}\partial _0\varPsi \approx \left( \frac{1}{2\mathcal{M}'} g^{\alpha \beta }\partial '_{\alpha }\partial '_{\beta } + \mathcal{M}\phi ^{(\mathrm g)} + n e\phi \right) \varPsi $ , where $\phi ^{(\mathrm g)} =\sqrt{g_{00}}$ and $\mathcal{M}'=\mathcal{M}/\phi ^{(\mathrm g)} $ , the correctness of the gravitational  contribution to the potential having been verified to linear order $m\phi ^{(\mathrm g)} $ in the thermal-neutron beam interferometry experiment due to Colella et al. Setting $n=2$ and regarding $\varPsi $ as the quasi-particle wave function, or order parameter, we obtain the generalization of the fundamental macroscopic Ginzburg-Landau equation of superconductivity to curved space–time. Conservation of probability and electrical current requires both electromagnetic gauge and space–time  coordinate conditions to be imposed, which exemplifies the gravito-electromagnetic analogy, particularly in the stationary case, when div ${{\varvec{A}}}=\hbox {div}{{\varvec{A}}}^{(\mathrm g)}=0$ , where ${{\varvec{A}}}^{\alpha }=-A^{\alpha }$ and ${{\varvec{A}}}^{(\mathrm g)\alpha }=-\phi ^{(\mathrm g)}g^{0\alpha }$ . The quantum-cosmological Schrödinger  (Wheeler–DeWitt) equation is also discussed in the $\mathcal{D}$ -dimensional  mini-superspace idealization, with particular regard to the vacuum potential $\mathcal V$ and the characteristics of the ground state, assuming a gravitational  Lagrangian   $L_\mathcal{D}$ which contains higher-derivative  terms up to order $\mathcal{R}^4$ . For the heterotic superstring theory  , $L_\mathcal{D}$ consists of an infinite series in $\alpha '\mathcal{R}$ , where $\alpha '$ is the Regge slope parameter, and in the perturbative approximation $\alpha '|\mathcal{R}| \ll 1$ , $\mathcal V$ is positive semi-definite for $\mathcal{D} \ge 4$ . The maximally symmetric ground state satisfying the field equations is Minkowski  space for $3\le {\mathcal {D}}\le 7$ and anti-de Sitter  space for $8 \le \mathcal {D} \le 10$ .     

Derivation of Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation

We propose some nonlinear Schrödinger equations by adding some higher order terms to the Lagrangian density of Schrödinger field, and obtain the Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equation and the logarithmic form equation naturally. In addition, we prove the coefficient of nonlinear term is very small, i.e., the nonlinearity of Schrödinger equation is weak.     

Symmetries of the Free Schrödinger Equation

An algorithm is proposed for studying the symmetry properties of equations used in theoretical and mathematical physics. The application of this algorithm to the free Schrödinger equation permits one to establish that, in addition to the known Galilei symmetry, the free Schrödinger equation possesses also relativistic symmetry in some generalized sense. This property of the free Schrödinger equation provides an extension of the equation into the relativistic domain of the free particle motion under study.     

Lorentz Transformations for the Schrödinger Equation

Abstract

We show that the free Schrödinger equation admits Lorentz space-time transformations when corresponding transformations of the ψ-function are nonlocal. Some consequences of this symmetry are discussed.

Dedicated to Wilhelm Fushchych – Inspirer, Mentor, Friend and Pioneer in non–Lie symmetry methods – on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday     

Iterative Solutions of the Schrödinger Equation

In the first example containing a long ranged potential, the long range part of the solution is obtained by an iterative Born-series type method. The convergence is illustrated for a case with the long range part of the potential given by C ₆/r ⁶. Accuracies of 1 : 10⁸ are achieved after 8 iterations. The second example iteratively calculates the solution of a non-linear Gross–Pitaevskii equation for condensed Bose atoms contained in a trap at low temperature.     

Thermodynamic Gravity and the Schrödinger Equation

We adopt a formulation of the Mach principle that the rest mass of a particle is a measure of it’s long-range collective interactions with all other particles inside the horizon. As a consequence, all particles in the universe form a ‘gravitationally entangled’ statistical ensemble and one can apply the approach of classical statistical mechanics to it. It is shown that both the Schrödinger equation and the Planck constant can be derived within this Machian model of the universe. The appearance of probabilities, complex wave functions, and quantization conditions is related to the discreetness and finiteness of the Machian ensemble.     

Levinson's Theorem for the Schrödinger Equation in One Dimension

Levinson's theorem for the one-dimensional Schrödinger equation with asymmetric potential which decays at infinity faster thanx ^–2 is established by theSturm-Liouville theorem. The critical case where the Schrödinger equation hasa finite zero-energy solution is also analyzed. It is demonstrated that the numberof bound states with even (odd) parityn ₊(n _–) is related to the phase shift ₊ (0)[_– (0)] of the scattering states with the same parity at zero momentum as ₊ (0)+ /2 =n ₊ and _– (0) =n _– for the noncritical case, and ₊ (0) =n ₊ and_– (0) – /2 =n _– for the critical case.     

Long Time Energy Transfer in the Random Schrödinger Equation

We consider the long time behavior of solutions of the d-dimensional linear Boltzmann equation that arises in the weak coupling limit for the Schrödinger equation with a time-dependent random potential. We show that the intermediate mesoscopic time limit satisfies a Fokker–Planck type equation with the wave vector performing a Brownian motion on the (d ? 1)-dimensional sphere of constant energy, as in the case of a time-independent Schrödinger equation. However, the long time limit of the solution with an isotropic initial data satisfies an equation corresponding to the energy being the square root of a Bessel process of dimension d/2.     

Theory of Stochastic Schrödinger Equation in Complex Vector Space

A generalized Schrödinger equation containing correction terms to classical kinetic energy, has been derived in the complex vector space by considering an extended particle structure in stochastic electrodynamics with spin. The correction terms are obtained by considering the internal complex structure of the particle which is a consequence of stochastic average of particle oscillations in the zeropoint field. Hence, the generalised Schrödinger equation may be called stochastic Schrödinger equation. It is found that the second order correction terms are similar to corresponding relativistic corrections. When higher order correction terms are neglected, the stochastic Schrödinger equation reduces to normal Schrödinger equation. It is found that the Schrödinger equation contains an internal structure in disguise and that can be revealed in the form of internal kinetic energy. The internal kinetic energy is found to be equal to the quantum potential obtained in the Madelung fluid theory or Bohm statistical theory. In the rest frame of the particle, the stochastic Schrödinger equation reduces to a Dirac type equation and its Lorentz boost gives the Dirac equation. Finally, the relativistic Klein–Gordon equation is derived by squaring the stochastic Schrödinger equation. The theory elucidates a logical understanding of classical approach to quantum mechanical foundations.     

Semi-Classical Limit for Radial Non-Linear Schrödinger Equation

We consider the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with superlinear and subcritical nonlinearity. Assuming that the potential is radially symmetric we find radial sign-changing solutions of the equation that concentrate in a ball, as the parameter goes to zero. We study the asymptotic profile of these highly oscillatory solutions, completely characterizing their behavior by means of an envelope function.Partially supported by FONDECYT Lineas Complementarias Grant 8000010.Partially Supported by FONDAP Matemáticas Aplicadas and FONDECYT Lineas Complementarias Grant 8000010.     

Colliding Solitons for the Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation

We study the collision of two fast solitons for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation in the presence of a slowly varying external potential. For a high initial relative speed ||v|| of the solitons, we show that, up to times of order ||v|| after the collision, the solitons preserve their shape (in L ²-norm), and the dynamics of the centers of mass of the solitons is approximately determined by the external potential, plus error terms due to radiation damping and the extended nature of the solitons. We remark on how to obtain longer time scales under stronger assumptions on the initial condition and the external potential.     

A Fractional Schrödinger Equation and Its Solution

This paper presents a fractional Schrödinger equation and its solution. The fractional Schrödinger equation may be obtained using a fractional variational principle and a fractional Klein-Gordon equation; both methods are considered here. We extend the variational formulations for fractional discrete systems to fractional field systems defined in terms of Caputo derivatives to obtain the fractional Euler-Lagrange equations of motion. We present the Lagrangian for the fractional Schrödinger equation of order α. We also use a fractional Klein-Gordon equation to obtain the fractional Schrödinger equation which is the same as that obtained using the fractional variational principle. As an example, we consider the eigensolutions of a particle in an infinite potential well. The solutions are obtained in terms of the sines of the Mittag-Leffler function.     

Instability for the Semiclassical Non-linear Schrödinger Equation

We adapt recent results on instability for non-linear Schrödinger equations to the semi-classical setting. Rather than work with Sobolev spaces we estimate projective instability in terms of the small constant, h, appearing in the equation. Our motivation comes from the Gross-Pitaevski equation used in the study of Bose-Einstein condensation.     

Symmetry-Breaking Bifurcation in the Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation with Symmetric Potentials

We consider the focusing (attractive) nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation with an external, symmetric potential which vanishes at infinity and supports a linear bound state. We prove that the symmetric, nonlinear ground states must undergo a symmetry breaking bifurcation if the potential has a non-degenerate local maxima at zero. Under a generic assumption we show that the bifurcation is either a subcritical or supercritical pitchfork. In the particular case of double-well potentials with large separation, the power of nonlinearity determines the subcritical or supercritical character of the bifurcation. The results are obtained from a careful analysis of the spectral properties of the ground states at both small and large values for the corresponding eigenvalue parameter.     

Quasi-Linear Dynamics in Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation with Periodic Boundary Conditions

It is shown that a large subset of initial data with finite energy (L ² norm) evolves nearly linearly in nonlinear Schrödinger equation with periodic boundary conditions. These new solutions are not perturbations of the known ones such as solitons, semiclassical or weakly linear solutions.     

The Vacuum Electromagnetic Fields and the Schrödinger Equation

We consider the simple case of a nonrelativistic charged harmonic oscillator in one dimension, to investigate how to take into account the radiation reaction and vacuum fluctuation forces within the Schrödinger equation. The effects of both zero-point and thermal classical electromagnetic vacuum fields, characteristic of stochastic electrodynamics, are separately considered. Our study confirms that the zero-point electromagnetic fluctuations are dynamically related to the momentum operator p=?i ? ?/? x used in the Schrödinger equation.     

Rarefaction Pulses for the Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation in the Transonic Limit

We investigate the properties of finite energy travelling waves to the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with nonzero conditions at infinity for a wide class of nonlinearities. In space dimension two and three we prove that travelling waves converge in the transonic limit (up to rescaling) to ground states of the Kadomtsev–Petviashvili equation. Our results generalize an earlier result of Béthuel et al. for the two-dimensional Gross–Pitaevskii equation, and provide a rigorous proof to a conjecture by C. Jones and P. H. Roberts about the existence of vortexless travelling waves with high energy and momentum in dimension three.     

Two Points Blow-up in Solutions of the Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation with Quartic Potential on \mathbb{R}

We consider the blow-up problem for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with quartic self-interacting potential on . We exhibit a class of initial data leading to the blow-up solutions which have at least two L ²-concentration points.