Negative Mass Can Be Positively Useful in Quantum Mechanics
Journal
Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society
Journal Volume
65
Journal Issue
6
Pages
654-666
Date Issued
2018
Author(s)
Abstract
We show that in nonrelativistic quantum mechanics, the concept of negative mass can be utilized to solve Schrödinger equations and increase the convergence rates of the basis set expansion solutions for quantum eigenvalue problems. In particular, when a negative‐mass particle moves under a repulsive interaction, the state of motion turns out to be bound at a positive energy. This counterintuitive behavior can be employed to deal with physical systems where repulsive interactions strongly perturb the stable states established by the competing attractive interactions such as many‐electron atoms. Helium‐like atoms are used to illustrate the solution scheme.
SDGs
Type
journal article