arXiv · 0805.4441
The Energy of Heavy Atoms According to Brown and Ravenhall: The Scott Correction
Abstract
We consider relativistic many-particle operators which - according to Brown and Ravenhall - describe the electronic states of heavy atoms. Their ground state energy is investigated in the limit of large nuclear charge and velocity of light. We show that the leading quasi-classical behavior given by the Thomas-Fermi theory is raised by a subleading correction, the Scott correction. Our result is valid for the maximal range of coupling constants, including the critical one. As a technical tool, a Sobolev-Gagliardo-Nirenberg-type inequality is established for the critical atomic Brown-Ravenhall operator. Moreover, we prove sharp upper and lower bound on the eigenvalues of the hydrogenic Brown-Ravenhall operator up to and including the critical coupling constant.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Rupert L. Frank, Heinz Siedentop, Simone Warzel. 2008-05-28. The Energy of Heavy Atoms According to Brown and Ravenhall: The Scott Correction. https://arxiv.org/abs/0805.4441
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.