Internal Structure of a Landau Quasi-Particle Wave Packet.

Abstract

Starting from the conventional definition of the state of a Fermi system containing a quasiparticle of momentum k, we construct a state with a quasiparticle wave packet (QPWP) by the usual superposition. We have studied the distributions of charges and currents in such a state to first order in the inter-particle interaction. The dressed QPWP state contains a charge e-bar which is less than the bare charge, e. (The charge e-bar is different from an incorrect value previously proposed on different grounds.) The remaining charges resides at infinity. In more dimensions than one, the charge density of the QPWP also contains anisotropic components that fall off as 1/r-cubed away from the center of the wave packet. Similar conclusions hold for the current density. We have verified that the continuity equation is satisfied at every point in space. The relationship of these results to the classical formal Landau theory is discussed. The Landau quasi particle distribution function, n(k,r), can not be interpreted in terms of the QPWP's defined here. Finally, experimental consequences of the work presented in this paper are briefly discussed.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 06, 1987
Accession Number
ADA177204

Entities

People

  • Olle Heinonen
  • Walter Kohn

Organizations

  • University of California, Santa Barbara

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Charge Density
  • Continuity
  • Current Density
  • Distribution Functions
  • Equations
  • Momentum
  • Particles
  • Polaritons
  • Quasiparticles
  • Subatomic Particles
  • Wave Packets

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Calculus or Mathematical Analysis
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics
  • Quantum spin resonance or Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy.

Technology Areas

  • Space