Quantum Anomaly in Molecular Physics

Horacio E. Camblong, Luis N. Epele, Huner Fanchiotti, and Carlos A. García Canal
Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 220402 – Published 12 November 2001
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Abstract

The interaction of an electron with a polar molecule is shown to be the simplest realization of a quantum anomaly in a physical system. The existence of a critical dipole moment for electron capture and formation of anions, which has been confirmed experimentally and numerically, is derived. This phenomenon is a manifestation of the anomaly associated with quantum symmetry breaking of the classical scale invariance exhibited by the point-dipole interaction. Finally, analysis of symmetry breaking for this system is implemented within two different models: point dipole subject to an anomaly and finite dipole subject to explicit symmetry breaking.

  • Received 15 June 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.220402

©2001 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Horacio E. Camblong1, Luis N. Epele2, Huner Fanchiotti2, and Carlos A. García Canal2

  • 1Department of Physics, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94117-1080
  • 2Laboratorio de Física Teórica, Departamento de Física, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, C.C. 67-1900 La Plata, Argentina

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Vol. 87, Iss. 22 — 26 November 2001

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