Two-body Coulomb problem and $g^{(2)}$ algebra (once again about the Hydrogen atom)

Abstract

Taking the Hydrogen atom as an example it is shown that if the symmetry of a three-dimensional system is $O(2)\oplus Z_2$, the variables $(r,\rho ,\phi )$ allow a separation of the variable $\phi$, and the eigenfunctions define a new family of orthogonal polynomials in two variables, $(r,{\rho }^2)$. These polynomials are related to the finite-dimensional representations of the algebra $gl(2)⋉R^3\in g^{(2)}$ (discovered by S Lie around 1880 which went almost unnoticed), which occurs as the hidden algebra of the $G_2$ rational integrable system of 3 bodies on the line with 2- and 3-body interactions (the Wolfes model). Namely, those polynomials occur intrinsically in the study of the Zeeman effect on Hydrogen atom. It is shown that in the variables $(r,\rho ,\phi )$ in the quasi-exactly-solvable, generalized Coulomb problem new polynomial eigenfunctions in $(r,{\rho }^2)$-variables are found.

13 pages, 3 figures (Fig.3 about Newton triangle redone), 7 extra references added; text profoundly edited, section about quasi-exactly-solvable, generalized Coulomb problem added (marked by blue)

References in corpus (1)

• Two-body neutral Coulomb system in a magnetic field at rest: from Hydrogen atom to positronium