Generalized local charge conservation in many-body quantum mechanics

Abstract

In the framework of the quantum theory of many-particle systems, we study the compatibility of approximated Non-Equilibrium Green Functions (NEGFs) and of approximated solutions of the Dyson equation with a modified continuity equation of the form ${\partial }_t⟨\rho ⟩+(1-\gamma )\nabla \cdot ⟨\mathbf{J}⟩=0$. A continuity equation of this kind allows the e.m.\ coupling of the system in the extended Aharonov-Bohm electrodynamics, but not in Maxwell electrodynamics. Focusing on the case of molecular junctions simulated numerically with the Density Functional Theory (DFT), we further discuss the re-definition of local current density proposed by Wang et al., which also turns out to be compatible with the extended Aharonov-Bohm electrodynamics.

13 pages, no figures. Submitted version

References in corpus (7)

• Time in quantum mechanics and the local non-conservation of the probability current
• On simulation of local fluxes in molecular junctions
• Renormalization in Condensed Matter: Fermionic Systems - from Mathematics to Materials
• Electromagnetic coupling of strongly non-local quantum mechanics
• Gauge waves generation and detection in Aharonov-Bohm electrodynamics
• Aharonov-Bohm electrodynamics in material media: a scalar e.m. field cannot cause dissipation in a medium
• Charge nonconservation of molecular devices in the presence of a nonlocal potential

Cited by in corpus (3)

• Do we need an alternative to local gauge coupling to electromagnetic fields?
• Quantum collapse, local conservation of charge, and possible experimental consequences
• Scalar-tensor gravity and Aharonov-Bohm electrodynamics with bosons: applications to superconductors