Level ordering in the linear $E\otimes e$ dynamic Jahn-Teller model

Abstract

The ground level of the linear $E\otimes e$ dynamic Jahn-Teller model has long been believed to be the doublet with vibronic angular momentum $j=\pm \frac{1}{2}$. We prove that, for arbitrary coupling strength, the $n$th level $E_{nj}$ in the subspace of fixed $j$ strictly increases with $|j|$ for every $n$, $E_{n,1/2}<E_{n,3/2}<E_{n,5/2}<\cdots$; in particular, the ground level is always the $j=\pm \frac{1}{2}$ doublet. The proof uses only a unitary transformation that lowers $j$ by one, combined with the variational principle. We also show that the levels with fixed $j$ are nondegenerate and give explicit lower and upper bounds on the gap $E_{0,j+1}-E_{0j}$. The same Hamiltonian describes Rashba-coupled particles in harmonic traps and, in nuclear physics, the static nucleon in a charged scalar meson field.

arXiv comment7 pages, 1 figure