Galilean invariance in confined quantum systems: Implications on spectral gaps, superfluid flow, and periodic order

Abstract

Galilean invariance leaves its imprint on the energy spectrum and eigenstates of $N$ quantum particles, bosons or fermions, confined in a bounded domain. It endows the spectrum with a recurrent structure which in capillaries or elongated traps of length $L$ and cross-section area $s_\perp$ leads to spectral gaps $n^2h^2s_\perpρ/(2mL)$ at wavenumbers $2nπs_\perpρ$, where $ρ$ is the number density and $m$ is the particle mass. In zero temperature superfluids, in toroidal geometries, it causes the quantization of the flow velocity with the quantum $h/(mL)$ or that of the circulation along the toroid with the known quantum $h/m$. Adding a "friction" potential which breaks Galilean invariance, the Hamiltonian can have a superfluid ground state at low flow velocities but not above a critical velocity which may be different from the velocity of sound. In the limit of infinite $N$ and $L$, if $N/L=s_\perpρ$ is kept fixed, translation invariance is broken, the center of mass has a periodic distribution, while superfluidity persists at low flow velocities. This conclusion holds for the Lieb-Liniger model.