Search arXiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · math-ph/0410010

Thermal Ionization

Jürg Fröhlich·Marco Merkli
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

In the context of an idealized model describing an atom coupled to black-body radiation at a sufficiently high positive temperature, we show that the atom will end up being ionized in the limit of large times. Mathematically, this is translated into the statement that the coupled system does not have any time-translation invariant state of positive (asymptotic) temperature, and that the expectation value of an arbitrary finite-dimensional projection in an arbitrary initial state of positive (asymptotic) temperature tends to zero, as time tends to infinity. These results are formulated within the general framework of $W^*$-dynamical systems, and the proofs are based on Mourre's theory of positive commutators and a new virial theorem. Results on the so-called standard form of a von Neumann algebra play an important role in our analysis.

Explore related subjects

math-phmath.MP

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Jürg Fröhlich, Marco Merkli. 2004-10-04. Thermal Ionization. https://doi.org/10.1023/b%3Ampag.0000034613.13746.8a

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

A Functorial Theory of Defects in Abelian Chern-Simons Theory

Recent work has constructed Abelian Chern-Simons theories as categorical TQFTs, allowing us to naturally incorporate categorical defects and construct defect extensions of Abelian Chern-Simons TQFTs. We first identify the Turaev-Viro realizations of Abelian Chern-Simons theory in the center and doubled pointed modular cases, clarifying the distinction between single bulk realizations and canonical doubled ones. Alternatively, the Alterfold construction supplies the associated topological boundaries, domain walls, and condensation sectors, establishing an explicit Alterfold/Chern-Simons dictionary. We show that the finite quadratic module is the invariant controlling the bulk theory, its topological symmetries, orientation-reversal invariance, and defects. We further show that multicomponent Abelian BF theory arises as the extended TQFT of an off-diagonal Abelian Chern-Simons theory, placing it naturally within the same extended framework. Finally, we demonstrate that recently proposed Abelian Chern-Simons dualities do not define a genuine TQFT duality. These results provide a concrete model for defects in Abelian topological orders and suggest a route toward the non-Abelian case.

math-ph↗
arXiv2026

Gradient nature of Laplacian growth

For a class of growth processes of Laplacian type in the plane, we suggest an interpretation as a ``gradient descent'' in the space of smooth closed curves. More precisely, we show that boundary of a growing domain moves along a gradient of a certain functional in the space of curves. In the simplest cases this functional is $\log (1/r)$, where $r$ is the external conformal radius of the growing domain.

math-ph↗
arXiv2026

Entanglement-Inducing Quantum Markov Processes

We introduce a new model for a system of interacting bosons placed in an array of sites. At its core is a nonlinear, nonlocal evolution equation, which we have dubbed the Schrödinger-Dirichlet equation. The construction is closely related to the Bose-Hubbard model and to a specific type of generalized bosons. In contrast to conventional mean-field closures, the resulting nonlinear dynamics need not preserve product structure and can generate entanglement from initially separable states. The relevant methods of analysis are based on harmonic analysis for the multiplicative group of positive rationals.

math-ph↗