PHYSICAL REVIEW A, VOLUME 61, 032104

Planar Dirac electron in Coulomb and magnetic fields

Choon-Lin Ho1 and V. R. Khalilov2
1
Department of Physics, Tamkang University, Tamsui 25137, Taiwan
2
Department of Physics, Moscow State University, Moscow 119899, Russia
共Received 17 November 1998; revised manuscript received 4 October 1999; published 11 February 2000兲
The Dirac equation for an electron in two spatial dimensions in the Coulomb and homogeneous magnetic
fields is discussed. This is connected to the problem of the two-dimensional hydrogenlike atom in the presence
of an external magnetic field. For weak magnetic fields, the approximate energy values are obtained by a
semiclassical method. In the case with strong magnetic fields, we present the exact recursion relations that
determine the coefficients of the series expansion of wave functions, the possible energies, and the magnetic
fields. It is found that analytic solutions are possible for a denumerably infinite set of magnetic field strengths.
This system thus furnishes an example of the so-called quasiexactly solvable models. A distinctive feature in
the Dirac case is that, depending on the strength of the Coulomb field, not all total angular momentum quantum
numbers allow exact solutions with wave functions in reasonable polynomial forms. Solutions in the nonrel-
ativistic limit with both attractive and repulsive Coulomb fields are briefly discussed by means of the method
of factorization.
PACS number共s兲: 03.65.Pm, 31.30.Jv, 03.65.Fd

I. INTRODUCTION the exact energy levels for a denumerably infinite set of mag-
netic fields. In the Dirac case, however, not all values of the
Planar nonrelativistic electron systems in a uniform mag- total angular momentum j allow exact solutions with the
netic field are fundamental quantum systems which have form of wave functions we assumed here. Solutions for the
provided insights into many novel phenomena, such as the nonrelativistic limit of the Dirac equation in 2⫹1 dimen-
quantum Hall effect and the theory of anyons, particles obey- sions are briefly discussed by means of the method of fac-
ing fractional statistics 关1,2兴. Planar electron systems with torization.
energy spectrum described by the Dirac Hamiltonian have We emphasize that in this paper, by assuming an ansatz
also been studied as field-theoretical models for the quantum which guarantees normalizability of the wave function, only
Hall effect and anyon theory 关3兴. Related to these field- parts of the energy spectrum of the system are solved ex-
theoretical models are the recent interesting studies regarding actly. In particular, we do not obtain energy levels with mag-
the instability of the naive vacuum and spontaneous magne- nitude below the mass value, which include the most inter-
tization in (2⫹1)-dimensional quantum electrodynamics, esting ground state solution. This is the same as in the
which is induced by a bare Chern-Simons term 关4兴. In view Schrödinger and the Klein-Gordon case. All these three cases
of these developments, it is essential to have a better under- can therefore be considered as examples of the newly dis-
standing of the properties of planar Dirac particles in the covered quasiexactly solvable models 关9兴. In 3⫹1 dimen-
presence of external electromagnetic fields. sions, no analytic solutions, even for parts of the spectrum,
In Ref. 关5兴 we studied exact solutions of planar Dirac are possible so far.
equation in the presence of a strong Coulomb field, and the
stability of the Dirac vacuum in a regulated Coulomb field. II. MOTION OF DIRAC ELECTRON IN THE COULOMB
Quite recently, interesting studies on the quantum spectrum AND MAGNETIC FIELDS
of a two-dimensional hydrogen atom in a homogenous mag-
netic field appeared 关6,7兴. As is well known, hydrogen atom To describe an electron by the Dirac equation in 2⫹1
in a homogeneous magnetic field has attracted great interest dimensions we need only three anticommuting ␥ ␮ matrices.
in recent years because of its classical chaotic behavior and Hence, the Dirac algebra
its rich quantum structures. The main result found in Refs.
兵 ␥ ␮ , ␥ ␯ 其 ⫽2g ␮ ␯ , g ␮ ␯ ⫽diag共 1,⫺1,⫺1 兲 共1兲
关6,7兴 is that, unlike the three-dimensional case, the two-
dimensional Schrödinger equation 关6兴 and the Klein-Gordon may be represented in terms of the Pauli matrices as ␥ 0
equation 关7兴 can be solved analytically for a denumerably ⫽ ␴ 3 , ␥ k ⫽i ␴ k , or equivalently, the matrices ( ␣ 1 , ␣ 2 )
infinite set of magnetic field strengths. The solutions cannot ⫽ ␥ 0 ( ␥ 1 , ␥ 2 )⫽(⫺ ␴ 2 , ␴ 1 ) and ␤ ⫽ ␥ 0 关3兴. Then the Dirac
be expressed in terms of special functions 共see also Ref. 关8兴兲. equation for an electron minimally coupled to an external
In this paper we discuss the motion of Dirac electron in electromagnetic field has the form 共we set c⫽ប⫽1)
two spatial dimensions in the Coulomb and homogeneous
magnetic fields, and try to obtain exact solutions of a par- 共 i ⳵ t ⫺H D 兲 ⌿ 共 t,r兲 ⫽0, 共2兲
ticular form. As in the case of the two-dimensional Schrö-
dinger and the Klein-Gordon equation, by imposing a suffi- where
cient condition that guarantees normalizability of the wave
functions 关see the paragraph after Eq. 共35兲兴, we can obtain H D ⫽ ␣ P⫹ ␤ m⫺eA 0 ⬅ ␴ 1 P 2 ⫺ ␴ 2 P 1 ⫹ ␴ 3 m⫺eA 0 共3兲

1050-2947/2000/61共3兲/032104共7兲/$15.00 61 032104-1 ©2000 The American Physical Society

CHOON-LIN HO AND V. R. KHALILOV PHYSICAL REVIEW A 61 032104

is the Dirac Hamiltonian, P k ⫽⫺i ⳵ k ⫹eA k is the operator of

generalized momentum of the electron, A ␮ the vector poten-
tial of the external electromagnetic field, m the rest mass of
dg
dr
⫹
l⫹1 eBr
r
⫹
2 冉g⫺ E⫺m⫹
Z␣
r
f ⫽0, 冊 冉 冊
the electron, and ⫺e (e⬎0) is its electric charge. The Dirac where ␣ ⬅e 2 ⫽1/137 is the fine structure constant. If we let
wave function
F 共 r 兲 ⫽ 冑r f 共 r 兲 , G 共 r 兲 ⫽ 冑rg 共 r 兲 ,
冉 冊
共11兲
␺ 1 共 t,r兲
⌿ 共 t,r兲 ⫽ 共4兲 Eq. 共10兲 becomes
␺ 2 共 t,r兲

is a two-component function 共i.e., a two spinor兲. Here

␺ 1 (t,r) and ␺ 2 (t,r) are the ‘‘large’’ and ‘‘small’’ compo-
nents of the wave functions.
dF
dr
⫺
r 2
冉
l⫹ 21 eBr
⫹ F⫹ E⫹m⫹
Z␣
r
G⫽0,冊 冉 冊 共12兲

We shall solve for both positive and negative energy so-

lutions of the Dirac equations 共2兲 and 共3兲 in an external Cou-
lomb field and a constant homogeneous magnetic field B
dG
dr
⫹
r
⫹
2
冉
l⫹ 21 eBr
G⫺ E⫺m⫹
Z␣
r
F⫽0.冊 冉 冊 共13兲
⬎0 along the z direction:
By eliminating G in Eq. 共12兲 and F in Eq. 共13兲, one can
A 0 共 r 兲 ⫽Ze/r 共 e⬎0 兲 , A x ⫽⫺By/2, A y ⫽Bx/2. 共5兲 obtain the decoupled second order differential equations for
F and G. At large distances, these equations have the
We assume the wave functions to have the form asymptotic forms 共neglecting r ⫺2 terms兲:

⌿ 共 t,x兲 ⫽
1
冑2 ␲
exp共 ⫺iEt 兲 ␺ l 共 r, ␸ 兲 , 共6兲
d 2F
dr 2 冋
⫹ E 2 ⫺m 2 ⫺eB 共 l⫹1 兲 ⫹
2EZ ␣ 1
r
⫺ 共 eBr 兲 2 F⫽0,
4 册
共14兲
where E is the energy of the electron, and

␺ l 共 r, ␸ 兲 ⫽ 冉 f 共 r 兲 e il ␸
g共 r 兲e i(l⫹1) ␸ 冊 共7兲
d 2G
dr 2 冋
⫹ E 2 ⫺m 2 ⫺eBl⫹
2EZ ␣ 1
r
⫺ 共 eBr 兲 2 G⫽0.
4 册
共15兲
with integral number l. The function ␺ l (r, ␸ ) is an eigen- The last term in these two equations, which is proportional to
function of the conserved total angular momentum J z ⫽L z r 2 , may be viewed as the ‘‘effective confining potential.’’
⫹S z ⫽⫺i ⳵ / ⳵␸ ⫹ ␴ 3 /2 with eigenvalue j⫽l⫹1/2. One can of The exact solutions and the energy eigenvalues with 0
course consider wave functions which are eigenfunctions of ⬍E⬍m corresponding to stationary states of the Dirac equa-
J z with eigenvalues l⫺1/2. These functions are of the forms tion 共10兲 with B⫽0 were found in Ref. 关5兴. The electron
of Eq. 共6兲 with ␺ l given by energy spectrum in the Coulomb field has the form

␺ l 共 r, ␸ 兲 ⫽ 冉 f 共 r 兲 e i(l⫺1) ␸
g共 r 兲e il ␸ 冊 . 共8兲 E⫽m 1⫹ 冋 共 Z␣ 兲2
关 n r ⫹ 冑共 l⫹1/2兲 2 ⫺ 共 Z ␣ 兲 2 兴 2
册 ⫺1/2

, 共16兲

However ansatz 共8兲 is equivalent to ansatz 共7兲 if one makes

where the values of the quantum number n r are n r
the change l→l⫺1. It should be remembered that l is not a
⫽0,1,2, . . . , if l⭓0, and n r ⫽1,2,3, . . . , if l⬍0. It is seen
good quantum number. This is evident from the fact that the
that
two components of ␺ l depend on the integer l in an asym-
E 0 ⫽m 冑1⫺ 共 2Z ␣ 兲 2
metric way. Only the eigenvalues j of the conserved total
共17兲
angular momentum J z are physically meaningful. For defi-
niteness, in the rest of this paper, all statements and conclu- for l⫽n r ⫽0, and E 0 becomes zero at Z ␣ ⫽1/2, whereas in
sions, whenever angular momentum number l is mentioned, three spatial dimensions E 0 equals zero at Z ␣ ⫽1. Thus, in
are made with reference to ansatz 共6兲 and 共7兲. two spatial dimensions the expression for the electron
Substituting Eqs. 共6兲 and 共7兲 in Eq. 共2兲, and taking into ground state energy in the Coulomb field of a point charge
account the equations
Ze no longer has a physical meaning at Z ␣ ⫽1/2. It is worth

冋 冉 冊册
noting that the corresponding solution of the Dirac equation
⳵ i ⳵ eBr
P x ⫾i P y ⫽⫺ie ⫾i ␸ ⫾ ⫺ , 共9兲 oscillates near the point r→0.
⳵r r ⳵␸ 2 For weak magnetic field the wave functions and energy
levels with E⬍m can be found from Eqs. 共12兲 and 共13兲 in
we obtain the semiclassical approximation. We look for solutions of

冉 冊 冉 冊
this system in the standard form
df l eBr Z␣
⫺ ⫹ f ⫹ E⫹m⫹ g⫽0, 共10兲
dr r 2 r F 共 r 兲 ⫽A 共 r 兲 exp关 iS 共 r 兲兴 , G 共 r 兲 ⫽B 共 r 兲 exp关 iS 共 r 兲兴 . 共18兲

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PLANAR DIRAC ELECTRON IN COULOMB AND . . . PHYSICAL REVIEW A 61 032104

Here A(r) and B(r) are slowly varying functions. Substitut-

ing Eq. 共18兲 into Eqs. 共12兲 and 共13兲, we arrive at an ordinary G 共 r 兲 ⫽r ␥ exp共 ⫺ar 2 /2兲 兺
n⫽0
␤ nr n, 共25兲
differential equation for S(r) in the form

冉 冊
dS
dr
2
⬅Q⫽E 2 ⫺m 2 ⫺eB 共 l⫹1/2兲 ⫹
2EZ ␣
r
with ␣ 0 ⫽0, ␤ 0 ⫽0. Substituting Eqs. 共24兲 and 共25兲 into Eqs.
共12兲 and 共13兲, we obtain

⫹
共 Z ␣ 兲 2 ⫺ 共 l⫹1/2兲 2
r 2
⫺
共 eBr 兲 2
4
. 共19兲 冋 冉 冊册 ␥ ⫺ l⫹
1
2
␣ 0 ⫹Z ␣␤ 0 ⫽0, 共26兲

The energy levels with E⬍m are defined by the formula

冋 冉 冊册 1

冉
共 ␥ ⫹1 兲 ⫺ l⫹ ␣ 1 ⫹Z ␣␤ 1 ⫹ 共 E⫹m 兲 ␤ 0 ⫽0, 共27兲
冕 r max 2
冑Qdr⫽ ␲ ⫺ 冑共 l⫹1/2兲 ⫺ 共 Z ␣ 兲
2 2

冋 冉 冊册
r min

冊
1
共 n⫹ ␥ 兲 ⫺ l⫹ ␣ n ⫹Z ␣␤ n ⫹ 共 E⫹m 兲 ␤ n⫺1 ⫺2a ␣ n⫺2
EZ ␣ 2
⫹ , 共20兲
冑兩 m 2 ⫹eB 共 l⫹1/2兲 ⫺E 2 兩 ⫽0 共 n⭓2 兲 共28兲
where r max and r min (r max⬎rmin) are roots of equation Q
⫽0. In obtaining Eq. 共20兲, the term (eBr) 2 in Q has been from Eq. 共12兲, and
dropped. If we require the energy spectrum to reduce to Eq.
共16兲 when B⫽0, we must equate the right-hand side of Eq.
共20兲 to ␲ n r . As a result we obtain 共for l⫽0兲 冉 ␥ ⫹l⫹
1
冊
␤ ⫺Z ␣␣ 0 ⫽0,
2 0
共29兲

冋 冉 冊 册冋 册 ⫺1/2
共 Z␣ 兲2
冉 冊
eB 1
E⫽ m⫹ l⫹ 1⫹ . 1
2m 2 关 n r ⫹ 冑共 l⫹1/2兲 2 ⫺ 共 Z ␣ 兲 2 兴 2 n⫹ ␥ ⫹l⫹ ␤ ⫺Z ␣␣ n ⫺ 共 E⫺m 兲 ␣ n⫺1 ⫽0 共 n⭓1 兲
2 n
共21兲
共30兲
In the nonrelativistic approximation the energy spectrum
takes the form from Eq. 共13兲.
Equations 共26兲 and 共29兲 allow us to express ␤ 0 in terms of
E non⫽⫺
共 Z ␣ 兲2m
2 共 n r ⫹ 兩 l⫹1/2兩 兲 2
⫹
eB
2m
1
冉 冊
l⫹ .
2
共22兲
␣ 0 in two forms:

Z␣
Semiclassical motion of electron in the magnetic and Cou- ␤ 0⫽ ␣0 共31兲
␥ ⫹l⫹ 1
2
lomb fields can be characterized by means of the so-called
‘‘magnetic length’’ l B ⫽ 冑1/eB and the Bohr radius a B
⫽1/Z ␣ m of a hydrogenlike atom of charge Ze. When the ␥ ⫺l⫺ 21
magnetic field is weak so that l B Ⰷa B , or equivalently, B ⫽⫺ ␣0 , 共32兲
Z␣
ⰆB cr ⬅(Z ␣ ) 2 m 2 /e, the energy spectrum is simply the spec-
trum of a hydrogenlike atom perturbed by a weak magnetic
field. We obtain the Zeeman splitting of atomic spectrum which are equivalent in view of the fact that ␥
depending linearly upon the magnetic field strength and the ⫽ 冑(l⫹1/2) 2 ⫺(Z ␣ ) 2 . Solving Eqs. 共27兲 and 共30兲 with n
‘‘magnetic quantum number’’ l⫹1/2. ⫽1 gives
In strong magnetic field the asymptotic solutions of F(r)
and G(r) have the forms exp(⫺ar2/2) with a⫽eB/2 at large 共 ␥ ⫹l⫹ 21 兲共 E⫺m 兲 ⫹ 共 ␥ ⫹l⫹ 23 兲共 E⫹m 兲
r, and r ␥ with ␣ 1 ⫽⫺ Z ␣␣ 0 ,
共 2 ␥ ⫹1 兲共 ␥ ⫹l⫹ 21 兲
␥ ⫽ 冑共 l⫹1/2兲 2 ⫺ 共 Z ␣ 兲 2 共23兲 共33兲

for small r. One must have Z ␣ ⬍1/2, otherwise the wave

2 共 ␥ ⫹l 兲 E⫺m
function will oscillate as r→0 when l⫽0 and l⫽⫺1. In this ␤ 1⫽ ␣0 . 共34兲
paper we shall look for solutions of F(r) and G(r) which 共 2 ␥ ⫹1 兲
can be expressed as a product of the asymptotic solutions
共for small and large r) and a series in the form From Eq. 共30兲 one sees that ␤ n (n⭓1) are obtainable from
␣ n and ␣ n⫺1 . To determine the recursion relations for the
␣ n , we simply eliminate ␤ n and ␤ n⫺1 in Eq. 共28兲 by means
F 共 r 兲 ⫽r ␥ exp共 ⫺ar 2 /2兲 兺
n⫽0
␣ nr n, 共24兲
of Eq. 共30兲. This leads to 共for n⭓2)

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CHOON-LIN HO AND V. R. KHALILOV PHYSICAL REVIEW A 61 032104

冉 n⫹ ␥ ⫹l⫺
1
2冊共 n 2 ⫹2n ␥ 兲 ␣ n ⫹Z ␣ 冋冉 n⫹ ␥ ⫹l⫺
1
2冊共 E⫺m 兲
(3⫹1)-dimensional Dirac equation 关10兴, the unfilled nega-
tive energy solutions are interpreted as positrons with posi-
tive energies.

冉
⫹ n⫹ ␥ ⫹l⫹
1
2冊 册
共 E⫹m 兲 ␣ n⫺1 ⫹ n⫹ ␥ ⫹l⫹冉1
2 冊 We mention once again that all the exact solutions pre-
sented below, including the restrictions for the values of l 共or
more appropriately, the values of the conserved total quan-

冋 冉
⫻ E 2 ⫺m 2 ⫺2a n⫹ ␥ ⫹l⫺
1
2 冊册 ␣ n⫺2 ⫽0. 共35兲
tum number j⫽l⫹1/2), are obtained according to the ansatz
共7兲, and Eqs. 共24兲 and 共25兲 with polynomial parts. Exact
solutions for the other parts of the energy spectrum, if at all
Following Ref. 关6兴, we impose the sufficient condition possible, would require ansatz of different forms which are
that the series parts of F(r) and G(r) should terminate ap- not known yet.
propriately in order to guarantee normalizability of the 共1兲 n⫽1. In this case we have ␣ 0 ⫽0 and ␣ n ⫽0 (n⭓1).
eigenfunctions. It follows from Eq. 共35兲 that the solution of From Eq. 共33兲 one obtains the energies
F(r) becomes a polynomial of degree (n⫺1) if the series
given by Eq. 共35兲 terminates at a certain n when ␣ n ⫽ ␣ n⫹1 m
E⫽⫺ . 共39兲
⫽0, and ␣ m ⫽0 (m⭓n⫹2) follow from Eq. 共35兲. Then 2 共 ␥ ⫹l⫹1 兲
from Eq. 共30兲 we have ␤ n⫹1 ⫽ ␤ n⫹2 ⫽•••⫽0. Thus in gen-
eral the polynomial part of the function G(r) is of one de- Equation 共38兲 with n⫽1 then gives the corresponding values
gree higher than that of F. Now suppose we have calculated of magnetic fields a. These results show that, with the ansatz
␣ n in terms of ␣ 0 ( ␣ 0 ⫽0) from Eqs. 共33兲 and 共35兲 in the assumed here, solution with positive energy cannot be ob-
form tained with n⫽1. Furthermore, the previously mentioned re-
quirement that E⭐⫺m can only be met with l⬍0.
␣ n ⫽K 共 l,n,E,a,Z 兲 ␣ 0 . 共36兲 共2兲 n⫽2. We now consider the next case, in which
␣ 0 , ␣ 1 ⫽0, and ␣ n ⫽0 (n⭓2). This also implies ␤ n ⫽0 (n
Then two conditions that ensure ␣ n ⫽0 and ␣ n⫹1 ⫽0 are ⫽0,1,2) and ␤ n ⫽0 (n⭓3). From Eqs. 共38兲, 共35兲, and 共33兲,
we must solve the following set of coupled equations for the
K 共 l,n,E,a,Z 兲 ⫽0 共37兲 possible values of E and a:

and
冉
E 2 ⫺m 2 ⫽2a 2⫹ ␥ ⫹l⫹
1
冊, 共40兲

冉 冊
2
1
E 2 ⫺m 2 ⫽2a n⫹ ␥ ⫹l⫹ , n⫽1,2, . . . . 共38兲
2 Z ␣ 关共 ⌫⫹1 兲共 E⫺m 兲 ⫹ 共 ⌫⫹2 兲共 E⫹m 兲兴 ␣ 1 ⫹2a 共 ⌫⫹2 兲 ␣ 0 ⫽0,
共41兲
Since the right hand side of Eq. 共38兲 is always non-negative
共for l⭓0, this is obvious; for l⭐⫺1, one has ⫺1/2⭐ ␥ ⫹l 共 2 ␥ ⫹1 兲 ⌫ ␣ 1 ⫹Z ␣ 关 ⌫ 共 E⫺m 兲 ⫹ 共 ⌫⫹1 兲共 E⫹m 兲兴 ␣ 0 ⫽0.
⫹ 12 ⭐0, recalling that Z ␣ ⬍1/2), we must have 兩 E 兩 ⭓m for 共42兲
the energy. We note here that, similar to the Schrödinger and
the Klein-Gordon case, the adopted ansatz guarantees the Here ⌫⬅ ␥ ⫹l⫹1/2. From these equations one can check
normalizability of the wavefunction, but does not provide that E satisfies the quadratic equation
energy levels with magnitudes below 兩 E 兩 ⫽m.
For any integer n, Eqs. 共37兲 and 共38兲 give us a certain
number of pairs (E,a) of energy E and the corresponding
magnetic field B 共or a) which would guarantee normalizabil-
冋 共 2⌫⫹1 兲共 2⌫⫹3 兲 ⫺
2 ␥ ⫹1
共 Z␣ 兲2
册
⌫ E 2 ⫹4m 共 ⌫⫹1 兲 E⫹m 2

ity of the wave function. Thus only parts of the whole spec-
trum of the system are exactly solved. The system can there-
fore be considered as an example of the quasiexactly
冋
⫻ 1⫹
2 ␥ ⫹1
共 Z␣ 兲2
册
⌫ ⫽0. 共43兲

solvable models defined in Ref. 关9兴. In principle the possible

values of E and a can be obtained by first expressing the a This can be solved by the standard formula. One must be
共or E) in Eq. 共37兲 in terms of E 共a兲 according to Eq. 共38兲. reminded of the constraint 兩 E 兩 ⭓m. For l⭓0, we can obtain
This gives an algebraic equation in E 共a兲 which can be analytic solutions with both positive and negative energies.
solved for real E (a). The corresponding values of a 共E兲 are But when l⬍0, analytic solutions can only be obtained for
then obtained from Eq. 共38兲. In practice the task could be negative energy E⭐⫺m. Furthermore, it can be checked that
tedious. We shall consider only the simplest cases below, 兩 E 兩 is a monotonic decreasing 共increasing兲 function of
namely, those with n⫽1, 2 and 3. In these cases, the solu- 兩 l 兩 (Z ␣ ) at fixed Z ␣ (l).
tion of the pair (E,a) is unique for fixed Z and l. In general, For Z ␣ Ⰶ1/2, i.e. for light hydrogenlike atoms, we can
for n⬎3, there could exist several pairs of values (E,a) 共see write down approximate expression for energy near the mass
Refs. 关6,7兴兲. Unlike the nonrelativistic case, here negative value, i.e., 兩 E 兩 ⯝m. We can obtain from Eq. 共43兲 the approxi-
energy solutions are possible. As in the case of the mate values of E:

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PLANAR DIRAC ELECTRON IN COULOMB AND . . . PHYSICAL REVIEW A 61 032104

E ⫹ ⫽m 1⫹冋 2共 Z␣ 兲2
共 2 ␥ ⫹1 兲 ⌫
册
共 ⌫⫹1 兲共 ⌫⫹2 兲 , l⭓0, 共44兲
compare with the results considered in Ref. 关6兴, it would be
appropriate to study the nodal structures of the function F(r)
for positive energy solutions in the limit E⯝m. It is easy to
for positive energies, and see from Eq. 共41兲 or 共42兲 that in this limit, ␣ 0 and ␣ 0 have

冋 册
opposite signs. Thus F(r) has only one node in this limit,
2共 Z␣ 兲2 which is the same as in the Schrödinger case.
E ⫺ ⫽⫺m 1⫹ 共 ⌫⫹1 兲 , l⭓0 and l⬍0, 共3兲 n⫽3. For the case of n⫽3, exact solution of Eqs. 共37兲
共 2 ␥ ⫹1 兲
共45兲 and 共38兲 becomes much more tedious. Now the values of E
and a are solved by the following coupled equations:
for negative energies 关in fact, it can be checked from Eq.
共43兲 that for l⬍0, E is always close to ⫺m for any Z ␣ E 2 ⫺m 2 ⫽2a 共 ⌫⫹3 兲 , 共47兲
⬍1/2兴.
When Z ␣ is close to Z ␣ ⫽1/2, we have 兩 E 兩 Ⰷm for l⭓0. Z ␣ 关共 ⌫⫹2 兲共 E⫺m 兲 ⫹ 共 ⌫⫹3 兲共 E⫹m 兲兴 ␣ 2 ⫹2a 共 ⌫⫹3 兲 ␣ 1 ⫽0,
In this case the energy E can be approximated by 共48兲

冋
E⫽⫾m 1⫺ 共 Z ␣ 兲 2
共 2⌫⫹1 兲共 2⌫⫹3 兲
共 2 ␥ ⫹1 兲 ⌫
册 ⫺1/2
. 共46兲
4 共 ␥ ⫹1 兲共 ⌫⫹1 兲 ␣ 2 ⫹Z ␣ 关共 ⌫⫹1 兲共 E⫺m 兲
⫹ 共 ⌫⫹2 兲共 E⫹m 兲兴 ␣ 1 ⫹4a 共 ⌫⫹2 兲 ␣ 0 ⫽0, 共49兲
A consequence following from this formula is that, for each
共 2 ␥ ⫹1 兲 ⌫ ␣ 1 ⫹Z ␣ 关 ⌫ 共 E⫺m 兲 ⫹ 共 ⌫⫹1 兲共 E⫹m 兲兴 ␣ 0 ⫽0.
l⭓0, there is a critical value of Z beyond which polynomial 共50兲
solution with n⫽2 is impossible. The critical value of Z for
each l is found by setting the expression in the square root of In place of Eq. 共43兲 we now have a cubic equation for the
Eq. 共46兲 to zero. For l⫽0 and l⫽1, the critical values of Z energy E. We shall not attempt to solve it here. It turns out
are Z ␣ ⫽1/2.936 and 1/2.316, respectively. that the equation satisfied by E can be reduced to quadratic
In the nonrelativistic limit 共see Sec. III兲, it is the upper, or ones without linear term in E in the low magnitude
the large, component f (r) of the Dirac wave function that ( 兩 E 兩 ⬇m) and the high magnitude ( 兩 E 兩 Ⰷm) limit, which cor-
reduces to the Schrödinger wave function. Hence, in order to respond to small and large Z, respectively. The results are

E ⫹ ⫽m 1⫺冋 2 共 Z ␣ 兲 2 共 ⌫⫹1 兲共 ⌫⫹2 兲共 ⌫⫹3 兲

共 2 ␥ ⫹1 兲 ⌫ 共 ⌫⫹2 兲 ⫹2 共 ␥ ⫹1 兲共 ⌫⫹1 兲 2
册 ⫺1/2

共51兲

and

E ⫺ ⫽⫺m 1⫺ 冋 2 共 Z ␣ 兲 2 共 ⌫⫹1 兲共 ⌫⫹2 兲共 ⌫⫹3 兲

共 2 ␥ ⫹1 兲共 ⌫⫹2 兲 2 ⫹2 共 ␥ ⫹1 兲共 ⌫⫹1 兲共 ⌫⫹3 兲
册 ⫺1/2

共52兲

for 兩 E 兩 ⬇m, and

E⫽⫾m 1⫺ 冋 2 共 Z ␣ 兲 2 共 ⌫⫹1/2兲共 ⌫⫹3/2兲共 ⌫⫹5/2兲共 ⌫⫹3 兲

共 2 ␥ ⫹1 兲 ⌫ 共 ⌫⫹5/2兲共 ⌫⫹2 兲 ⫹2 共 ␥ ⫹1 兲共 ⌫⫹1/2兲共 ⌫⫹1 兲共 ⌫⫹3 兲
册 ⫺1/2
共53兲

for 兩 E 兩 Ⰷm. The corresponding values of the magnetic field ␣1 EZ ␣

are obtained by substituting Eqs. 共51兲, 共52兲, or 共53兲 into Eq. ⫽⫺ , 共55兲
␣2 a
共47兲. For l⫽⫺1, Eq. 共53兲 is real only for 1/2.65⬍Z ␣ ⬍1/2.
As in the n⫽2 case, we shall also investigate the nodal ␣0 共 2 ␥ ⫹1 兲 ⌫ ␣ 1
structures of the function F(r) for positive energy solutions ⫽⫺ . 共56兲
in the limit E⯝m. The zeros of the polynomial part of F(r) ␣2 2EZ ␣ 共 ⌫⫹1 兲 ␣ 2
is given by
We see from Eq. 共55兲 that ␣ 1 / ␣ 2 ⬍0 in this limit.
1
r 0⫽ ⫺
2
冋 冉 冊 冑冉 冊 冉 冊 册
␣1
␣2
⫾
␣1 2
␣2
⫺4
␣0
␣2
. 共54兲
For negative l⬍0, which implies ⫺1/2⭐⌫⬍0, we also
have ␣ 0 / ␣ 2 ⬍0. Equation 共54兲 then implies that there is only
one positive zero of F(r). Hence the wave function has only
Note that physical solutions of r 0 , if exist, must be non- one node for l⬍0.
negative. In the limit E⯝m, Eqs. 共48兲 and 共50兲 give approxi- When l⭓0, we have ⌫⬎0, and hence ␣ 0 / ␣ 2 ⬎0. It can
mately be checked from Eqs. 共47兲, 共51兲, 共55兲, and 共56兲 that

032104-5
CHOON-LIN HO AND V. R. KHALILOV PHYSICAL REVIEW A 61 032104

( ␣ 1 / ␣ 2 ) 2 ⬎4( ␣ 0 / ␣ 2 ). Thus F(r) has two positive zeros.

This is also consistent with the results presented in Ref. 关6兴
for the Schrödinger case 共see also the last part of the follow-
冋 冉 冊 冉 冊册
d2
dx 2
⫹
2␥
x
⫺x
d
dx
⫹ ⑀⫾
b
x
Q 共 x 兲 ⫽0. 共61兲

ing section兲.
Here x⫽r/l B , l B ⫽1/冑eB, ␥ ⫽ 兩 l 兩 ⫹1/2, b⫽2m 兩 Z 兩 ␣ l B
III. NONRELATIVISTIC LIMIT AND METHOD ⫽ 兩 Z 兩 ␣ 冑2m/ ␻ L , and ⑀ ⫽E/ ␻ L ⫺(2⫹l⫹ 兩 l 兩 ). The upper
OF FACTORIZATION 共lower兲 sign in Eq. 共61兲 corresponds to the case of attractive
共repulsive兲 Coulomb interaction. This will be assumed
The electron in 2⫹1 dimensions in the nonrelativistic ap- throughout the rest of the paper.
proximation is described by one-component wave function. It is seen that the problem of finding spectrum for Eq. 共61兲
This can easily be shown in full analogy with the is equivalent to determining the eigenvalues of the operator
(3⫹1)-dimensional case. Let us represent ⌿ in the form

⌿⫽exp共 ⫺imt 兲 冉冊␺

共57兲
H⫽⫺
d2
dx 2
⫺ 冉 2␥
x
⫺x
d b
冊
⫿ .
dx x
共62兲
␹
We want to factorize the operator 共62兲 in the form
and substitute Eq. 共57兲 into Eq. 共2兲. This results in, to the
first order in 1/c, the following Schrödinger-type equation H⫽a ⫹ a⫹ p, 共63兲
共instead of the Schrödinger-Pauli equation in 3⫹1 dimen-
sions兲: where the quantum numbers p are related to the eigenvalues

冉 冊
of Eq. 共61兲 by p⫽ ⑀ . The eigenfunctions of the operator H at
⳵␺ P 21 ⫹ P 22 eB Ze 2 p⫽0 must satisfy the equation
i ⫽ ⫹ ⫺ ␺, 共58兲
⳵t 2m 2m r
a ␺ ⫽0. 共64兲
where, as before, P k ⫽⫺i ⳵ k ⫹eA k denote the generalized
momentum operators. The term eB/2m in Eq. 共58兲 indicates Suppose polynomial solutions exist for Eq. 共61兲, say Q
that the electron has gyromagnetic factor g⫽2 as in the (3 ⫽ 兿 k⫽1
s
(x⫺x k ), where x k are the zeros of Q, and s is the
⫹1)-dimensional case 关10兴. degree of Q. Then the operator a must have the form
One can now proceed in the same manner as in the Dirac
s
case to solve for the possible energies and magnetic fields. ⳵ 1
We shall not repeat it here. More simply, we make use of the a⫽ ⫺ 兺
⳵ x k⫽1 x⫺x k
共65兲
fact that Eq. 共58兲 differs from the Schrödinger equation dis-
cussed in Ref. 关6兴 only by the positive spin correction term and the operator a ⫹ has the form
␻ L ⫽eB/2m, which is the Larmor frequency. We thus con-
clude that the denumerably infinite set of magnetic field ⳵ 2␥ 1
s
strengths obtained in 关6兴 are still intact, but the correspond- a ⫽⫺ ⫺
⳵x
⫹
x
⫹x⫺
k⫽1 x⫺x k
. 兺 共66兲
ing values of the possible energies are all shifted by an
amount ␻ L , i.e.,
Substituting Eqs. 共65兲 and 共66兲 into 共63兲 and then com-
E⫽ ␻ L 共 n⫹1⫹l⫹ 兩 l 兩 兲 . 共59兲 paring the result with Eq. 共62兲, we obtain the following set of
equations for the zeros x k 共the so-called Bethe ansatz equa-
Simply put, the quantum number n in 关6兴 is changed to n tions 关9兴兲:
⫹1.
s
Let us note here that the energies and magnetic fields in 2␥ 1
this case may also be found by means of a method closely xk
⫺x k ⫺2 兺
j⫽k x j ⫺x k
⫽0, k⫽1, . . . ,s, 共67兲
resembling the method of factorization in nonrelativistic
quantum mechanics. We shall discuss this method briefly as well as the two relations
below. Both the attractive and repulsive Coulomb interac-
tions will be considered, since planar two electron systems in s
strong external homogeneous magnetic field 共perpendicular
to the plane in which the electrons is located兲 are also of
⫾b⫽2 ␥ 兺
k⫽1
x ⫺1
k , s⫽p. 共68兲

considerable interest for the understanding of the fractional

quantum Hall effect. Let us assume Summing all the s equations in Eq. 共67兲 enables us to rewrite
the first relation in Eq. 共68兲 as
1
␺ 共 t,x兲 ⫽ exp共 ⫺iEt⫹il ␸ 兲 r 兩 l 兩 exp共 ⫺ar 2 /2兲 Q 共 r 兲 , s
冑2 ␲ ⫾b⫽ 兺 xk . 共69兲
共60兲 k⫽1

where Q is a polynomial, and a⫽eB/2 as defined before. From these formulas we can find the simplest solutions as
Substituting Eq. 共60兲 into Eq. 共58兲, we have well as the values of energy and magnetic field strength. The

032104-6
PLANAR DIRAC ELECTRON IN COULOMB AND . . . PHYSICAL REVIEW A 61 032104

second relation in 共68兲 gives E⫽ ␻ L (2⫹s⫹l⫹ 兩 l 兩 ), which is wave function for s⫽1 has one node 共first excited state兲 and
the same as in Eq. 共59兲 noting that n⫽s⫹1. the wave function for s⫽2 has two nodes 共second excited
For s⫽1,2 the zeros x k and the values of the parameter b state兲.
for which solutions in terms of polynomial of the corre-
sponding degrees exist can easily be found from Eqs. 共67兲
IV. CONCLUSIONS
and 共69兲 in the form
In this paper we considered solutions of the Dirac equa-
s⫽1, x 1 ⫽⫾ 冑2 兩 l 兩 ⫹1, b⫽ 冑2 兩 l 兩 ⫹1, tion in two spatial dimensions in the Coulomb and homoge-
neous magnetic fields. It was shown by using semiclassical
s⫽2, x 1 ⫽ 共 2 兩 l 兩 ⫹1 兲 /x 2 , x 2 ⫽⫾ 共 1⫹ 冑4 兩 l 兩 ⫹3 兲 / 冑2, approximation that for weak magnetic fields all discrete en-
b⫽ 冑2 共 4 兩 l 兩 ⫹3 兲 .
ergy eigenvalues are negative levels of a hydrogenlike atom
共70兲
perturbed by the magnetic field. For large magnetic fields,
From Eq. 共70兲 and the definition of b one has the correspond- analytic solutions of the Dirac equation are possible for a
ing values of magnetic field strengths denumerably infinite set of magnetic field strengths, if the
two components of the wave function are assumed to have
共 Z␣ 兲2 the forms 共24兲 and 共25兲 with terminating polynomial parts.
␻ L ⫽2m , s⫽1, Such forms will guarantee normalizability of the wave func-
2 兩 l 兩 ⫹1
tions. We presented the exact recursion relations that deter-
共 Z␣ 兲2 mine the coefficients of the series expansion for solutions of
␻ L ⫽m , s⫽2, 共71兲 the Dirac equation, the possible energies and the magnetic
4 兩 l 兩 ⫹3
fields. Exact and/or approximate expressions of the energy
as well as the energies are explicitly given for the three simplest cases. For low
positive energy solutions, we also investigate the nodal struc-
2m 共 Z ␣ 兲 2 tures of the large components of the Dirac wave functions,
E 1⫽ 共 3⫹l⫹ 兩 l 兩 兲 , and find that they are the same as in the Schrödinger case.
2 共 2 兩 l 兩 ⫹1 兲
We emphasize that, by assuming a sufficient condition on the
m共 Z␣ 兲2 wave function that guarantees normalizability, only parts of
E 2⫽ 共 4⫹l⫹ 兩 l 兩 兲 . 共72兲 the energy spectrum of this system are exactly solved for. In
共 4 兩 l 兩 ⫹3 兲
this sense the system can be considered a quasiexactly solv-
The corresponding polynomials are able model as defined in Ref. 关9兴. As in the Schrödinger and
the Klein-Gordon case, energy levels with magnitude below
Q 1 ⫽x⫺x 1 ⫽x⫿b, the mass value, which include the most interesting ground
state solution, cannot be obtained by our ansatz. For the cor-
2
responding case in 3⫹1 dimensions, no analytic solutions,
Q 2⫽ 兿
k⫽1
共 x⫺x k 兲 ⫽x 2 ⫿bx⫹2 兩 l 兩 ⫹1. 共73兲 even for parts of the spectrum, are possible.

The wave functions are described by Eq. 共60兲. For s⫽1,2 for ACKNOWLEDGMENT
the repulsive Coulomb field the wave functions do not have
nodes 共for 兩 l 兩 ⫽0,1), i.e., the states described by them are This work was supported in part by the Republic of China
ground states, while for the attractive Coulomb field the through Grant No. NSC 89-2112-M-032-004.

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