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The Thomas-Fermi-von Weizsäcker theory of atoms and molecules

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Abstract

We place the Thomas-Fermi-von Weizsäcker model of atoms on a firm mathematical footing. We prove existence and uniqueness of solutions of the Thomas-Fermi-von Weizsäcker equation as well as the fact that they minimize the Thomas-Fermi-von Weizsäcker energy functional. Moreover, we prove the existence of binding for two very dissimilar atoms in the frame of this model.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Rockefeller University, 10021, New York, NY, USA

    Rafael Benguria

  2. Département de Mathématiques, Université Paris VI, F-75230, Paris Cedex 05, France

    Haim Brezis

  3. Departments of Mathematics and Physics, Princeton University, 08544, Princeton, NJ, USA

    Elliott H. Lieb

Authors
  1. Rafael Benguria
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  2. Haim Brezis
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  3. Elliott H. Lieb
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Additional information

Communicated by A. Jaffe

on leave from Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile

Research supported by U. S. National Science Foundation under Grants MCS78-20455 (R. B.), PHY-7825390 A 01 (H. B. and E. L.), and Army Research Grant DAH 29-78-6-0127 (H. B.)

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Benguria, R., Brezis, H. & Lieb, E.H. The Thomas-Fermi-von Weizsäcker theory of atoms and molecules. Commun.Math. Phys. 79, 167–180 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01942059

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01942059

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