Fractionalization of angular momentum at finite temperature around a magnetic vortex

Ambiguities in the definition of angular momentum of a quantum-mechanical particle in the presence of a magnetic vortex are reviewed. We show that the long-standing problem of the adequate definition is resolved in the framework of the second-quantized theory at nonzero temperature. Planar relativis...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of physics 2007-04, Vol.322 (4), p.977-1004
Main Authors: Sitenko, Yu.A., Vlasii, N.D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS
Definitions
FERMI GAS
FERMIONS
FLUCTUATIONS
Kinetics
Physics
QUANTUM MECHANICS
Quantum theory
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
VORTICES
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Summary:Ambiguities in the definition of angular momentum of a quantum-mechanical particle in the presence of a magnetic vortex are reviewed. We show that the long-standing problem of the adequate definition is resolved in the framework of the second-quantized theory at nonzero temperature. Planar relativistic Fermi gas in the background of a point-like magnetic vortex with arbitrary flux is considered, and we find thermal averages, quadratic fluctuations, and correlations of all observables, including angular momentum, in this system. The kinetic definition of angular momentum is picked out unambiguously by the requirement of plausible behaviour for the angular momentum fluctuation and its correlation with fermion number.
ISSN:0003-4916
1096-035X
DOI:10.1016/j.aop.2006.05.006