Scattering theory for \(N\)-particle systems in constant magnetic fields (Q1345237)

The author considers multi-particle Stark Hamiltonians in uniform electrical fields, where, for simplicity, the masses of the particles are considered to be equal. The problem is formulated in the centre-of-mass frame with the Hamiltonian \(H\) acting in \(L^2 (X)\), where \[ X = \left\{ r = (r_1, \ldots, r_N) \in \mathbb{R}^{3N}, \sum^N_{j = 1} r_i = 0 \right\}, \quad H = - \Delta/2 - (E,x) + V \text{ on } L^2 (X). \] It is supposed that \(|E |\neq 0\) or in other terms that \(e_j \neq e_k\) for some pair \((j,k)\). A more refined analysis is involved requiring a cluster analysis depending on whether pairs of charges \(e_j\) and \(e_k\) take the same value or not. In the latter case, the \((j,k)\)-th pair may form a bound state at some energy and the solution \(\varphi (t)\) to the Schrödinger equation has scattering channels associated with such bound states as asymptotic states. The results which are given may be summarised as follows. Suppose that the pair potentials \(V_{jk}\) satisfy the following condition \[ V_{jk} (y) \in C^2 (\mathbb{R}^3) \text{ with } \bigl |V_{jk} (y) \bigr |+ \bigl |\nabla V_{jk} (y) \bigr |= O \bigl( |y |^{-p} \bigr), \quad p > 2,\;\bigl |\nabla \nabla V_{jk} (y) \bigr |= O(1). \tag{V} \] Then \(H\) has no bound states and a form of the limit absorption principle is valid. Cluster Hamiltonians \(H_a\) may be defined via \[ H_a = - \Delta/2 - \langle E,x \rangle + V^a \text{ on } L^2 (X), \] where \(V^a(r) = \sum_{\alpha \in a} V_\alpha (r^\alpha)\), \(r^\alpha = r_j - r_k\) and \(a\) is a cluster decomposition. Let \(X^a = \{r \in X : \sum_{j \in C} rj = 0\) for all clusters \(C\) in \(a\}\) and let \(E^a\) be the projection of \(E\) on \(X^a\). Let \(\Gamma = \{a : E^a = 0,2 \leq \# a \leq N - 1\}\). For asymptotic completeness it is necessary to suppose in addition to (V) that (VS) holds: \[ V_\alpha (y) = O \bigl( |y |^{-d} \bigr), \qquad d > 1, \tag{VS} \] for any \(\alpha \in a\) with \(a \in \Gamma\). \(L^2 (X)\) may be decomposed as \(L^2 (X^a) \otimes L^2 (X_a)\), \(X_a = \{r \in X : r^\alpha = r_j\), \(r_k = 0\) for all pairs \(\alpha \subset a\}\). Let \(P^a\) be the eigenprojection associated with the subsystem Hamiltonian \(H^a = - \Delta/2 - \langle E^a, x^a \rangle + V^a\) on \(L^2 (X^2)\). One may define the cluster wave operators \[ W_a^\pm = s - \lim_{t \to \pm \infty} \bigl( \exp (\text{it} H) \exp (- \text{it} H_a) \bigr)\;(P^a \otimes I) \] as well as \(W^\pm_0 = s - \lim_{t \to \pm \infty} (\exp (\text{it} H) \exp (- \text{it} H_0)\). Under the hypotheses (V) and (VS), \(W_0^\pm\), \(W^\pm_a\), \(a \in \Gamma\), exist and are asymptotically complete. An important ingredient in the analysis is the introduction of a modified conjugate operator \(A\) following the method of Mourre, this operator being suitably adapted to the Stark Hamiltonians. The nonexistence of bound states is established using a method developed by Froese-Herbst while the principle of limiting absorption follows from general techniques of Perry, Sigal and Simon. The asymptotic completeness of the wave-operators depends on certain propagation estimates.