The periodic Lieb-Thirring inequality (Q2055107)

Summary: We discuss the Lieb-Thirring inequality for periodic systems, which has the same optimal constant as the original inequality for finite systems. This allows us to formulate a new conjecture about the value of its best constant. To demonstrate the importance of periodic states, we prove that the \(1D\) Lieb-Thirring inequality at the special exponent \(\gamma=\frac{3}{2}\) admits a one-parameter family of periodic optimizers, interpolating between the one-bound state and the uniform potential. Finally, we provide numerical simulations in 2D which support our conjecture that optimizers could be periodic. The Lieb-Thirring inequality [\textit{H. Lieb} and \textit{W. E. Thirring}, Phys. Rev. Lett. 35, No. 11, 687--689 (1975; \url{doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.35.687}); Stud. math. Phys., Essays Honor Valentine Bargmann, 269--303 (1976; Zbl 0342.35044)] plays an important role in mathematical physics. It has been used to give a short proof of the stability of matter [\textit{E. H. Lieb} and \textit{R. Seiringer}, The stability of matter in quantum mechanics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (2009; Zbl 1179.81004); \textit{H. Lieb} and \textit{W. E. Thirring}, löc. cit. (1975)] and it isa fundamental tool for studying large fermionic systems. A famous problem is to determine its \textit{optimal constant}. In this paper we discuss the extension of the Lieb-Thirring inequality to periodic systems, which has the same optimal constant as theoriginal inequality. In light of our recent work [Commun. Math. Phys. 384, No. 3, 1783--1828 (2021; Zbl 1465.35015)], we then formulate a conjecture about the value of this best constant, different from the original Lieb-Thirring conjecture in [\textit{W. E. Thirring}, löc. cit. (1976)]. In one space dimension we prove the optimality of some periodic potentials in the particular (completely integrable) case where the exponent equals \(\gamma=\frac{3}{2}\). Finally,we provide numerical simulations in two space dimensions which show that periodic potentials give a better constant than all previously considered functions. For the entire collection see [Zbl 1465.35005].