From a particle in a box to the uncertainty relation in a quantum dot and to reflecting walls for relativistic fermions (Q664773)

At first, the authors discuss a particle confined to a finite interval with general perfectly reflecting boundary conditions (Robin boundary conditions which interpolate between Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions). For simplicity, the Hamiltonian is restricted to the kinetic energy operator \(H={p^2\over 2m}=-{1\over 2m}\partial_x^2\). This boundary condition contains a real-valued parameter that characterizes a 1-parameter family of self-adjoint extensions of the quantum mechanical Hamiltonian. For some extensions there may be negative energy states, which seem to violate the Heisenberg uncertainty relation. But one must realize that the Heisenberg uncertainty relation was derived for an infinite volume. So, the authors derive a variant of the Heisenberg uncertainty relation, taking into account the boundary condition. In the infinite volume limit, this variant of the uncertainty relation reduces to the standard uncertainty principle. The main results of the paper under review include the analysis of an arbitrarily shaped quantum dot (with Hamiltonian \(H=-{1\over 2m}\Delta+V\) and non-singular potential \(V\)) with general perfectly reflecting walls in \(d\) dimensions. The authors derive a generalized uncertainty relation. In addition, a general uncertainty relation for non-Hermitian operators is derived and applied to the non-Hermitian momentum operator \(\vec{p}=-i\vec{\nabla}\) in a quantum dot. The authors consider also minimal uncertainty wave packets in this situation, and prove that the spectrum depends monotonically on the self-adjoint extension parameter. Construction of the most general boundary conditions for semiconductor heterostructures such as quantum dots, quantum wires, and quantum wells, which are characterized by a 4-parameter family of self-adjoint extensions, is presented. Finally, the authors consider perfectly reflecting boundary conditions for relativistic fermions confined to a finite volume or localized on a domain wall, which are characterized by a 1-parameter family of self-adjoint extensions in the (1+1)-\(d\) and (2+1)-\(d\) cases, and by a 4-parameter family in the (3+1)-\(d\) and (4+1)-\(d\) cases.