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Perturbation theory without power series: iterative construction of non-analytic operator spectra

by Matteo Smerlak

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Submission summary

Authors (as registered SciPost users): Matteo Smerlak
Submission information
Preprint Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2105.04972v4  (pdf)
Date submitted: 2022-01-02 13:57
Submitted by: Smerlak, Matteo
Submitted to: SciPost Physics
Ontological classification
Academic field: Physics
Specialties:
  • Mathematical Physics
  • Quantum Physics
Approach: Theoretical

Abstract

It is well known that quantum-mechanical perturbation theory often gives rise to divergent series that require proper resummation. Here I discuss simple ways in which these divergences can be avoided in the first place. Using the elementary technique of relaxed fixed-point iteration, I obtain convergent expressions for various challenging ground states wavefunctions, including quartic, sextic, and octic anharmonic oscillators, the hydrogenic Zeeman problem, and the Herbst-Simon Hamiltonian (with finite energy but vanishing Rayleigh-Schrödinger coefficients), all at arbitrarily strong coupling. These results challenge the notion that non-analytic functions of coupling constants are intrinsically "non-perturbative". A possible application to exact diagonalization is briefly discussed.

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Has been resubmitted

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