EPJ

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EPJ D - Atomic, Molecular, Optical and Plasma Physics
Atomic, Molecular, Optical and Plasma Physics
Eur. Phys. J. D 56, 27-31 (2010)
DOI: 10.1140/epjd/e2009-00273-7

Landau description for an atomic screened system: the charge symmetry breaking effect

A.L.A. Penna1, J.B. Diniz1 and F.A. Oliveira1, 2

1  Institute of Physics and International Center for Condensed Matter Physics, CP 04513, 70919-970, Brasília-DF, Brazil
2  School of Physics, Korea Institute for Advanced Study, Seoul 130-722, Korea

faooliveira@gmail.com

Received 25 May 2009 / Received in final form 27 August 2009 / Published online 6 November 2009

Abstract
We have examined the presence of a charge symmetry breaking in a screened system. Using a Thomas-Fermi-type potential and a simple mathematical model, we show that screening on the nuclear charge $\alpha$ induces a charge parametrization $\alpha\rightarrow(\alpha,\beta)$ in which appears a new dual charge $\beta$ in the system. Considering this method, the binding energy of electron becomes invariant under parity symmetry for an order parameter $\rho=\beta-\alpha$. We find nontrivial solutions for $\rho$ at the minimum of energy which leads to the broken parity symmetry. The equations obtained for this new screening approach is very similar to the Landau theory of phase transition.

PACS
31.15.ae - Electronic structure and bonding characteristics.
01.55.+b - General physics.
05.70.Fh - Phase transitions: general studies.

© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2009

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