Applied Math Seminar
Spring Quarter 2002
3:15 p.m.
Sloan Mathematics Corner
Building 380, Room 380-C


Friday, May 24, 2002


Dr. N. S. Witte
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
&
School of Physics
University of Melbourne, Australia
nsw@ms.unimelb.edu.au

The finite one-dimensional Impenetrable Bose Gas and
Painleve's sixth Transcendent.


Abstract:

The density matrix for the one-dimensional system of $ N $ impenetrable bosons at zero temperature on the circle has been found as the $ \tau$-function of a particular member of the elliptic class of Painlev\'e's sixth transcendent. The Painlev\'e transcendents are solutions to a class of nonlinear differential equations first studied almost a century ago which have the special property of Painlev\'e integrability - i.e. the absence of movable branch points, and about which a lot is currently known. A differential equation, of second-order and second degree, is derived for the logarithmic derivative of the density matrix, the so-called Jimbo-Miwa-Ueno $ \sigma-$function form. Using a result due to Lenard (1964), that the density matrix also has a Toeplitz determinant form it is possible to relate this problem to a system of orthogonal polynomials on the unit circle with a generalised Jacobi weight. From this observation a nonlinear third order difference equation for the density matrix in the boson number $ N $ can be found. Utilising these results we can give an exact expression for the growth of the momentum distribution $ n(k) $ of the bosons near the central peak $ k=0 $ as $ N \to \infty $, i.e. $ \rho_{N}(0) \propto \sqrt{N} $ which is of interest in the recent experiments which confine a finite number of bosons in quasi-one dimensional traps. Implications of our current knowledge of integrable systems with the Painlev\'e property for one-dimensional systems of impenetrable bosons confined by potentials, or in different geometries and subject to different boundary conditions may be explored given time.

This is work done jointly with Peter Forrester (Mathematics and Statistics), Norm Frankel (Physics) and Tim Garoni (Physics) with the support of the Australian Research Council.

Seminar Main Page