Analytical solution of the Schrödinger equation with 1 / r 3 and attractive 1 / r 2 potentials: Universal three-body parameter of mixed-dimensional Efimov states
Abstract
We study the Schrödinger equation with 1 / r 3 and attractive 1 / r 2 potentials. Using the quantum defect theory, we obtain analytical solutions for both repulsive and attractive 1 / r 3 interactions. The obtained discrete-scale-invariant energies and wave functions, validated by excellent agreement with numerical results, provide a natural framework for describing the universality of Efimov states in mixed dimension. Specifically, we consider a three-body system consisting of two heavy particles with large dipole moments confined to a quasi-one-dimensional geometry and resonantly interacting with an unconfined light particle. With the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, this system is effectively reduced to the Schrödinger equation with 1 / r 3 and 1 / r 2 potentials, and manifests the Efimov effect. Our analytical solution suggests that, for repulsive dipole interactions, the three-body parameter of the mixed-dimensional Efimov states is universally set by the dipolar length scale, whereas for attractive interactions it explicitly depends on the short-range phase. We also investigate the effects of finite transverse confinement and find that our analytical results are useful for describing the Efimov states composed of two polar molecules and a light atom.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Quantum Mechanics and Non-Hermitian Physics
Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates
Spectral Theory in Mathematical Physics
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Physical Review Research
- Publisher
- American Physical Society (APS)
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 2
- Publication date
- 2 April 2026
- Language
- EN