Double-valuedness of the electron wave function and rotational zero-point motion of electrons in rings

TL;DR

This paper proposes that electrons in rings have a minimum angular momentum of 5/2 due to a phase change of 5 in their wave function, explaining quantum pressure, spin currents, and persistent currents in mesoscopic systems.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of double-valued wave functions for electrons in rings, providing a new physical explanation for quantum pressure and persistent currents.

Findings

Electrons in rings have a minimum angular momentum of 5/2.

The phase change of 5 explains quantum pressure and spin currents.

Persistent currents in mesoscopic rings are accounted for by this model.

Abstract

I propose that the phase of an electron's wave function changes by $\pi$ when the electron goes around a loop maintaining phase coherence. Equivalently, that the minimum orbital angular momentum of an electron in a ring is $\hbar/2$ rather than zero as generally assumed, hence that the electron in a ring has azimuthal zero point motion. This proposal provides a physical explanation for the origin of electronic `quantum pressure', it implies that a spin current exists in the ground state of aromatic ring molecules, and it suggests an explanation for the ubiquitousness of persistent currents observed in mesoscopic rings.