Three two-component fermions with contact interactions: correct formulation and energy spectrum

TL;DR

This paper develops a rigorous formulation for three two-component fermions with contact interactions, analyzing their energy spectrum and bound states across various angular momentum and parity sectors, introducing a parameter for wave function behavior at triple-collision points.

Contribution

It introduces a one-parameter family of self-adjoint Hamiltonians for the system, clarifying the problem's formulation and calculating bound-state energies in different angular momentum sectors.

Findings

Bound-state energies depend on mass ratio and parameter b.

Phase diagrams illustrate bound state existence regions.

Formulation resolves ambiguities in the zero-range interaction model.

Abstract

Properties of two identical particles of mass $m$ and a distinct particle of mass $m_1$ in the universal low-energy limit of zero-range two-body interaction are studied in different sectors of total angular momentum $L$ and parity $P$. For the unambiguous formulation of the problem in the interval $\mu_r(L^P) < m/m_1 \le \mu_c(L^P)$ ($\mu_r(1^-) \approx 8.619$ and $\mu_c(1^-) \approx 13.607$, $\mu_r(2^+) \approx 32.948$ and $\mu_c(2^+) \approx 38.630$,~etc.) in each $L^P$ sector an additional parameter $b$ determining the wave function near the triple-collision point is introduced; thus, a one-parameter family of self-adjoint Hamiltonians is defined. Within the framework of this formulation, dependence of the bound-state energies on $m/m_1$ and $b$ in the sector of angular momentum and parity $L^P$ is calculated for $L \le 5$ and analysed with the aid of a simple model. A number of the bound states for each $L^P$ sector is analysed and presented in the form of `phase diagrams' in the plane of two parameters $m/m_1$ and $b$.