Energy dependence on fractional charge for strongly interacting subsystems

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the energy of strongly interacting subsystems depends on fractional charges, deriving an ensemble representation valid at all interaction strengths and revealing new correlations between charge and temperature.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive ensemble framework for charge dependence in strongly interacting systems and explores the relationship between charge, energy, and temperature in open systems.

Findings

Derived an ensemble representation valid at all interaction strengths.

Established physical constraints on occupation numbers in strong interactions.

Linked ground-state charge to electronic temperature in open systems.

Abstract

The energies of a pair of strongly-interacting subsystems with arbitrary noninteger charges are examined from closed and open system perspectives. An ensemble representation of the charge dependence is derived, valid at all interaction strengths. Transforming from resonance-state ionicity to ensemble charge dependence imposes physical constraints on the occupation numbers in the strong-interaction limit. For open systems, the chemical potential is evaluated using microscopic and thermodynamic models, leading to a novel correlation between ground-state charge and an electronic temperature.