Incompatible Coulomb hamiltonian extensions

Abstract

We revisit the resolution of the one-dimensional Schrödinger hamiltonian with a Coulomb λ{|x| potential. We examine among its self-adjoint extensions those which are compatible with physical conservation laws. In the one-dimensional semi-infinite case, we show that they are classified on a U p1q circle in the attractive case and on pR,`8q in the repulsive one. In the one-dimensional infinite case, we find a specific and original classification by studying the continuity of eigenfunctions. In all cases, different extensions are incompatible one with the other. For an actual experiment with an attractive potential, the bound spectrum can be used to discriminate which extension is the correct one.