Physics:Anderson orthogonality theorem

Short description: Theorem in physics

The Anderson orthogonality theorem is a theorem in physics by the physicist P. W. Anderson.

It relates to the introduction of a magnetic impurity in a metal. When a magnetic impurity is introduced into a metal, the conduction electrons will tend to screen the potential [math]\displaystyle{ V(r) }[/math] that the impurity creates. The N-electron ground state for the system when [math]\displaystyle{ V(r) = 0 }[/math], which corresponds to the absence of the impurity and [math]\displaystyle{ V(r) \neq 0 }[/math], which corresponds to the introduction of the impurity are orthogonal in the thermodynamic limit [math]\displaystyle{ N \to \infty }[/math].

References

• P. W. Anderson (1967). "Infrared Catastrophe in Fermi Gases with Local Scattering Potentials". Physical Review Letters 18 (24): 1049. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.18.1049. Bibcode: 1967PhRvL..18.1049A. 
• P. W. Anderson (1967). "Ground State of a Magnetic Impurity in a Metal". Physical Review 164 (2): 352. doi:10.1103/PhysRev.164.352. Bibcode: 1967PhRv..164..352A.