Infinite bound states and hydrogen atom-like energy spectrum induced by a flat band

Abstract

In this work, we investigate the bound-state problem in a one-dimensional spin-1 Dirac Hamiltonian with a flat band. It is found that the flat band has significant effects on the bound states. For example, for Dirac delta potential gδ(x), there exists one bound state for both the positive and negative potential strength g. Furthermore, when the potential is weak, the bound-state energy is proportional to the potential strength g. For square well potential, the flat band results in the existence of infinite bound states for arbitrarily weak potential. In addition, when the bound-state energy is very near the flat band, the energy displays a hydrogen atom-like spectrum, i.e. the bound-state energies are inversely proportional to the square of the natural number n (e.g., E n ∝ 1/n 2, n = 1, 2, 3, …). Most of the above nontrivial behaviors can be attributed to the infinitely large density of states of the flat band and its ensuing 1/z singularity of the Green function. The combination of a short-ranged potential and flat band provides a new possibility to get an infinite number of bound states and a hydrogen atom-like energy spectrum. In addition, our findings provide some useful insights and further our understanding of the many-body physics of the flat band.