Noninteracting fermions in a one-dimensional harmonic atom trap: Exact one-particle properties at zero temperature

Abstract

One-particle properties of non-interacting Fermions in a one-dimensional harmonic trap and at zero temperature are studied. Exact expressions and asymptotic results for large Fermion number N are given for the particle density distribution n_0(z,N). For large N and near the classical boundary at the Fermi energy the density displays increasing fluctuations. A simple scaling of these tails of the density distribution with respect to N is established. The Fourier transform of the density distribution is calculated exactly. It displays a small but characteristic hump near 2 k_F with k_F being a properly defined Fermi wave number. This is due to Friedel oscillations which are identified and discussed. These quantum effects are missing in the semi-classical approximation. Momentum distributions are also evaluated and discussed. As an example of a time-dependent one-particle problem we calculate exactly the evolution of the particle density when the trap is suddenly switched off and find a simple scaling behaviour in agreement with recent general results.