Scott Correction for Large Atoms and Molecules in a Self-Generated Magnetic Field

Abstract

We consider a large neutral molecule with total nuclear charge $Z$ in non-relativistic quantum mechanics with a self-generated classical electromagnetic field. To ensure stability, we assume that $Z\al^2\le \kappa_0$ for a sufficiently small $\kappa_0$, where $\al$ denotes the fine structure constant. We show that, in the simultaneous limit $Z\to\infty$, $\al\to 0$ such that $\kappa =Z\al^2$ is fixed, the ground state energy of the system is given by a two term expansion $c_1Z^{7/3} + c_2(\kappa) Z^2 + o(Z^2)$. The leading term is given by the non-magnetic Thomas-Fermi theory. Our result shows that the magnetic field affects only the second (so-called Scott) term in the expansion.