Bound-like states in a one-dimensional self-similar -barrier array
Phys. Rev. A 112, 013319 – Published 29 July, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/kbty-mxxb
Abstract
We investigate a one-dimensional quantum system with a self-similar arrangement of -function potential barriers, exhibiting discrete scale invariance. The singular potential induces kinematically enforced symmetry breaking at , decoupling the positive and negative spatial regions and leading to nonsymmetric zero-energy states. We demonstrate that the system supports a unique zero-energy wave function, which, although it is not square integrable, decays to zero at infinity and acts as a bound-like state with self-similar properties under discrete scaling transformations, akin to Efimov physics but limited to a single state. In momentum space, this wave function exhibits a threshold singularity at low momenta, with behavior depending on the scaling exponent : power-law divergence and log-periodic modulations for , logarithmic divergence for , and a finite limit for , which may be observable through time-of-flight or spectroscopic measurements in cold-atom experiments. The system's continuous spectrum, starting at zero energy, lacks discrete bound states. These findings highlight the role of singular potentials in generating scale-invariant quantum phenomena and provide a minimal framework for studying discrete scale symmetry and its potential experimental signatures.