Kirzhnits gradient expansion for a D-dimensional Fermi gas

Abstract

For an ideal D-dimensional Fermi gas under generic external confinement we derive the correcting coefficient $(D-2)/3D$ of the von Weizsacker term in the kinetic energy density. To obtain this coefficient we use the Kirzhnits semiclassical expansion of the number operator up to the second order in the Planck constant $\hbar$. Within this simple and direct approach we determine the differential equation of the density profile and the density functional of the Fermi gas. In the case D=2 we find that the Kirzhnits gradient corrections vanish to all order in $\hbar$.