Topological Pauli Phase and Fractional Quantization of Orbital Angular Momentum in the Problems of Classical and Quantum Physics

Abstract

Physical problems for which the existence of non-trivial topological Pauli phase (i.e. fractional quantization of angular orbital angular momenta that is possible in 2D case) is essential are discussed within the framework of two-dimensional Helmholtz, Schroedinger and Dirac equations. As examples in classical field theory we consider a "wedge problem" -- a description of a field generated by a point charge between two conducting half-planes -- and a Fresnel diffraction from knife-edge. In few-electron circular quantum dots the choice between integer and half-integer quantization of orbital angular momenta is defined by the Pauli principle. This is in line with precise experimental data for the ground state energy of such quantum dots in a perpendicular magnetic field. In a gapless graphene, as in the case of gapped one, in the presence of overcharged impurity this problem can be solved experimentally, e.g., using the method of scanning tunnel spectroscopy.