Quantum anti-centrifugal force

Abstract

In a two-dimensional world a free quantum particle of vanishing angular momentum experiences an attractive force. This force originates from a modification of the classical centrifugal force due to the wave nature of the particle. For positive energies the quantum anti-centrifugal force manifests itself in a bunching of the nodes of the energy wave functions towards the origin. For negative energies this force is sufficient to create a bound state in a two-dimensional delta function potential. In a counter-intuitive way the attractive force pushes the particle away from the location of the delta function potential. As a consequence, the particle is localized in a band-shaped domain around the origin