A set of 15 open problems on Schrödinger operators proposed by mathematical physicist Barry Simon (2000). This set of problems follows up a 1984 list of open problems in mathematical physics also proposed by Simon, of which thirteen involved Schrödinger operators.
1. Extended states. Prove for and suitable values of that the Anderson model has purely absolutely continuous spectrum in some energy range.
2. Localization in two dimensions. Prove that for , the spectrum of the Anderson model is dense pure point for all values of .
3. Quantum diffusion. Prove that for and values of where there is a.c. spectrum that grows as as .
4. Ten Martini problem. Prove for all and all irrational that (which is independent) is a Cantor set, that is, that it is nowhere dense.
5. Prove for all irrational and that has measure zero.
6. Prove for all irrational and that the spectrum is purely absolutely continuous.
7. Do there exist potentials on so that for some and so that has some singular continuous spectrum?
8. Let be a function on which obeys
Prove that has a.c. spectrum of infinite multiplicity on if .
9. Prove that is bounded as .
10. What is the asymptotics of as ?
11. Make mathematical sense of the shell model of an atom.
12. Is there a mathematical sense in which one can justify from first principles current techniques for determining molecular configurations?
13. Prove that the ground state of some neutral system of molecules and electrons approaches a periodic limit as the number of nuclei goes to infinity.
14. Prove the integrated density of states, , is continuous in the energy.
15. Prove the Lieb-Thirring conjecture on their constants for and .
The ten martini problem (#4) was solved by Puig (2003).
The conjecture on zero measure in the Anderson model equation (#5) was solved by Avila and Krikorian (2003).
Problem #7 was essentially solved by Denissov (2003), although he only has an and not a pointwise decay, and solved in its entirety by Kiselev.