Anderson orthogonality theorem explained

The Anderson orthogonality theorem is a theorem in physics by the physicist P. W. Anderson.

It relates to the introduction of a magnetic impurity in a metal. When a magnetic impurity is introduced into a metal, the conduction electrons will tend to screen the potential

V(r) that the impurity creates. The N-electron ground state for the system when V(r) = 0 , which corresponds to the absence of the impurity and V(r) ≠ 0 , which corresponds to the introduction of the impurity are orthogonal in the thermodynamic limit N \to inf ty .

References

• Infrared Catastrophe in Fermi Gases with Local Scattering Potentials. P. W. Anderson. Physical Review Letters. 18. 1967. 24 . 1049. 10.1103/PhysRevLett.18.1049. 1967PhRvL..18.1049A .
• Ground State of a Magnetic Impurity in a Metal. P. W. Anderson. Physical Review. 164. 1967. 2 . 352. 10.1103/PhysRev.164.352. 1967PhRv..164..352A .