Anomalies in quantum mechanics: The 1/r2 potential

Abstract

An anomaly is said to occur when a symmetry that is valid classically becomes broken as a result of quantization. Although most manifestations of this phenomenon are in the context of quantum field theory, there are at least two cases in quantum mechanics—the two-dimensional delta function interaction and the 1/r2 potential. The former has been treated in this journal; in this article we discuss the physics of the latter together with experimental consequences.