Mathematical Methods of Physics

Assignment-IV

1. The 1-D simple harmonic oscillator is governed by the Schrdinger equation

of the form :

~2 d2 (x) 1 2
+ kx (x) = E(x),
2m dx2
2

(a) Find out the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the above Strum-Liuviilie problem.
(b) Find out the transition probability between two oscillator states.
(c) Calculate the mean-square displacement for the nth eigenstate.

2. Consider the infinite spherical well given by,

V (r) =

0,

if r < a

if r > a

(a) Write down the Schrdinger equation in spherical polar co-ordinate satisfied
by the wavefunction inside the well.
(b) Find out the corresponding eigenstates and eigenfunctions.

3. (a) Prove the following recursion relations :

(i) (n + 1)Pn+1 = (2n + 1)xPn nPn1
d
(ii)
[x J (x)] = x J1 (x)
dx
(iii) xLkn = (2n + k + 1)Lkn (n + k)Lkn1 (n + 1)Lkn+1
where, Pn (x) is the Legendre polynomial, Lkn is the associated Laguerre polynomial
and J (x) is the Bessel function of first kind.
(b) Using the recursion in (iii) prove the following :
Z

ex xk+1 Lkn (x)Lkn (x)dx =

(n + k)!
(2n + k + 1)
n!

4. The damped harmonic oscillator is governed by the following equation :

d2 x(t)
dx(t)
+
2b
+ 02 x(t) = f (t);
dt2
dt

f (t) =

F () it
e
2

Find out the suitable Greens function for this problem and thus find out the
solution at time t.