An indirect approach for quantum-mechanical eigenproblems: duality transforms

Abstract

We suggest an indirect approach for solving eigenproblems in quantum mechanics. Unlike the usual method, this method is not a technique for solving differential equations. There exists a duality among potentials in quantum mechanics. The first example is the Newton–Hooke duality revealed by Newton in Principia. Potentials that are dual to each other form a duality family consisting of infinite numbers of family members. If one potential in a duality family is solved, the solutions of all other potentials in the family can be obtained by duality transforms. Instead of directly solving the eigenequation of a given potential, we turn to solve one of its dual potentials which is easier to solve. The solution of the given potential can then be obtained from the solution of this dual potential by a duality transform. The approach is as follows: first to construct the duality family of the given potential, then to find a dual potential which is easier to solve in the family and solve it, and finally to obtain the solution of the given potential by the duality transform. In this paper, as examples, we solve exact solutions for general polynomial potentials.