Harmonic Oscillator with a Step and/or a Ramp

Abstract

We discuss the one-dimensional Schrödinger equation for a harmonic oscillator with a finite step at the origin and/or an external field described by a ramp function. The first half of this paper is a partial review of our recent work. The latter half is devoted to an extension of the problem, i.e., imposing an external linear field on the negative half line. The solvability of the problem via the Hermite polynomials is discussed. We demonstrate that a harmonic oscillator with a step and a ramp can have one eigenstate whose wavefunction is expressed in terms of Hermite polynomials of different orders. Explicit examples are also provided at appropriate places in the text.