On a New Treatment of Some Eigenvalue Problems

L. Infeld
Phys. Rev. 59, 737 – Published 1 May 1941
PDFExport Citation

Abstract

A new method for treating the most important eigenvalue problems in quantum mechanics is developed. The solutions can be found immediately once the equations are factorized by means of linear operators. These operators acting on a normalized eigenfunction change it into a new normalized eigenfunction and all solutions can be found once the basic eigenfunction is known. This basic eigenfunction is a solution of a simple differential equation of the first order. The underlying theory is explained more fully on a special case (Section 1) and then the rules of procedure are formulated explicitly (Section 2). The rest of the paper contains applications including the Kepler problem treated according to Dirac's theory.

  • Received 6 March 1941

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.59.737

©1941 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

L. Infeld

  • Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 59, Iss. 9 — May 1941

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Journals Archive

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×