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Lesson 12

This document discusses orthogonality and normalization of Bessel functions and Hermite functions. It shows that Bessel functions of order p are orthogonal over the interval [0,1]. It also introduces Hermite functions as solutions to quantum mechanical eigenvalue problems and defines raising and lowering operators that relate functions of different orders. Hermite polynomials are obtained from the Hermite functions using Rodrigues' formula and the first few polynomials are calculated. Properties of Hermite polynomials including orthogonality and generating functions are also mentioned.

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Perumal Govindan
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122 views4 pages

Lesson 12

This document discusses orthogonality and normalization of Bessel functions and Hermite functions. It shows that Bessel functions of order p are orthogonal over the interval [0,1]. It also introduces Hermite functions as solutions to quantum mechanical eigenvalue problems and defines raising and lowering operators that relate functions of different orders. Hermite polynomials are obtained from the Hermite functions using Rodrigues' formula and the first few polynomials are calculated. Properties of Hermite polynomials including orthogonality and generating functions are also mentioned.

Uploaded by

Perumal Govindan
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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R. I.

Bdaran Orthogonality and Normalization of Bessel Function Mathematical Physics

Orthogonality and Normalization of Bessel function:

0
1 if ab
0 xJ p (ax) J p (bx)dx 1 J p21 (a) 1 J p21 (a) 1 J p2 (a)) if ab
,

2 2 2
where a and b are called zero's of Jp (x).

Proof: To prove the orthogonality of Bessel function, we have


to carry out the followings:
1. Rewrite the Bessel function
x 2 y xy ( x 2 p 2 ) y 0 in the form

x( xy) ( x 2 p 2 ) y 0 .
dy dy
2. Replace x by ax and you may get ax equal to x
dax dx
and similarly x( xy) is unchanged. Thus the DE
x( xy) (a 2 x 2 p 2 ) y 0 has a solution y= Jp (ax).
3. Replace x by bx and similarly you may get the DE
x( xy) (b 2 x 2 p 2 ) y 0 with its solution y= Jp (bx).
4. Multiply the DE in (2) by Jp (bx) and that in (3) by Jp (ax).
Then subtract the resulting equations and divide by x to
d
get: ( xJ p (bx) J p (ax) xJ p (ax) J p (bx)) (a 2 b 2 ) xJ p (ax) J p (bx) 0
dx
5. Integrate the resulting equation in (4) from 0 to 1 to
obtain:
1
( xJ p (bx) J p (ax) xJ p (ax) J p (bx) (a 2 b 2 ) xJ p (ax) J p (bx)dx 0
1

0 0

6. The first term of the equation in (5) tends to zero. This is


because a) at the lower limit (x=0) Jp (ax), Jp (bx), J'p (ax)
and J'p(bx) are all finite. b) At the upper limit (x = 1), Jp (a) =
Jp (b) = 0, where a and b are considered as zero's of Jp.

1
Thus the final result is (a b ) 0 xJ p (ax) J p (bx)dx 0 Q.E.D
2 2
R. I. Bdaran Orthogonality and Normalization of Bessel Function Mathematical Physics

Hermite Functions and Laguerre Functions:

These functions arise as solutions of eigenvalue problems in


Quantum Mechanics.

Hermite Functions and Ladder operators:

The DE for Hermite functions is y n x y n (2n 1) y n 0


2
(1)
where n= 0, 1, 2, 3,,etc.
d
By defining a differential operator D and substituting it
dx
into equation (1) we may write the DE in two forms:

Either
( D x)( D x) y n 2ny n (2)
Or
( D x)( D x) yn 2(n 1) yn (3)
If n is replaced by m in equation (2) and operate with D+x on
this equation we get:
( D x)( D x)[(D x) ym ] 2m[( D x) ym ] (4)
Also if n is replaced by m in equation (3) and operate on this
equation with D-x, then we have:
( D x)( D x)[(D x) ym ] (2m 1)[(D x) ym ] (5)

By comparing equations (2) and (5), you may get:

i) yn= [(D-x)ym]
and
ii) n= m+1

ym+1= (D-x)ym . [Here D-x is called raising operator].

Thus we have got a solution ym of equation (1) for n= m.


How can we get a solution for n= m+1?
Answer: We can get the solution for m+1 by just applying the
"raising operator" D-x on ym.
R. I. Bdaran Orthogonality and Normalization of Bessel Function Mathematical Physics

Also by comparing equation (3) and (4), we get


iii) yn= [(D+x)ym]

and
iv) n= m-1

ym-1= (D+x)ym .
[Here D+x is called lowering operator].

Notes: In Q.M. raising and lowering operators are called


creation and annihilation operators respectively. And all such
operators are called ladder operators.
2
x
Problem: Use equation (1) to show that y e 2
.

Solution: Put n = 0 in equation (1) to get y x 2 y y 0 .


Also from equation (2) we have ( D x)( D x) y 0 .
d
x)( y xy ) 0 y x y y 0 .
2
This will give (
dx
Thus the operator equation is the same as the
original DE.
Now if we find a solution to ( D x) y 0 and then
operate with D-x on this resulting solution we will get
the final solution to our DE.
dy
Thus ( D x) y 0 becomes xy 0 . This last DE
dx
will be simply solved in this way:
2
dy x

y x
0 y 0
2
xdx y e .

But we have to remember that we are seeking a solution for n


greater than zero. Here we can operate with (D-x) n times,
where ym+1= (D-x)ym, remembering that n= m+1.

2
n 2
x
yn ( D x ) e
R. I. Bdaran Orthogonality and Normalization of Bessel Function Mathematical Physics

These are called the Hermite functions and they can be


x2 d n x2
rewritten as
yn e 2
n
e (Solve problem22.3)
dx
Hermite Polynomials:

We can get the Hermite polynomials simply by developing


their Rodrigues formula. This formula can be obtained by
x2
multiplying the last equation by (1) e
n 2
.

d n x2
H n ( x) (1) e n
n x2
e (The Rodrigues formula).
dx
To find the Hermite polynomials Ho(x), H1(x) and H2(x), using
the Rodrigues formula for the Hermite polynomials ( problem
22.4), we will have:

For n = 0 Ho(x)= 1
For n =1 H1(x)= 2x
For n =2 H2(x)= 4x2 - 2

[Note: Suggested problems (22.5, 22.6)]

Properties of Hermite Polynomials:


0 if nm
i)
x2
e H ( x )H ( x ) dx (Solve problem 10)
2 n! if nm
n m n

ii) The generating function for the Hermite polynomials can



hn
be expressed by ( x, h) e
2 xh h
H n ( x)
2

n 0 n!

(Solve problem 8).

iii) By using the generating function for the Hermite


polynomials, two recursion relations can be found as:
(Solve problem 9).
a. H n ( x) 2nH n1 ( x)
b. H n1 ( x) 2 xH n ( x) 2nH n1 ( x)

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