Quantization of the potential amplitude in the one-dimensional Schrödinger equation

Abstract

A consistent scheme is proposed for quantizing the potential amplitude in the one-dimensional Schrödinger equation in the case of negative energies (lying in the discrete-spectrum domain). The properties of the eigenfunctions ϕ_n(x) and eigenvalues α_n corresponding to zero, small, and large absolute values of energy E < 0 are analyzed. Expansion in the set ϕ_n(x) is used to develop a regular perturbation theory (for E < 0), and a general expression is found for the Green function associated with the time-independent Schrödinger equation. A similar method is used to solve several physical problems: the polarizability of a weakly bound quantum-mechanical system, the two-center problem, and the tunneling of slow particles through a potential barrier (or over a potential well). In particular, it is shown that the transmission coefficient for slow particles is anomalously large (on the order of unity) in the case of an attractive potential is characterized by certain critical values of well depth. The proposed approach is advantageous in that it does not require the use of continuum states.