Harvard University,FAS
Fall 2003

Mathematics Math21b
Fall 2003

Linear Algebra and Differential Equations

Course Head: Oliver knill
Office: SciCtr 434
Email: knill@math.harvard.edu

The harmonic oscillator

Classical Harmonic Oscillator

Energy levels of the classical harmonic oscillator 
d2/dx2 f(x) = c2 f(x)
is an ordinary differential equation with solution 
f(x)= f(0) cos(c x) + (f'(0)/c) sin(c x).
It can be realized by masspoint attached to a spring. The constant c depends on the gravitational strength, as well as the spring constant. The differential equations can be rewritten as the linear system 
dx/dt = y
dy/dt = - x
The flow leaves the level curves of the energy function H(x,y) = x2 + y2 invariant, which are circles.

Quantum Harmonic Oscillator

Eigenfunctions of the quantum harmonic oscillator
Probability densities of the quantum harmonic oscillator
Eigenfunctions fk and probability densities |fk|2. 

f0[x_]:=Exp[-x^2/2]; 
A[g_]:=Function[y,-D[g[x],x]+x g[x] /. x->y]; 
l[f_]:=Integrate[f[x]^2,{x,-Infinity,Infinity}];
S[f_]:=Module[{},ff[x_]:=Evaluate[
            Simplify[A[f][x]/l[f]]];ff];
f[0_]:=f0; f[k_]:=S[f[k-1]];  f[7][x]
The partial differential equation 
d/dt f(t) = i T(f) = i (-d2/dx2 f(x) + x2 f(x) )
is called the Schrödinger equation for the quantum harmonic oscillator. For each eigenvalue Ln with eigenfunction fn of T, the time evolution is fn(t) = exp(i Ln t) fn(0). If f(0) = a1 f1 + a2 f2 + ... then 
f(t) =  exp(i L1 t) f1(0) +  exp(i L2 t) f2(0) + ...
We can write T(f) = P2 + Q2, where P(f)(x) = i f'(x) and Q(f) = x f(x)(x). The Hamiltonian T has the same structure as the Hamiltonian of the harmonic oscillator giving the quantum system the name "quantum harmonic oscillator".
T has the eigenvalues Ln = 1+2n, with eigenvectors fn, which are recursively be defined by fn+1 = (x-D) fn starting with f0(x)=exp(-x2/2). Simlilar as in Fourier theory, it is possible to write any function f for which |f|2 has a finite integral over the real line as a sum of such functions and so solve the Schrödinger evolution explicitely.
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