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arXiv:2012.00166

The presence of non-analyticities and singularities in the wavefunction and the role of invisible delta potentials

Jorge Munzenmayer, Derek Frydel

Published Nov 30, 2020• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

This article examines the suggestion made in Ref. [EPL, 115 (2016) 60001] that a solution to a particle in an infinite spherical well model, if it is square-integrable, is a physically valid solution, even if at the precise location of the singularity there is no underlying physical cause, therefore, the divergence would have to be a nonlocal phenomenon caused by confining walls at a distance. In this work we examine this claim more carefully. By identifying the correct differential equation for a divergent square-integrable solution and rewriting it in the form of the Schroedinger equation, we infer that the divergent wavefunction would be caused by the potential V(r)=-r delta(r), which is a kind of attractive delta potential. Because of its peculiar form and the fact that it leads to a divergent potential energy = - infinity, the potential V(r) and the divergent wavefunction associated with it are not physically meaningful.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2012.00166

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This article examines the suggestion made in Ref. [EPL, 115 (2016) 60001] that a solution to a particle in an infinite spherical well model, if it is square-integrable, is a physically valid solution, even if at the precise location of the singularity there is no underlying physical cause, therefore, the divergence would have to be a nonlocal phenomenon caused by confining walls at a distance. In this work we examine this claim more carefully. By identifying the correct differential equation for a divergent square-integrable solution and rewriting it in the form of the Schroedinger equation, we infer that the divergent wavefunction would be caused by the potential V(r)=-r delta(r), which is a kind of attractive delta potential. Because of its peculiar form and the fact that it leads to a divergent potential energy = - infinity, the potential V(r) and the divergent wavefunction associated with it are not physically meaningful.
Much of the literature on point interactions in quantum mechanics has focused on the differential form of Schrodinger's equation. This paper, in contrast, investigates the integral form of Schrodinger's equation. While both forms are known to be equivalent for smooth potentials, this is not true for distributional potentials. Here, we assume that the potential is given by a distribution defined on the space of discontinuous test functions. First, by using Schrodinger's integral equation, we confirm a seminal result by Kurasov, which was originally obtained in the context of Schrodinger's differential equation. This hints at a possible deeper connection between both forms of the equation. We also sketch a generalisation of Kurasov's result to hypersurfaces. Second, we derive a new closed-form solution to Schrodinger's integral equation with a delta prime potential. This potential has attracted considerable attention, including some controversy. Interestingly, the derived propagator satisfies boundary conditions that were previously derived using Schrodinger's differential equation. Third, we derive boundary conditions for `super-singular' potentials given by higher-order derivatives of the delta potential. These boundary conditions cannot be incorporated into the normal framework of self-adjoint extensions. We show that the boundary conditions depend on the energy of the solution, and that probability is conserved. This paper thereby confirms several seminal results and derives some new ones. In sum, it shows that Schrodinger's integral equation is viable tool for studying singular interactions in quantum mechanics.
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Analytical solutions to the time-dependent Shrödinger equation in one dimension are developed for time-independent potentials, one consisting of an infinite wall and a repulsive delta function. An exact solution is obtained by means of a convolution of time-independent solutions spanning the given Hilbert space with appropriately chosen spectral functions. Square-integrability and the boundary conditions are satisfied. The probability for the particle to be found inside the potential well is calculated and shown to exhibit non-exponential decay decreasing at large times as t−3t^{-3}t−3. The result is generalized for all square-integrable solutions to this problem.