Journal of Physics A Mathematical and General
A method for solving the Schrodinger equation
Nathan Poliatzky
Abstract
The author discusses a method for solving the Schrodinger equation with spherically symmetric potentials. The method is based on the use of a certain integral transform for the radial wavefunction. In the representation defined by this transform the Schrodinger equation becomes an integral equation of Volterra type. In a number of cases this equation can be solved exactly without any use of perturbation theory. The resulting solution is represented by a locally finite sum of functions, which can be easily calculated since they are defined by integrals involving simple algebraic functions. For this reason, the method is well suited for practical calculations. The author derives exact solutions for the Yukawa and exponential potentials. As an application the author calculates the bound state spectrum and the scattering cross-sections.