Journal of Physics A Mathematical and General
Energy-shell bases
Michael Wilkinson
Abstract
A new type of basis set for quantum mechanical problems is introduced. These basis states are adapted to describing the dynamics of a Hamiltonian Ĥ which is dependent upon a parameter X . A function f ( E ) is defined which is an analytic function of E , and which is negligibly small when | E |>>δ E , where δ E is large compared to the typical level separation. The energy-shell basis set consists of states |ξ n ( X )⟩ which are derived by applying the operator f (Ĥ( X )-Ē n ( X )) to elements of a fixed basis set, where Ē n ( X ) is an analytic approximation to an eigenvalue E n ( X ). The energy-shell basis states are combinations of states close to energy E n , but vary more slowly as a function of X than the eigenfunctions |ϕ n ( X )⟩ of Ĥ( X ). This feature gives the energy-shell basis states some advantages in analysing solutions of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation.