A completely algebraic derivation of the simple harmonic oscillator wavefunction

M. Rushka, J. K. Freericks

We present a full algebraic derivation of the wavefunctions of a simple harmonic oscillator. This derivation illustrates the abstract approach to the simple harmonic oscillator by completing the derivation of the coordinate-space or momentum-space wavefunctions from the energy eigenvectors. It is simple to incorporate into the undergraduate and graduate curricula. We provide a summary of the history of operator-based methods as they are applied to the simple harmonic oscillator. We present the derivation of the energy eigenvectors along the lines of the standard approach that was first presented by Dirac in 1947 (and is modified slightly here in the spirit of the Schrödinger factorization method). We supplement it by employing the appropriate translation operator to determine the coordinate-space and momentum-space wavefunctions algebraically, without any derivatives.

Joseph H. Simmons, Kelly S. Potter

Sergeĭ K. Suslov

We evaluate the Berry phase for a "missing" family of the square integrable wavefunctions for the linear harmonic oscillator, which cannot be derived by the separation of variables (in a natural way). Instead, it is obtained by the action of the maximal kinematical invariance group on the standard solutions. A simple closed formula for the phase (in terms of elementary functions) is found by integration with the help of a computer algebra system.

Charles W. Struck, William H. Fonger

Sergeĭ K. Suslov

We evaluate a variant of Berry's phase for a ?missing? family of the square integrable wavefunctions for the linear harmonic oscillator, which cannot be derived by the separation of variables (in a natural way). Instead, it is obtained by the action of the maximal kinematical?invariance group on the standard solutions. A simple closed formula for the phase (in terms of elementary functions) is found here by integration with the help of a computer algebra system.