The role of continuum states in perturbation theory
Viktor Urumov, Gjorgji Ivanovski
An example of a three-dimensional Schrödinger equation is solved exactly and it is shown that the potential can sustain an arbitrary number of bound states. Nevertheless, in the second-order perturbation theory all the contributions for all bound states come from the continuum states if the perturbation is spherically symmetric. This is also true for any central potential that does not show accidental degeneracy and has both bound and unbound states, when the perturbation is another central potential.
American Journal of Physics•Oct 1, 1983•2 citations