The JWKB Approximation

T. Banks

Gustavo A. Arteca, Francisco Marcelo Fernández, E. A. Castro

A. K. Ghatak, Elmar Sauter, I.C. Goyal

The JWKB approximation is extensively used in tunnelling probability calculations. We apply the JWKB formula to a triangular potential barrier and test its accuracy. Zusammenfassung. Die JWKB-Methode wird extensiv benutzt bein Berechnungen von Tunnel-Wahrscheinlichkeiten. Wir wenden die JWKB-Formel auf eine dreieckige Potentialschwelle an und testen ihre Genauigkeit.

K. T. Hecht

Coşkun Deniz

Quantum harmonic oscillator (QHO) involves square law potential (x2) in the Schrodinger equation and is a fundamental problem in quantum mechanics. It can be solved by various conventional methods such as (i) analytical methods where Hermite polynomials are involved, (ii) algebraic methods where ladder operators are involved, and (iii) approximation methods where perturbation, variational, semiclassical, etc. techniques are involved. Here we present the general outcomes of the two conventional semiclassical approximation methods: the JWKB method (named after Jeffreys, Wentzel, Kramers, and Brillouin) and the MAF method (abbreviated for “modified Airy functions”) to solve the QHO in a very good precision. Although JWKB is an approximation method, it interestingly gives the exact solution for the QHO except for the classical turning points (CTPs) where it diverges as typical to the JWKB. As the MAF method, it enables very approximate wave functions to be written in terms of Airy functions without any discontinuity in the entire domain, though, it needs careful treatment since Airy functions exhibit too much oscillatory behavior. Here, we make use of the parity conditions of the QHO to find the exact JWKB and approximate MAF solutions of the QHO within the capability of these methods.

Alexander Moroz

Some of the conclusions of an improved JWKB method by Eleuch H., Rostovtsev Y. V. and Scully M. O., EPL, 89 (2010) 50004 are clarified. The degree of approximation to exact solutions is quantitatively assessed. The improved JWKB method is also contrasted with the method of comparison equations.