Open access peer-reviewed chapter

# Quantum Harmonic Oscillator

By Coşkun Deniz

Submitted: July 9th 2018Reviewed: February 12th 2019Published: May 8th 2019

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.85147

## Abstract

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.

### Keywords

• Schrodinger equation
• quantum mechanics
• JWKB
• MAF

## 1. Introduction

Time-independent Schrodinger equation (TISE) is an eigenvalue problem in the form:

Ĥφ=Eφ22m2+Urφn=EnφE1

where the terms are in the usual meanings, namely, 2, the Laplacian operator; Ĥ, Hamiltonian operator (kinetic energy plus potential energy operators); m, mass; , Planck’s constant divided by 2π; φ, wave function (eigenfunction); E, total energy (eigenvalue); and U(r), function of potential energy [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. Quantum harmonic oscillator (QHO) is described by the TISE in (1) for the square law potential:

Ur=12mw2r2=kr22m0E2

where w=k/mis the natural angular momentum (associated with the angular frequency f=w/2π). Since Ur0, our eigenvalue problem (or bound-state problem) requires En0to give the following:

2φnEn0r+fEn0rφnEn0r=0;fEn0r=k2En0r=2m2EnUr=2m2En12mw2r20or+E3

The QHO is a very good approximation in solving systems of diatomic molecules vibrating under the spring constant [1, 2, 5] and finds various modern physics applications such as in [8, 9, 10] as stated in a famous quotation: “the career of a young theoretical physicist consists of treating the harmonic oscillator in ever-increasing levels of abstraction by Sidney Coleman” [10, 11]. Here, U(r) is central potential which can be given in Cartesian coordinates (x,y,z) where solutions involve Hermite polynomials as in [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12] or in spherical coordinates (r,θ,ϕ) where solutions involve spherical harmonics as in [1, 2, 13]. For simplicity, it is widely studied in one dimension (say, in xonly), and higher dimensional systems are called isotropic harmonic oscillators in 2D or in 3D. The QHO can be solved by various conventional methods such as the following: (i) by analytical methods where some analytic functions involving Hermite polynomials are involved [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]; (ii) algebraic methods where ladder operators are involved, that is, [1, 2]; and (iii) by approximation methods such as perturbation methods, JWKB method, variational methods, etc., that is, [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 14]. Brownian study of QHO as an open dynamic quantum system in terms of quantum Langevin equation was studied in [15, 16, 17]. We study here one dimensional and non-frictional, that is, undamped case, and present its solution by the two following conventional semiclassical approximation methods: (i) the JWKB method (named after the authors, Jeffreys, Wentzel, Kramers, and Brillouin, who contributed to the theory) [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14] and (ii) the MAF method (abbreviated from modified Airy function) [3, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23].

JWKB method is known to give exact eigenenergies for the QHO, but eigenfunctions fail at and around the classical turning points (CTPs) where f=0(or, equivalently, En=Ur) in (3) as typical to the JWKB method [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14]. These discontinuities prevent us from using continuity at the boundaries by equating the JWKB solutions of two neighboring regions directly at the CTPs to find the eigenenergy-dependent coefficients in the general JWKB eigenfunctions (wave functions). It also prohibits the use of normalizability of the eigenfunctions between and . To surmount the problem, parity conditions of the problem regarding the symmetry of the QHO in the dimensionless form are used, and advanced computational software such as Mathematica can be used to achieve these calculations [3, 4, 14, 24]. Moreover, asymptotic matching is required in the JWKB solutions to maintain the normalizability except for the CTPs as discussed above [4, 7, 14]. As to the MAF method, it does not exhibit discontinuities at the CTPs, though highly oscillating behavior of the Airy functions requires careful handling in finding their zeros and the parity treatment used in the JWKB solution seems straightforward to be also applicable to the MAF solution of the QHO [3, 19, 20, 21, 22]. Although it was originally suggested in 1931 by Langer in [25], finding zeros of highly oscillatory Airy functions became practical as the advances in computational software and the MAF method became widespread by the 1990s [3, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23]. In this work, we present the general outcomes of the conventional JWKB and MAF methods as two semiclassical conventional methods and solve the QHO by using the parity condition of the problem in the dimensionless form pedagogically. We will discuss the treatment of parity matching and asymptotic matching in solving the QHO by these semiclassical methods.

## 2. Exact solution of the QHO in 1D by the analytic method

The QHO in (3) is a bound-state problem which can be written in 1D for the potential function in 1D (Ux=12mw2x2=kx22m0) as follows:

φnx+fEn0xφnx=0fEn0x=k2En0x=2m2EnUx=2m2En12mw2x2)0or+E4

or, simply,

φnx+2m2En12mw2x2φnx=0E5

whose solution by various conventional approaches (such as analytical, algebraic, approximation, etc.) is given in any fundamental textbooks, that is, [1, 2, 3, 5] and whose results can be summarized as follows [14]:

1. Change of variable in (4) and (5):

yx=βx=mwxE6
1. TISE for the QHO in 1D in dimensionless form:

φny+k2λnEn0yφny=0f[λnEn0y]k2[λnEn0y]=λn2y2λn2=2Enw0or+E7

Note that here fk2is a function of λnEn&yand λn0since En0. Moreover, fλnyis an even function as shown in Figure 1 (λis chosen as continuous including the discrete energy values assuming that the eigenenergies have not been found yet).

1. Exact eigenenergies:

ΛEXΛ=λn2=2n+1En=n+12w,n=0,1,2,E8
1. Exact eigenfunctions (wave functions) in y:

φnyψλny=1π2nn!Hnyy22,n=0,1,2,E9
1. By using (6), we have the wave functions in x:

φnxφβλnx=βπ2nn!Hnβxβx22,n=0,1,2,E10

We used two different symbols (φand ψ) to label the functions in two different independent variables (in xand in y, respectively). Exact wave functions in (9) (via exact eigen energies in (8)) are given for even and odd nvalues in Figures 3 and 4 along with the JWKB solutions for comparison. Hnin (9) and (10) is Hermite polynomials with indice n(named after the French mathematician Charles Hermite). Some of the properties of Hermite polynomials are tabulated in Table 1, and calculation of conversion factor βwhich exhibits a quantization, namely,

β=mww=km=mk21/4=kw=n+1/2kEnβn,E11
 Rodriguez formula:Hnx=−1nex2dndxne−x2 Generating function:exp2xt−t2=∑n=0∞Hnxtnn! Some of the Hermite polynomials:H0x=1,H1x=2x,H2x=4x2−1H3x=8x3−12x,H4x=16x4−48x2+12 Recurrence relations:Hn+1=2xHnx−2nHn−1xHn′x=2nHn−1x Evenness and oddityHn−x=−1nHnx∴Hnx=odd,ifnisoddeven,ifnis even Orthogonality:∫−∞∞e−x2HmxHnxdx=0ifm≠n2nn!πifm=n

### Table 1.

Some properties of Hermite polynomials.

is given along with the related Mathematica codes in [14].

## 3. A review of the JWKB solution of the QHO

2D plot of Figure 1 is schematically given in Figure 2 for the QHO under study (in the dimensionless form) from which we have the following outcomes [14]:

### 3.1. JWKB eigenenergies of the QHO

JWKB eigenenergies can be found by applying the Bohr-Sommerfeld quantization formula given by [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14]:

y1y2kλ˜JEnydy=n+12πE12

as follows:

y1=λny2=λnkλ˜JEnydy=20y2=λnkλ˜JEnydy=n+12πλnλnλ˜J2Eny2dy=20λnkλ˜JEnydy=n+12πysinθ2π/2π/2λ˜J2Encos2θdθ=n+12πλ˜J2Enπ2=n+12πλ˜JEn=2n+1orE˜JnEJWKB,n=n+12ωE13

which is already the exact solution given in (8) [1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 14]. Results are given along with the MAF solutions in Table 2 for comparison. Note that we use the following notation for the symmetrical (or even parity (EP)) and antisymmetrical (or odd parity (OP)) solutions:

E˜Jn=E˜J,ns=ns+1/2π,ns=0,2,4,E˜J,na=na+1/2π,na=1,3,5,E14
Index (=MAF index)EPOP
MAFJWKB*MAFJWKB*
n=nMZnsζnsE˜M,nsnaE˜J,nsZnaζnaE˜M,nanaE˜J,na
01.203480.06033170.5603317ω00.5ω2.338111.017351.51735ω11.5ω
13.271622.01152.5115ω22.5ω4.087953.00793.5079ω33.5ω
24.830824.00634.5063ω44.5ω5.520565.005085.50508ω55.5ω
36.169886.004356.50435ω66.5ω6.786717.003747.50374ω77.5ω
47.376778.003328.50332 ω88.5ω7.944139.002959.50295ω99.5ω
58.4919510.002710.5027ω1010.5ω9.0226511.002411.5024ω1111.5 ω
69.538212.002312.5023ω1212.5ω10.040213.002113.5021ω1313.5ω
710.529914.001914.5019ω1414.5ω11.008515.001815.5018ω1515.5ω

### Table 2.

JWKB and MAF eigenenergies.

JWKB solution is exact.

where the subscripts “J, ns” represent J, JWKB, and ns, symmetrical indices (ns = even), and similarly, “J,na” represents J, JWKB, and na, antisymmetrical indices (ns=odd).

### 3.2. JWKB solution of eigenfunctions (wave functions) of the QHO

Conventional first-order JWKB solution of the QHO given in the normal form in (4) or (7) is as follows:

φ˜Jλny=cJ1expiyt,ykλnydykλny+cJ2expiyt,ykλnydykλnyE15

where ytis either of the classical turning points (CTPs: either “y1, on the left” or “y2, on the right” depending on the region under question) and cJ1&cJ2are arbitrary JWKB constants. Once solution in any region is found (say, φJII), solution in the adjacent region (say, φJIII) can directly be found by the conventional JWKB connection formulas given in [3, 4, 14] without calculating it via (15). The integrals here are the definite integrals whose upper and lower values should be chosen as the related turning point (either y1or y2) and the variable yshould be in the correct ascending integration order. Normally, constant coefficients in the general solutions are determined from normalization by applying the boundary conditions of the eigenvalue problem. However, it is useless since the boundary conditions correspond to the CTPs at which (and also in a narrow region around) the conventional first-order JWKB solutions typically diverge [3, 4, 7, 14]. This might be thought as a violation of continuity requirement of the acceptable wave function properties concerning continuity, but higher order JWKB approximation can fix it. Now, due to the discontinuities at the boundaries between the adjacent regions (such as between I and II or between II and III), the unidirectional JWKB connection formulas (surely, for the first-order JWKB) given in the literature [3, 4, 7, 14] cannot be used to find the constant coefficients in the general solution in (18) and (19). Note that these connection formulas can be used to determine the structure of the JWKB solutions in all regions (I, II, and III), but they cannot be used to find the constant coefficients (which will be a function of eigenenergy) as explained.

However, we are fortunately not helpless: since fλnEn0yk2λnEn0yin (7) is an even function (see Figure 2), we should have even and odd-parity solutions. If we start by considering the exact solutions in (9) and (10) and considering them to be approximate to the JWKB solution (shown with tilde and subscript J), we have the following outcomes [14]:

ψλny=φβλnxy/ββ=1OR:φβλnx=βψλnyβxE16
E.P.:φnβλx=φnβλx,n=0,2,4,i)φnβλ0=±p,p>0ii)φnβλxxx=0=0O.P.:φnβλx=φnβλx,n=1,3,5,i)λnβλ0=0ii)φnβλxxx=0=±q,q>0ββ˜J=β˜βJ.E.P.=±pφn1λyy=02,n=0,2,4,β˜O.P.βJ.O.P.=±qφn1λyyy=02,n=1,3,5,E17

where p&qare positive real constants regarding the even-parity (EP) and odd-parity (OP) initial values of the physical system. Remember that we use φfor the x-system and ψfor the y-system as shown in (16). In finding the constant coefficients, we can take ±p=±q=1, and alternating sign can be modified as a parity matching as follows [14]:

ψ˜JE.P.par.m.λny=1n2×ψ˜J,Iasy.m.λny=ψ˜J,IIIasy.m.λny for <yλnψ˜J,IIλny=ψ˜J,IIλny forλn<y0ψ˜J,IIλny for 0<yλnψ˜J,IIIasy.m.λny for λny<p=1E18
ψ˜JO.P.par.m.λny=1n12×ψ˜J,Iasy.m.λny=ψ˜J,IIIasy.m.λny for<yλnψ˜J,IIλny=ψ˜J,IIλny forλn<y0ψ˜J,IIλny for 0<yλnψ˜J,IIIasy.m.λny for λny<q=1E19

where the superscripts (par.m.) and (asy.m.) represent parity matchedand asymptotically matchedJWKB solutions, respectively. Eqs. (18) and (19) tells that we will take ±p=±q1to find the solutions in 0yy2=λny2=λny<firstly by using (21) for the asymptotic matching and then extending it to the second quadrant according to the parity under question. Note that asymptotically matched general JWKB1solution can be obtained as follows (see [3, 4, 7, 14] for details):

φ˜Jasy.m.λny=φ˜JIasy.m.λny=eitherk˜1φ˜1λny<yt1ork˜2φ˜2λny<yt1φ˜JIIλny=φ˜Jλnyt1<y<yt2φ˜JIIIasy.m.λny=eitherk˜1φ˜J1λnyt2<york˜2φ˜J2λnyt2<yE20

so that they exhibit the following asymptotic behaviors:

φ˜Jasy.m.λny=limyφ˜Jλny<yt1=φ˜JI(λny)=0limyφ˜Jλnyt2<y=φ˜JIII(λny)=0E21

#### 3.2.1. Even-parity (EP) wave functions

When initial values at x=y=0for the EP case in (17), namely (by using (16)),

ψ˜J,IIλnyy=0=1/βyψ˜J,II(λny)y=0=0,E22

is applied to the JWKB solution in (15), we find the following:

i)yψ˜J,IIλnyy=0=0ψ˜IIλ˜n=λny=Aλnkλnycos0ykλnydy,for0<y<λnE23

where the second complementary solution (in the sine form) has been canceled and calculation of the integral in the cosine term can be calculated by the similar change of variable as in (13) whose result will give ηy0(see Eq. (18) below and apply ηy0=ηλnyy0).

ii)ψ˜J,IIλnyy=0=1/βAλn=λnβE24

and by using (16), we have.

ψ˜J,IIβλnx=βψ˜J,IIλnyβx=λnkλnβxcos0βxkλnydy,for0<x<λn/βE25

Now, by applying the JWKB connection formula with a small phase term α, we get.

ψ˜IIIλ˜n=λny=Aλnκλnycosαλnexpζλny+12sinαλnexpζλny,forλn<y<,E26

and the asymptotically matched (modified) wave function in region III via (20) and (21) of [3, 4, 7, 14] gives:

ψ˜IIIasy.m.λ˜n=λny=Aλn2κλnysinαλnexpζλny,forλn<y<E27

Abbreviations we use for the EP JWKB solutions here (and also for the OP solutions in the next subsection) are as follows [14]:

αλn=0λnkλnydy+π4=ηλn0+π4ηλny=yλnkλnydy=λn2π4λn22sin1yλny2λn2y2ζλny=λnyκλnydy=y2y2λn212λn2lny+y2λn2λnE28

Since we have already calculated ψ˜J,IIβλnxand ψ˜IIIasy.m.λ˜n=λnyin the first quadrant (0yλn), JWKB solutions in the other regions can be easily written as in (18). JWKB wave functions regarding the EP case are given in Figure 3 along with the exact solutions for comparison.

#### 3.2.2. Odd-parity (OP) wave functions

Similarly, by using the boundary conditions for the OP case in (17), namely (by using (16)),

ψ˜J,IIλnyy=0=0yψ˜J,II(λny)y=0=1/β3,E29

and starting with region II.

iψ˜J,II(λny)y=0=0ψ˜IIλ˜n=λny=Bλnkλnysin0ykλnydy,for0<y<λnE30
iiyψ˜J,II(λny)y=0=1/β3Bλn=1/λnβ3E31

connecting to region III in the first quadrant (0yλn) via the JWKB connection formula.

ψ˜J,IIIλ˜n=λny=Bλnκλnysinαλnexpζλny12cosαλnexpζλny,for λn<y<E32

whose asymptotic matching gives.

ψ˜J,IIIm.λny=Bλn2κλnycosαλnexpζλny,forλn<y<E33

Again, since we have already obtained ψ˜J,IIλnyand ψ˜J,IIIm.λnyin 0yλn, JWKB solutions in the second quadrant can be written in terms of them as shown in (19). JWKB wave functions regarding the OP case are given in Figure 3 along with the exact solutions for comparison.

## 4. The MAF method

If we follow the QHO in dimensionless form given in (7), we have the following properties in MAF theories [3, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23]:

### 4.1. General structure of the MAF approximation to the bound-state wave functions

Formal MAF method suggests a solution to the TISE in (7) in terms of Airy functions as follows:

ψMAFλnyψ˜Mλny=FλnyAiξλnyorGλnyBiξλnyψ˜Mλny=a1FλnyAiξλny+a2GλnyBiξλnyE34

where Aiand Birepresent the Airy functions (namely, Aixand Bixare the linearly independent solutions of the Airy differential equation yxxyx=0in x), a1&a2are the arbitrary constants which will be found from boundary values, and F&Gare the functions to be determined. Note that the first variable λnis the eigenenergies (constant values quantized by index n) which will also be determined soon. So, for now, we can consider all these functions as one dimensional in only yfor simplification (say, ψ˜Jλnyψ˜Jy,ξλnyξy,FλnyFy, etc.). If we choose one of the linearly independent solutions, say Fy.Aiξy, to substitute in the TISE in (4), then it gives:

FyFy+2FyAiξyξy+FyAiξyξyFyAiξy+ξyξy2+fy=0E35

Now, with the choice of the last term in (35) as zero, we find the following:

ξyξy2+fy=0ξy=yty32fydy2/3E36

Here, the property of the Airy functions, Aiξ=ξAiξ, was used [3, 18]. The integral interval in (36) is also chosen tactically in a fashion that it invokes a relationship with the turning point yt(representing the correct order yt1or yt2to give a non-imaginary result), and it can be written in a more explicit and conventional form (by also using in our two-variable form here) as follows:

ξλny=ξI:32yyt1κλnydy2/3,foryyt1ξII:32yt1ykλnydy2/3=32yyt2kλnydy2/3, for yt1yyt2ξIII:32yt2yκλnydy2/3,foryt2yE37

where fλny0=k2λny=κ2λnyand yt1&yt2are the CTPs at the interface of the regions III&IIIII, respectively. The remaining terms in (44) and (45) are also made zero as follows:

Starting from the second term, we have.

2FAiξξF+Aiξξ=0Fy=b1ξyE38

where b1 is some constant, and finally, making the first term in (35) zero (which is the only assumption in the MAF method), we have the following:

Py=FyFy0E39

Or more correctly in two-variable form in our eigenvalue system.

Pλny=y2FλnyFλnyE40

can be thought as a measure of the accuracy of the MAF solution, namely, Pλny0, as MAF solution gets more accurate [18].

The same results would also be obtained if we had chosen the other linearly independent solution, Gy.Biy, in (34). Consequently, using the results found in (37) and (38), the general solution suggested in (34) can be written explicitly in the standard form of the MAF formula as follows:

ψMAFy=c˜1ξyAiξy+c˜2ξyBiξyE41

or more correctly in two variables here in our study.

ψMAFλny=c˜1yξλnyAiξλny+c˜2yξλnyBiξλnyE42

where c1=a1.b1and c2=a2.b2are the arbitrary constants to be determined from the boundary values as mentioned and yξλyrepresents the first derivative of ξwith respect to y. Using the result in (38), the approximation term Pλnyin (40) can be rewritten explicitly as follows:

Pλny=34y2ξλnyyξλny2y3ξλny2yξλnyE43

### 4.2. MAF solution of eigenenergies

For a symmetrical fas in Figure 2, we have even-parity (EP) and odd-parity (OP) MAF wave functions just as in JWKB method, but now it leads to two different MAF quantization formulas with two different MAF universal constants regarding EP and OP solutions as given in [3] and as we study in this section. We again use the symbolism in (9) (φψ) and start with the first quadrant, by applying that limy=0requires c2=0in (42), namely,

ψMAF,nλnyψ˜Mnλny=c˜1yξλnyAiξλny,E44

where the denominator can be written in the following form [3]:

1yξλny=ξλny1/4k2λny1/4E45
1. Even-parity (EP) eigenenergies: if we apply the EP formulas of the exact solution in (17), by using (16), to the MAF wave functions, we have the following:

ψ˜Mnλn0=±pβψ˜Mnλnyyy=0=0E46
iψ˜Mλn0=1βfindc˜1c˜1sresult:c˜1s=ξ0βAiξλnyψ˜Mλny=ξ0βyAiξλnyAiξλnyAiξ0E47
iiψ˜Mλnyyy=0=0Aiξ0Aiξ0ξ02ξ20=0E48

where we used ξ0, ξ0, and ξ0for simplification, namely, ξ0=ξλn0, ξ0=yλnyy=0, and ξ0=yyλnyy=0, respectively. We assumed here φλn0=1, and we will use then parity correction for φλn0=1case just as in the JWKB calculations. If we take the derivative of (36), we get.

ξ3λny+2ξλnyyξλnyyyξλny+yk2λny=0E49

where the last term vanishes as y0to give.

ξ20+2ξ0ξ0=0ξ02ξ20=14ξ0E50

whose substitution in (48) gives.

ξ0Aiξ0+14Aiξ0=0E51

Now, by the substitution of ξ0Zsn, we have.

ZsnAiZsn+AiZsn4=0E52

where the subscripts snstand for s, symmetrical solution (EP), and n, quantization order (nth quantization), and Zsnis the nth solution of the differential equation in (52) regarding the symmetrical solution. Now, by using the results in (13), we find the MAF quantization formula regarding the symmetrical solution:

0y2kλ˜M,snydyζsn+12πζsn=4Zsn3/23π12,n=1,2,3,E53

where ζsnis the universal MAF constants regarding the symmetrical solution whose values are given in Table 2 along with the JWKB solutions (which are already exact) for some nvalues in comparison. Note that we used nsto represent the symmetrical (EP) MAF indices in Table 2.

1. Odd-parity (OP) eigenenergies: similarly, if we apply the OP formulas of the exact solution in (17), by using (16), to the MAF wave functions, we have the following:

ψ˜Mλ0=0yψ˜M(λy)y=0=±qβ3E54
iψ˜Mλ0=0Aiξ0Zan=AiZan=0,n=1,2,3,E55
iiyψ˜Mλnayy=0=1β3Aiξ0Aiξ0ξ02ξ20=1β3findc˜1c˜1aE56

where, similarly, the subscripts anstand for a, antisymmetrical (OP), and n, quantization order (nth quantization), and Zanis the nth solution of the equation in (55) regarding the asymmetrical solutions. Similarly, by using the results in (13), we find the MAF quantization formula regarding the antisymmetrical solution:

0y2kλ˜M,anydyζan+12πζan=4Zan3/23π12,n=1,2,3,E57

where ζanis the universal MAF constants regarding the antisymmetrical solution whose values are given in Table 2 along with the JWKB solutions (which are already exact) for some nvalues in comparison. Note that we used nato represent the antisymmetrical (OP) MAF indices in Table 2.

### 4.3. MAF solution of eigenfunctions

By using a tentative boundary condition with q = 1 for the EP solutions, we have found the result in (47), and we said that we would extend it by considering the parity matching for q=±q. Consequently,

ψ˜ME.P.par.m.λnsy0=1ns2×c˜1syξλnyAiξλny,ns=0,2,4,evenE58

or

ψ˜ME.P.par.m.λnsy0=1ns2×ξ0βyAiξλnsyAiξλnsyAiξ0,ns=0,2,4,evenE59

Similarly, for the antisymmetric parity wave functions, we have.

ψ˜MO.P.par.m.λnay0=1na12×c˜1ayξλnyAiξλny,ns=1,3,5,oddE60

where constant coefficients c˜1sand c˜1arepresent the related symmetric and antisymmetric coefficients, respectively.

## 5. MAF solution of the QHO

Again, we use the schematic sketch given in Figure 2 for the QHO under study.

### 5.1. MAF eigenenergies of the QHO

Since we have tactically used (53)(57) to resemble the MAF quantization formula to the JWKB quantization formula given in (12), by using the result of calculation of the same integral in (13), we have the following results regarding the MAF eigenenergies of the QHO:

E.P.:λ˜M,snEsn=2ζsn+1orE˜M,snEMAF,sn=ζsn+12π;n=1,2,3,E61
O.P.:λ˜M,anEan=2ζan+1orE˜M,anEMAF,an=ζsn+12π;n=1,2,3,..E62

MAF eigenenergies are given in Table 2 along with the JWKB solutions (which are already exact) for some nvalues in comparison. (Note again that we used nsand nato represent the symmetrical (EP) and antisymmetrical MAF indices in Table 2, respectively).

### 5.2. MAF eigenfunctions of the QHO

For the regions IIb and III, we have the following definitions:

fλny=k2λny=k2λ˜Mλ˜ny=λ˜n2y2;0yλ˜nκ2λ˜Mλ˜ny=y2λ˜n2;λ˜ny<E63

Calculation of ξin (37) for the first quadrant gives.

ξλny=ξIIb:320ykλ˜Mydy2/3=32yyt2kλ˜Mydy2/3,for0yyt2ξIII:32yt2yκλ˜Mydy2/3,foryt2y=ξIIb:32/342ykλ˜My+λ˜M2π2arctanykλ˜My2/3,for0yλ˜MξIII:32/3λ˜My+λ˜M2lnλ˜Mλ˜My2/324/3,forλ˜My<E64

where λ˜M(and also E˜Mbelow) are MAF eigenenergies which become (61) for the symmetric (EP) and (62) for the antisymmetric (OP) case accordingly. Calculation of the constant coefficient in (58) or (59) for the symmetric boundary values given in (46) with q = 1 gives.

E.P.:c˜1s=2E˜sn1/6β3π1/6Ai14E˜sn4/33π2/3E65

Similarly, calculation of the constant coefficient in (60) for the antisymmetric boundary values given in (54) with q = 1 gives.

O.P.:c˜1a=E˜an7/63π1/62β3E˜an4/33π2/3Ai'14E˜an4/33π2/3Ai14E˜an4/33π2/3E66

Since the MAF solutions of both EP and OP solutions are very close to the exact solutions given in Figures 3 and 4, their absolute and relative error graphs with respect to the exact solution are given in Figures 5 and 6. We can also see that there are no discontinuities at the CTPs in the MAF solutions when compared with the JWKB solutions given in Figures 3 and 4.

## 6. Conclusion

Here we studied the fundamental outcomes of the two conventional semiclassical approximation methods, namely, JWKB and MAF methods pedagogically, and obtained the solutions of the QHO by these semiclassical methods by using the parity conditions of the expected solutions by using the dimensionless form of the QHO system. We applied the asymptotic matching and parity matching procedure to obtain the correct form of semiclassical solutions. As expected, JWKB solutions diverge at and around the CTPs, whereas MAF solutions do not. As also expected (since being typical), JWKB eigenenergies are exact, whereas MAF eigenenergies are unfortunately not but very accurate as expected from an approximation method. In the MAF method, function pin (40) or in (43) is assumed zero. Indeed, it is very close to zero to give approximate results, and function Pin (40) or in (43) can be used as an approximation criterion for the MAF method [3, 18]. However, improved MAF methods (IMAF) or perturbation corrections concerning the nonzero Pfunction seem straightforward to improve the accuracy of the MAF solutions as in [3, 20, 22]. Normally, for an even potential function in the TISE, EP and OP initial values are as given in (17), but due to the conversion factor βin (11) or (16), for the QHO in the dimensionless form (in ψ), we have (22) and (29). In our notation, we have used the notation, φψ, where real physical system is in φand the dimensionless form is in ψ. Since the standard formulation is given according to the real physical systems, JWKB and MAF formulas in the literature such as in [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23] surely correspond to the initial values β1in our dimensionless form formulation in ψ. Consequently, we hereby present a full JWKB and MAF solution concerning the quantized conversion factor βin (11).

## Acknowledgments

Author acknowledges special thanks to the IntechOpen for the financial support in the publishment of this chapter.

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© 2019 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Coşkun Deniz (May 8th 2019). Quantum Harmonic Oscillator, Oscillators - Recent Developments, Patrice Salzenstein, IntechOpen, DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.85147. Available from:

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