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Criterion for polynomial solutions to a class of linear differential equations of second order

Nasser Saad1, Richard L Hall2 and Hakan Ciftci3

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We consider the differential equations y'' = λ0(x)y' + s0(x)y, where λ0(x), s0(x) are C-functions. We prove (i) if the differential equation has a polynomial solution of degree n > 0, then δn = λnsn−1 − λn−1sn = 0, where λn = λ'n−1 + sn−1 + λ0λn−1andsn = s'n−1 + s0λk−1, n = 1, 2, .... Conversely (ii) if λnλn−1 ≠ 0 and δn = 0, then the differential equation has a polynomial solution of degree at most n. We show that the classical differential equations of Laguerre, Hermite, Legendre, Jacobi, Chebyshev (first and second kinds), Gegenbauer and the Hypergeometric type, etc obey this criterion. Further, we find the polynomial solutions for the generalized Hermite, Laguerre, Legendre and Chebyshev differential equations.


PACS

02.30.Hq Ordinary differential equations

02.10.De Algebraic structures and number theory

02.30.Gp Special functions

03.65.Ge Solutions of wave equations: bound states

MSC

81Q05 Closed and approximate solutions to the Schrödinger, Dirac, Klein-Gordon and other quantum-mechanical equations

34Exx Asymptotic theory

33Cxx Hypergeometric functions

Subjects

Mathematical physics

Quantum information and quantum mechanics

Dates

Issue 43 (27 October 2006)

Received 21 July 2006, in final form 11 September 2006

Published 11 October 2006



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