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Hauptverfasser: Báez, Luis M., Santos, Andrés
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2024
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Online-Zugang:https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.08915
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author Báez, Luis M.
Santos, Andrés
author_facet Báez, Luis M.
Santos, Andrés
contents The Laplace transform is a valuable tool in physics, particularly in solving differential equations with initial or boundary conditions. A 2014 study by Tsaur and Wang (2014 \emph{Eur.~J.~Phys.} \textbf{35} 015006) introduced a Laplace-transform-based method to solve the stationary Schrödinger equation for various potentials. However, their approach contains critical methodological flaws: the authors disregard essential boundary conditions and apply the residue theorem incorrectly in the inverse transformation process. These errors ultimately cancel out, leading to correct results despite a flawed derivation. In this paper, we revisit the use of the Laplace transform for the one-dimensional Schrödinger equation, clarifying correct practices in handling boundary conditions and singularities. This analysis offers a sound and consistent framework for the application of Laplace transforms in stationary quantum mechanics, underscoring their educational utility in quantum mechanics coursework.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2411_08915
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Revisiting the Laplace transform in quantum mechanics: correcting a flawed approach for the stationary Schrödinger equation
Báez, Luis M.
Santos, Andrés
Quantum Physics
Physics Education
The Laplace transform is a valuable tool in physics, particularly in solving differential equations with initial or boundary conditions. A 2014 study by Tsaur and Wang (2014 \emph{Eur.~J.~Phys.} \textbf{35} 015006) introduced a Laplace-transform-based method to solve the stationary Schrödinger equation for various potentials. However, their approach contains critical methodological flaws: the authors disregard essential boundary conditions and apply the residue theorem incorrectly in the inverse transformation process. These errors ultimately cancel out, leading to correct results despite a flawed derivation. In this paper, we revisit the use of the Laplace transform for the one-dimensional Schrödinger equation, clarifying correct practices in handling boundary conditions and singularities. This analysis offers a sound and consistent framework for the application of Laplace transforms in stationary quantum mechanics, underscoring their educational utility in quantum mechanics coursework.
title Revisiting the Laplace transform in quantum mechanics: correcting a flawed approach for the stationary Schrödinger equation
topic Quantum Physics
Physics Education
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.08915