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Lie theory and separation of variables. 7. The harmonic oscillator in elliptic coordinates and Ince polynomials

Abstract
As a continuation of Paper 6 we study the separable basis eigenfunctions and their relationships for the harmonic oscillator Hamiltonian in two space variables with special emphasis on products of Ince polynomials, the eigenfunctions obtained when one separates variables in elliptic coordinates. The overlaps connecting this basis to the polar and Cartesian coordinate bases are obtained by computing in a simpler Bargmann Hilbert space model of the problem. We also show that Ince polynomials are intimately connected with the representation theory of SU (2), the group responsible for the eigenvalue degeneracy of the oscillator Hamiltonian.
Type
Journal Article
Type of thesis
Series
Citation
Boyer, C.P., Kalnins, E.G. & Miller, W., Jr. (1975). Lie theory and separation of variables. 7. The harmonic oscillator in elliptic coordinates and Ince polynomials. Journal of Mathematical Physics, 16, 512.
Date
1975-03
Publisher
Degree
Supervisors
Rights
Copyright 1975 American Institute of Physics. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Institute of Physics. The following article appeared in the Journal of Mathematical Physics and may be found at http://jmp.aip.org/jmp/top.jsp