A anharmonic oscillator is characterized by potential
where
is a positive constant.
With
the potential of the harmonic oscillator is obtained.
It is not possible to analytically solve the Schrödinger equation.
Unless otherwise specified we have set the following values:
;
;
.
Each graph displays the harmonic potential
(in blue color)
and the quadratic potential
(in red color).
The Mathematica notebook, given a potential V(x),
allows to numerically solve the equation, finding the energies (eigenvalues) and
the relative functions (eigenfunctions).
EIGENVALUES
=0
versus
=0.01
The total potential is almost harmonic (the harmonic component is the blue line).
The comparison shows a small difference in the eigenvalues.
=0
versus
=0.1
The value of the total potential depends on both the harmonic
component (blue color) and the quadratic component (red color).
The deviation of the eigenvalues is still small.
=0
versus
=1
The potential is nearly quadratic (red color).
The deviation of the eigenvalues is significant.
EIGENVALUES and EIGENFUNCTIONS
=0
versus
=0.01
The total potential is almost harmonic (the harmonic component is the blue line).
The comparison shows a small difference in the eigenvalues.
=0
versus
=0.1
The value of the total potential depends on both the harmonic
component (blue color) and the quadratic component (red color).
The deviation of the eigenvalues is still small.
=0
versus
=1
The potential is nearly quadratic (red color).
The deviation of the eigenvalues is significant.