On Certain Solutions for Confluent and Double-Confluent Heun Equations
Lea Jaccoud El-Jaick, Bartolomeu D. B. Figueiredo
备注：
In the present version (v3) we corrected Ref [3]. A slightly different form of this manuscript, entitled "Solutions for confluent and double-confluent Heun equations", was published in J. Math. Phys., 49, 083508 (2008)
This paper examines some solutions for confluent and double-confluent Heun equations. In the first place, we review two Leaver's solutions in series of regular and irregular confluent hypergeometric functions for the confluent equation and introduce an additional expansion in series of irregular confluent hypergeometric functions. Then, we find the conditions under which one of these solutions can be written as a linear combination of the others. In the second place, by means of limiting procedures we generate solutions for the double-confluent equation as well as for special limits of both the confluent and double-confluent equations. Finally, we present problems which are ruled by each of these four equations and establish relations among Heun equations and quasi-exactly solvable problems.
The present article reveals important properties of the confluent Heun's functions. We derive a set of novel relations for confluent Heun's functions and their derivatives of arbitrary order. Specific new subclasses of confluent Heun's functions are introduced and studied. A new alternative derivation of confluent Heun's polynomials is presented.
We show that the Heun confluent equation admits infinitely many solutions in terms of the confluent generalized hypergeometric functions. For each of these solutions a characteristic exponent of a regular singularity of the Heun confluent equation is a non-zero integer and the accessory parameter obeys a polynomial equation. Each of the solutions can be written as a linear combination with constant coefficients of a finite number of either the Kummer confluent hypergeometric functions or the Bessel functions.
We construct new solutions in series of confluent hypergeometric functions for the confluent Heun equation (CHE). Some of these solutions are applied to the one-dimensional stationary Schrödinger equation with hyperbolic and trigonometric quasiexactly solvable potentials.
The cases when the equation for the derivative of the confluent Heun function has only three singularities (in general, the equation has four such points) are examined. It is shown that this occurs only in three specific cases. Further, it is shown that in all these three cases this equation is reduced to some confluent Heun equation with changed parameters. This means that in these cases the derivative of the confluent Heun function is expressed via some other confluent Heun function. The analysis of the obtained relations shows that they can be useful for the construction of some exact solut…
Integral relations and transformation rules are used to obtain, out of an asymptotic solution, a new group of four pairs of solutions to the double-confluent Heun equation. Each pair presents the same series coefficients but has solutions convergent in different regions of the complex plane. Integral relations are also established between solutions given by series of Coulomb wave functions. The Whittaker-Hill equation and another equation are studied as particular cases of both the double-confluent and the single-confluent Heun equations. Finally, applications for the Schrödinger equation with…
We find pairs of solutions to a differential equation which is obtained as a special limit of a generalized spheroidal wave equation (this is also known as confluent Heun equation). One solution in each pair is given by a series of hypergeometric functions and converges for any finite value of the independent variable $z$, while the other is given by a series of modified Bessel functions and converges for $|z|>|z_{0}|$, where $z_{0}$ denotes a regular singularity. For short, the preceding limit is called Ince's limit after Ince who have used the same procedure to get the Mathieu equations from…
Several expansions of the solutions to the confluent Heun equation in terms of incomplete Beta functions are constructed. A new type of expansion involving certain combinations of the incomplete Beta functions as expansion functions is introduced. The necessary and sufficient conditions when the derived expansions are terminated, thus generating closed-form solutions, are discussed. It is shown that termination of a Beta-function series solution always leads to a solution that is necessarily an elementary function.
The explicit formulas for the maps interconnecting the sets of solutions of the special double confluent Heun equation and the equation of the RSJ model of overdamped Josephson junction in case of shifted sinusoidal bias are given. The approach these are based upon leans on the extensive application of eigenfunctions of certain linear operator acting on functions holomorphic on the universal cover of the punctured complex plane. The functional equation the eigenfunctions noted obey is derived, the matrix form of the monodromy transformation they infer is given.
We present a simple systematic algorithm for construction of expansions of the solutions of ordinary differential equations with rational coefficients in terms of mathematical functions having indefinite integral representation. The approach employs an auxiliary equation involving only the derivatives of a solution of the equation under consideration. Using power-series expansions of the solutions of this auxiliary equation, we construct several expansions of the four confluent Heun equations' solutions in terms of the incomplete Gamma-functions. In the cases of single- and double-confluent He…
It is shown that Schrödinger equation with combination of three potentials U = - α r^{-1} + β r + kr^{2}, Coulomb, linear and harmonic, the potential often used to describe quarkonium, is reduced to a bi-confluent Heun differential equation. The method to construct its solutions in the form of polynomials is developed, however with additional constraints in four parameters of the model, α, β, k, l. The energy spectrum looks as a modified combination of oscillator and Coulomb parts.
We reexamine and extend a group of solutions in series of Bessel functions for a limiting case of the confluent Heun equation and, then, apply such solutions to the one-dimensional Schrödinger equation with an inverted quasi-exactly solvable potential as well as to the angular equation for an electron in the field of a point electric dipole. For the first problem we find finite- and infinite-series solutions which are convergent and bounded for any value of the independent variable. For the angular equation, we also find expansions in series of Jacobi polynomials.
It is shown that the Confluent Heun Equation (CHEq) reduces for certain conditions of the parameters to a particular class of Quasi-Exactly Solvable models, associated with the Lie algebra $sl (2,{\mathbb R})$. As a consequence it is possible to find a set of polynomial solutions of this quasi-exactly solvable version of the CHEq. These finite solutions encompass previously known polynomial solutions of the Generalized Spheroidal Equation, Razavy Eq., Whittaker-Hill Eq., etc. The analysis is applied to obtain and describe special eigen-functions of the quantum Hamiltonian of two fixed Coulombi…
Firstly, we construct kernels of integral relations among solutions of the confluent Heun equation (CHE) and its limit, the reduced CHE (RCHE). In both cases we generate additional kernels by systematically applying substitutions of variables. Secondly, we establish integral relations between known solutions of the CHE that are power series and solutions that are series of special functions; and similarly for solutions of the RCHE. Thirdly, by using one of the integral relations as an integral transformation we obtain a new series solution of the spheroidal wave equation. From this solution we…
We obtain some new formulae to compute the first derivative of confluent and biconfluent Heun functions under the minimal assumption of fixing only one parameter. These results together with the Lagrangian formulation of a general homogeneous linear ordinary differential equation allow to construct several new indefinite integrals for the confluent, biconfluent, doubly confluent, and triconfluent Heun functions.
The harmonic Lagrange top is the Lagrange top plus a quadratic (harmonic) potential term. We describe the top in the space fixed frame using a global description with a Poisson structure on $T^*S^3$. This global description naturally leads to a rational parametrisation of the set of critical values of the energy-momentum map. We show that there are 4 different topological types for generic parameter values. The quantum mechanics of the harmonic Lagrange top is described by the most general confluent Heun equation (also known as the generalised spheroidal wave equation). We derive formulas for …
The Leaver solutions in series of Coulomb wave functions for the confluent Heun equation (CHE) are given by two-sided infinite series, that is, by series where the summation index $n$ runs from minus to plus infinity [E. W. Leaver, J. Math. Phys. 27, 1238 (1986)]. First we show that, in contrast to the D'Alembert test, under certain conditions the Raabe test assures that the domains of convergence of these solutions include an additional singular point. Further, by using a limit proposed by Leaver, we obtain solutions for the double-confluent Heun equation (DCHE). In addition, we get solutions…
A recently proposed algorithm to obtain global solutions of the double confluent Heun equation is applied to solve the quantum mechanical problem of finding the energies and wave functions of a particle bound in a potential sum of a repulsive supersingular term, Ar(-4), plus an attractive Coulombian one, -Zr(-1). The existence of exact algebraic solutions for certain values of A is discussed.
We construct several expansions of the solutions of the confluent Heun equation in terms of the incomplete Beta functions and the Appell generalized hypergeometric functions of two variables of the fist kind. The coefficients of different expansions obey four-, five-, or six-term recurrence relations that are reduced to ones involving less number of terms only in a few exceptional cases. The conditions for deriving finite-sum solutions via termination of the series are discussed.
In the paper, the well-known quantum mechanical problem of a spin 1/2 particle in external Coulomb potential, reduced to a system of two first-order differential equations, is studied from the point of view of possible applications of the Heun function theory to treat this system. It is shown that in addition to the standard way to solve the problem in terms of the confluent hypergeometric functions (proposed in 1928 by G. Darvin and W. Gordon), there are possible several other possibilities which rely on applying the confluent Heun functions. Namely, in the paper there are elaborated two comb…
Classical Virasoro conformal blocks are believed to be directly related to accessory parameters of Floquet type in the Heun equation and some of its confluent versions. We extend this relation to another class of accessory parameter functions that are defined by inverting all-order Bohr-Sommerfeld periods for confluent and biconfluent Heun equation. The relevant conformal blocks involve Nagoya irregular vertex operators of rank 1 and 2 and conjecturally correspond to partition functions of a 4D $\mathcal{N}=2$, $N_f=3$ gauge theory at strong coupling and an Argyres-Douglas theory.
An analysis of the generalized confluent Heun equation $(α_2r^2+α_1r)\,y''+(β_2r^2+β_1r+β_0)\,y'-(\varepsilon_1r+\varepsilon_0)\,y=0$ in $d$-dimensional space, where $\{α_i, β_i, \varepsilon_i\}$ are real parameters, is presented. With the aid of these general results, the quasi exact solvability of the Schrödinger eigenproblem generated by the softcore Coulomb potential $V(r)=-e^2Z/(r+b),\, b>0$, is explicitly resolved. Necessary and sufficient conditions for polynomial solvability are given. A three-term recurrence relation is provided to generate the coefficients of polynomial solutions exp…
In a recent paper, the canonical forms of a new multi-parameter class of Abel differential equations, so-called AIR, all of whose members can be mapped into Riccati equations, were shown to be related to the differential equations for the hypergeometric 2F1, 1F1 and 0F1 functions. In this paper, a connection between the AIR canonical forms and the Heun General (GHE), Confluent (CHE) and Biconfluent (BHE) equations is presented. This connection fixes the value of one of the Heun parameters, expresses another one in terms of those remaining, and provides closed form solutions in terms of pFq fun…
Connection formulas relating Frobenius solutions of linear ODEs at different Fuchsian singular points can be expressed in terms of the large order asymptotics of the corresponding power series. We demonstrate that for the usual, confluent and reduced confluent Heun equation, the series expansion of the relevant asymptotic amplitude in a suitable parameter can be systematically computed to arbitrary order. This allows to check a recent conjecture of Bonelli-Iossa-Panea Lichtig-Tanzini expressing the Heun connection matrix in terms of quasiclassical Virasoro conformal blocks.
The aim of this paper is to study the effect of isomonodromic deformations of the evolution of scalar fields in Sasaki-Einstein spaces in the context of holography. Here we analyze the monodromy data of the general Heun equation, resulting from a scalar on Y$^{p,q}$, thus obtaining the corresponding Painlevé VI equation. Furthermore we have considered limits leading to a coalescence of singularities, which in turn transform the original Painlevé VI equation, to one of lower rank. The confluent limits we have considered are Y$^{p,p}$, T$^{1,1} / \mathbb{Z}_2$ and Y$^{\infty, q}$.
We investigate the non-equilibrium dynamics of an isolated polymer in a stationary elongational flow. We compute the relaxation time to the steady-state configuration as a function of the Weissenberg number. A strong increase of the relaxation time is found around the coil-stretch transition, which is attributed to the large number of polymer configurations. The relaxation dynamics of the polymer is solved analytically in terms of a central two-point connection problem for the singly confluent Heun equation.
We investigate the propagation modes of gauge fields in an infinite Randall-Sundrum scenario. In this model a sine-Gordon soliton represents our thick four-dimensional braneworld while an exponentially coupled scalar acts for the dilaton field. For the gauge-field motion we find a differential equation which can be transformed into a confluent Heun equation. By means of another change of variables we obtain a related Schrodinger equation with a family of symmetric rational (γ-ωz^2)/(1-z^2)^2 potential functions. We discuss both results and present the infinite spectrum of analytical solutions …
The present paper analyze the constraints on the confluent Heun type-equation, $(a_{3,1}r^2+a_{3,2}r)y"+(a_{2,0}r^2+a_{2,1}r+a_{2,2})y'-(τ_{1,0}r+τ_{1,1})y=0,$ where $|a_{3,1}|^2+|a_{3,2}|^2\neq 0, $ and $a_{i,j},i=3,2,1, j=0,1,2$ are real parameters, to admit polynomial solutions. The necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of these polynomials are given. A three-term recurrence relation is provided to generate the polynomial solutions explicitly. We, then, prove that these polynomial solutions are a source of finite sequences of orthogonal polynomials. Several properties, such …
A new bi-parametric $su(1,1)$ algebraization of the Heun class of equations is explored. This yields additional quasi-polynomial solutions of the form $\{z^αP_N(z): \ α\in \mathbb{C}, \ N \in \mathbb{N}_0\}$ to the General Heun eqaution and its confluent versions. Explicit conditions leading to these quasi-polynomials have been provided for the individual equations to allow direct use. For the Confluent and the Doubly-confluent Heun equations, specific parametric situations leading to (i) an infinite number of quasi-polynomials and (ii) non-algebraizability of the equation have been identified…
We find sets of solutions to the generalized spheroidal wave equation (GSWE) or, equivalently, to the confluent Heun equation. Each set is constituted by three solutions, one given by a series of ascending powers of the independent variable, and the others by series of regular and irregular confluent hypergeometric functions. For a fixed set, the solutions converge over different regions of the complex plane but present series coefficients proportional to each other. These solutions for the GSWE afford solutions to a double-confluent Heun equation by a taking-limit process due to Leaver. Anoth…
Three linear operators (${\mathcal L}$-operators) determining automorphisms of the space of solutions to a special double confluent Heun equation (sDCHE) of negative integer order are considered. Their composition rules involving in a natural way the monodromy transformation are given. Introducing eigenfunctions $E_{\{+\}}, E_{\{-\}}$ of one of the ${\mathcal L}$-operators (${\mathcal L}_C$) satisfying sDCHE, the four polylocal quadratic functionals playing role of the first integrals of sDCHE are derived. Their use allows to construct the explicit matrix representations of ${\mathcal L}$-oper…
We find transformations of variables which preserve the form of the equation for the kernels of integral relations among solutions of the Heun equation. These transformations lead to new kernels for the Heun equation, given by single hypergeometric functions (Lambe-Ward-type kernels) and by products of two hypergeometric functions (Erdélyi-type). Such kernels, by a limiting process, also afford new kernels for the confluent Heun equation.
Heun differential equations are the most general second order Fuchsian equations with four regular singularities. An explicit integral series representation of Heun functions involving only elementary integrands has hitherto been unknown and noted as an important open problem in a recent review. We provide explicit integral representations of the solutions of all equations of the Heun class: general, confluent, bi-confluent, doubly-confluent and triconfluent, with integrals involving only rational functions and exponential integrands. All the series are illustrated with concrete examples of us…
Biconfluent Heun (BCH) function, a confluent form of Heun function, is the special case of Grand Confluent Hypergeometric (GCH) function: this has a regular singularity at x=0, and an irregular singularity at infinity of rank 2. In this paper I apply three term recurrence formula (3TRF) [arXiv:1303.0806] to the integral formalism of GCH function including all higher terms of A_n's and the generating function for the GCH polynomial which makes B_n term terminated. I show how to transform power series expansion in closed forms of GCH equation to its integral representation analytically. This pap…
We report an alternative method to solve second order differential equations which have at most four singular points. This method is developed by changing the degrees of the polynomials in the basic equation of Nikiforov-Uvarov (NU) method. This is called extended NU method for this paper. The eigenvalue solutions of Heun equation and confluent Heun equation are obtained via extended NU method. Some quantum mechanical problems such as Coulomb problem on a 3-sphere, two Coulombically repelling electrons on a sphere and hyperbolic double-well potential are investigated by this method.
Mathieu ordinary differential equation is of Fuchsian types with the two regular and one irregular singularities. In contrast, Heun equation of Fuchsian types has the four regular singularities. Heun equation has the four kind of confluent forms: (1) Confluent Heun (two regular and one irregular singularities), (2) Doubly confluent Heun (two irregular singularities), (3) Biconfluent Heun (one regular and one irregular singularities), (4) Triconfluent Heun equations (one irregular singularity). Mathieu equation in algebraic forms is also derived from the Confluent Heun equation by changing all …
We review different methods of generating potentials such that the one-dimensional Schrödinger equation (ODSE) can be transformed into the hypergeometric equation. We compare our results with previous studies, and complement the subject with new findings. Our main result is to derive new classes of potentials such that the ODSE can be transformed into the Heun equation and its confluent cases. The generalized Heun equation is also considered.
We find confluent Heun solutions to the radial equations of two Halilsoy-Badawi metrics. For the first metric, we studied the radial part of the massless Dirac equation and for the second case, we studied the radial part of the massless Klein-Gordon equation.
We give examples where the Heun function exists in general relativity. It turns out that while a wave equation written in the background of certain metric yields Mathieu functions as its solutions in four space-time dimensions, the trivial generalization to five dimensions results in the double confluent Heun function. We reduce this solution to the Mathieu function with some transformations.
After a brief introduction to Heun type functions we note that the actual solutions of the eigenvalue equation emerging in the calculation of the one loop contribution to QCD from the Belavin-Polyakov-Schwarz-Tyupkin instanton and the similar calculation for a Dirac particle coupled to a scalar $CP^1$ model in two dimensions can be given in terms of confluent Heun equation in their original forms. These equations were previously modified to be solved by more elementary functions. We also show that polynomial solutions with discrete eigenvalues are impossible to find in the unmodified equations…
In the first part of our paper we discuss linear 2nd order differential equations in the complex domain, especially Heun class equations, that is, the Heun equation and its confluent cases. The second part of our paper is devoted to Painlevé I-VI equations. Our philosophy is to treat these families of equations in a unified way. This philosophy works especially well for Heun class equations. We discuss its classification into 5 supertypes, subdivided into 10 types (not counting trivial cases). We also introduce in a unified way deformed Heun class equations, which contain an additional nonloga…
We report a solution of the one-dimensional Schrodinger equation with a hyperbolic double-well confining potential via a transformation to the so-called confluent Heun equation. We discuss the requirements on the parameters of the system in which a reduction to Heun polynomials is possible, representing the wavefunctions of bound states.
Schroedinger's equation with the attractive potential V(r) = -Z/(r^q+ b^q)^(1/q), Z > 0, b > 0, q >= 1, is shown, for general values of the parameters Z and b, to be reducible to the confluent Heun equation in the case q=1, and to the generalized Heun equation in case q=2. In a formulation with correct asymptotics, the eigenstates are specified a priori up to an unknown factor. In certain special cases this factor becomes a polynomial. The Asymptotic Iteration Method is used either to find the polynomial factor and the associated eigenvalue explicitly, or to construct accurate approximations f…
Most of the theoretical physics known today is described by using a small number of differential equations. For linear systems, different forms of the hypergeometric or the confluent hypergeometric equations often suffice to describe the system studied. These equations have power series solutions with simple relations between consecutive coefficients and/ or can be represented in terms of simple integral transforms. If the problem is nonlinear, one often uses one form of the Painlevé equations. There are important examples, however, where one has to use higher order equations. Heun equation is…
The paper presents a detailed analysis of the so-called "Double-Root Tangent-Polynomial" (DRtTP) reduction of the regular Gauss-reference (r-GRef) potential exactly solvable by hypergeometric functions. It is shown that the Dutt-Khare-Varshni (DKV) potential represents a remarkable particular case when the DRtTP r-GRef becomes expressible in terms of elementary functions. This is also true for its basic single- or double-step SUSY partners which are either exactly or conditionally exactly quantized by Heun polynomials (Hp-EQ or Hp-CEQ, respectively).
The Painlevé equations arise from the study of Hankel determinants generated by moment matrices, whose weights are expressed as the product of ``classical" weights multiplied by suitable ``deformation factors", usually dependent on a ``time variable'' $t$. From ladder operators one finds second order linear ordinary differential equations for associated orthogonal polynomials with coefficients being rational functions. The Painlevé and related functions appear as the residues of these rational functions. We will be interested in the situation when $n$, the order of the Hankel matrix and also t…
Time and band limiting operators are expressed as functions of the confluent Heun operator arising in the spheroidal wave equation. Explicit formulas are obtained when the bandwidth parameter is either small or large and results on the complete Fourier transform are recovered.
We study the dynamics of a two-level crossing model with a parabolic separation of the diabatic energies. The solutions are expressed in terms of the tri-confluent Heun equations --- the generalization of the confluent hypergeometric equations. We obtain analytical approximations for the state populations in terms of Airy and Bessel functions. Applicable expressions are derived for a large part of the parameter space. We also provide simple formulas which connect local solution in different time regimes. The validity of the analytical approximations is shown by comparing them to numerical simu…
We show that many integrals containing products of confluent hypergeometric functions follow directly from one single integral that has a very simple formula in terms of Appell's double series F_2. We present some techniques for computing such series. Applications requiring the matrix elements of singular potentials and the perturbed Kratzer potential are presented.
Analytic and approximate solutions for the energy eigenvalues generated by the hyperbolic potentials $V_m(x)=-U_0\sinh^{2m}(x/d)/\cosh^{2m+2}(x/d),\,m=0,1,2,\dots$ are constructed. A byproduct of this work is the construction of polynomial solutions for the confluent Heun equation along with necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of such solutions based on the evaluation of a three-term recurrence relation. Very accurate approximate solutions for the general problem with arbitrary potential parameters are found by use of the {\it asymptotic iteration method}.
We present the exact solution of the stationary Schrödinger equation equation for the potential $V=V_0/{\sqrt{x}}$. Each of the two fundamental solutions that compose the general solution of the problem is given by a combination with non-constant coefficients of two confluent hypergeometric functions of a shifted argument. Alternatively, the solution is written through the first derivative of a tri-confluent Heun function. Apart from the quasi-polynomial solutions provided by the energy specification $E_n=E_1{n^{-2/3}}$, we discuss the bound-state wave functions vanishing both at infinity and …
