# Solution Space of Schrodinger's Equation

We are given Hermitian operator of the form

$H(x) =(-\hbar^2/2m) \partial^2/\partial x^2 + V(x)$

(where $\hbar$ and $m$ are real constants) which has orthogonal eigenfunctions corresponding to a set of distinct real eigenvalues, whose size is finite or countably infinite.

We also are given

$-i\hbar\partial\Psi(x,t)/\partial t = H(x)\Psi(x,t)$

(Schrodinger’s Equation, of quantum mechanics, where $i = \sqrt{-1}$)

We wish to solve for $\Psi$. Also, $\Psi$ is restricted to be a “test function”, in the distribution theory sense.

I have been told that, if $\Psi$ is a solution to the above equation, it must lie in the function space spanned by a linear combination of the eigenfunctions of $H$. Is that mathematically provable to be always true, sometimes true, or maybe just a postulate of QM so that, although it is not mathematically always true, we assume it is always true for physical systems?

• It's more of a postulate of QM. Not all unbounded self adjoint operators have eigenvalues. QM assumes that you work with "nice" potentials. – Cameron Williams May 12 '18 at 23:59
• @CameronWilliams Thank you for your response! So, for nice potentials, all solutions to the Schrodinger equation reside in the space that is spanned by a linear combination of the eigenfunctions of H? If that is so, could you please tell me how can that be proved? – David May 13 '18 at 3:05
• I'm not sure it can really be proved in a way that is satisfactory. Check out Gallindo and Pascual though. It's the most rigorous treatment of QM that I've seen. – Cameron Williams May 13 '18 at 5:39
• The equation is a linear one. Unless something weird happens ( see @CameronWilliams comment ), the 'general solution' is a linear combination of its eigenfunctions. – Felix Marin May 13 '18 at 6:17
• @FelixMarin But the 2nd derivative in H is not linear, so is the equation linear? Also, H has eigenfunctions, but what do you mean by the eigenfunctions of the equation? – David May 13 '18 at 7:15

I have not looked into the case of $\mathbb{R}$, but I have looked into the case on $[0,\infty)$ (or $(-\infty,0]$). In the case on $[0,\infty)$, for example, the Sturm-Liouville operator $H$ with no singular points in $(0,\infty)$, where you have a possibe boundary condition at $0$ of the form $$\cos\alpha \psi(0)+\sin\alpha \psi'(0)=0,$$ you can solve for the unique classical eigenfunctions $\psi_{\lambda}$ satisfying \begin{align} \cos\alpha \psi_{\lambda}(0)+\sin\alpha \psi_{\lambda}'(0)&=0, \\ -\sin\alpha \psi_{\lambda}(0)+\cos\alpha \psi_{\lambda}(0)&=1. \end{align} (These are classical ODE solutions that may lie in $L^2[0,\infty)$ for some $\lambda$, but generally do not unless $\lambda$ is in the discrete spectrum.) When you do this, you find that there is a unique positive spectral density measure $\rho$ such that the following outer integral converges in $L^2[0,\infty)$: $$f = \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \left(\int_{0}^{\infty}f(x')\psi_{\lambda}(x')dx'\right) \psi_{\lambda}(x) d\rho(\lambda).$$ There is a corresponding Plancherel identity, $$\|f\|^2_{L^2[0,\infty)} = \int_{-\infty}^{\infty}\left|\int_{0}^{\infty}f(x')\varphi_{\lambda}(x')dx'\right|^2 d\rho(\lambda).$$ In this setting it is true that the every function in $L^2[0,\infty)$ can be built up from the eigenfunctions of the Hamiltonian. This case fits rather nicely with Dirac's formulation; it fact, Dirac probably borrowed much of his formalism from the results obtained for Sturm-Liouville Theory in the early part of the 20th century by Weyl and others.
I have not thoroughly looked into how to link the two results on each half-line, but it is my understanding this can be done (possibly with a $2\times 2$ matrix?). So I would say there is a sense in which this statement of yours is true: "I have been told that, if Ψ is a solution to the above equation, it must lie in the function space spanned by a linear combination of the eigenfunctions of H."
• Thank you for your answer! But how do we know that all of the solutions to Schrodinger's equation, for a given $H$, must lie in $L^2$ (a Hilbert Space) and are therefore in the space spanned by the eigenfunctions of $H$? $H$ may be hermitian in $L^2$. but if there are solutions to the equation that are outside of $L^2$, $H$ may not be hermitian over that greater space... – David May 13 '18 at 9:03
• @David : In general, they're not square-integrable. Just as the $e^{isx}$ solutions are not in $L^2$ for real $s$ on $\mathbb{R}$, the $\varphi_{\lambda}$ are not typically in $L^2$ on $[0,\infty)$; in general they are $L^2$ iff $\lambda$ is in the point spectrum. In general, the integrals over finite intervals of $\lambda$ give non-coherent wave packs that are in $L^2$ because of cancellations. – DisintegratingByParts May 13 '18 at 14:48