Hermite Polynomials and the Quantum Harmonic Oscillator: An Algebraic Approach

This study presents a complete algebraic formulation of the quantum harmonic oscillator, demonstrating that the Hermite polynomials,

H

n

(

x

)

, emerge as the fundamental solution when the power-series method is applied to the Schrödinger equation. The physical requirement of square integrability enforces the truncation of the series, leading precisely to these polynomials, which constitute the polynomial part of the energy eigenfunctions,

ψ

n

(

x

)=

N

n

H

n

(

αx

)

e

−

α

2

x

2

/2

, where

n

is the quantum number. This quantum number directly determines the quantized energy levels through

E

n

=ℏω(

n+

1

2

)

. The analysis based on creation and annihilation operators further reveals that the action of the creation operator on the ground state generates the excited states along with their corresponding Hermite functions. The orthogonality of these polynomials ensures the orthonormality of the complete set of eigenfunctions. Additionally, the geometric Berry phase emerges as a natural extension when the system undergoes adiabatic cyclic changes, revealing a deeper topological structure that complements the conventional algebraic and analytic descriptions. Therefore, Hermite polynomials encapsulate both the mathematical structure and the physical essence of quantization in this fundamental system.

• Quantum Harmonic Oscillator
• Hermite Polynomials
• Schrödinger Equation
• Algebraic and Analytical Methods
• Berry Phase

1. Introduction

The quantum harmonic oscillator constitutes one of the fundamental systems of modern quantum mechanics, standing out for being exactly solvable and for serving as a conceptual and mathematical model for a wide variety of physical phenomena. Its importance transcends the didactic character, being widely employed in the description of molecular vibrations in spectroscopy, in the quantization of electromagnetic fields in quantum electrodynamics, in field theory, in the analysis of normal modes in crystalline solids, and in the approximation of real potentials around stable equilibrium points [1][2].

Historically, the quantum harmonic oscillator is intimately linked to the emergence of quantum mechanics itself. The introduction of energy quantization by Planck, in the context of blackbody radiation, already anticipated the idea of discrete modes associated with harmonic oscillators. Subsequently, with the development of the Schrödinger equation, it became evident that this system admitted discrete, orthogonal, and physically interpretable solutions, playing a central role in the consolidation of the probabilistic interpretation of quantum theory [3].

From a formal point of view, the quantum harmonic oscillator admits two complementary and mathematically elegant approaches: the analytical formulation, based on the direct resolution of the Schrödinger differential equation, and the algebraic formulation, founded on the use of creation and annihilation operators [4]. This work offers a pedagogical synthesis that explicitly bridges these two approaches. While standard textbook derivations often present them in sequence, our aim is to highlight the direct correspondence between them, showing step-by-step how the operator algebra maps onto the properties of Hermite polynomials and vice-versa. We provide a clear crosswalk between the differential-operator form of the ladder operators and the recurrence relations and Rodrigues formula for the Hermite polynomials, solidifying the connection between the algebraic and analytic perspectives.

Hermite polynomials arise naturally in the analytical treatment of the harmonic oscillator when adequate physical conditions are imposed on the solutions of the Schrödinger equation. The requirement that the wave functions be square-integrable, an indispensable condition for the probabilistic interpretation of the quantum formalism, imposes rigorous restrictions on the asymptotic behavior of the solutions, selecting only a discrete set of mathematically well-behaved functions. This procedure unequivocally leads to Hermite polynomials as the polynomial part of the system’s eigenfunctions [5].

In this context, the degree of the Hermite polynomial is directly associated with the quantum state of the system, simultaneously determining the energy and the spatial form of the wave function. The ground state corresponds to the lowest-degree solution, characterized by a Gaussian distribution, while the excited states exhibit progressively more complex nodal structures, reflecting the energy hierarchy of the system. In the algebraic approach, this structure emerges naturally from the successive action of the creation operator on the ground state, establishing a direct correspondence between the ladder operators and the Hermite polynomials [6][7]. Recent studies have further explored the role of quantum fluctuations in analogous systems, such as the investigation of vacuum fluctuations in inorganic compounds [8].

The mathematical properties of Hermite polynomials, such as their recurrence relations, their operational representation, and their orthogonality, play a central role in the description of the quantum harmonic oscillator. In particular, orthogonality ensures that the system’s eigenfunctions form a complete set, allowing the expansion of arbitrary quantum states and ensuring the mathematical and physical consistency of the theory [9].

In this work, a compact and rigorous analytical description of the quantum harmonic oscillator is developed, highlighting Hermite polynomials as the natural solution of the Schrödinger equation. The analysis is conducted predominantly within the algebraic formalism, in which creation and annihilation operators are constructed from the canonical position and momentum variables and used to reformulate the system’s Hamiltonian. This approach allows a clear and systematic understanding of the origin of energy quantization and the central role of Hermite polynomials in the mathematical structure and physical interpretation of this fundamental system.

2. Theoretical Foundation

This study is confined to the one-dimensional, non-relativistic, time-independent quantum harmonic oscillator. We consider a particle of constant mass m oscillating with constant angular frequency ω in a quadratic potential. The analysis is carried out within the standard position representation of wave mechanics, focusing on the bound states of the system.

2.1. The Classical Harmonic Oscillator

The classical harmonic oscillator is characterized by a quadratic potential V ( x ) = 1 2 m ω 2 x 2 , where m represents the particle mass and ω the angular oscillation frequency. The classical equation of motion is given by Newton’s second law [10]:

(1) m d 2 x d t 2 = − k x

where k = m ω 2 is the force constant. This is a second-order linear differential equation with constant coefficients, whose solution can be obtained by the Frobenius method (power series solution) or more simply by assuming a complex exponential solution. Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the classical harmonic oscillator. This figure illustrates the mass-spring system with quadratic potential, where the mass m is attached to a spring of constant k = m ω 2 and executes simple harmonic motion x ( t ) = A cos ( ω t − δ ) around the equilibrium position x = 0 .

Classical Solution via the Frobenius Method

In this subsection, the classical differential equation associated with the harmonic

Figure 1

Figure 1. Classical harmonic oscillator: mass-spring system with quadratic potential. Source: Personal archive.

oscillator is generalized by means of a power series solution, employing the Frobenius method. Although the equation admits an elementary solution in terms of trigonometric functions, this approach is adopted for its conceptual value, as it anticipates the mathematical structure that emerges in the quantum treatment of the problem and establishes a direct parallel with the series method applied to the Schrödinger equation.

The classical harmonic oscillator equation can be rewritten as:

(2) d 2 x d t 2 + ω 2 x = 0

Assuming a power series solution in time [11]:

(3) x ( t ) = ∑ n = 0 ∞   a n t n

Differentiating term by term:

(4) d x d t = ∑ n = 1 ∞   n a n t n − 1 = ∑ n = 0 ∞ ( n + 1 ) a n + 1 t n (5) d 2 x d t 2 = ∑ n = 2 ∞   n ( n − 1 ) a n t n − 2 = ∑ n = 0 ∞ ( n + 2 ) ( n + 1 ) a n + 2 t n

Substituting into the differential equation:

(6) ∑ n = 0 ∞ [ ( n + 2 ) ( n + 1 ) a n + 2 + ω 2 a n ] t n = 0

Since this equality must hold for all t , each coefficient must be zero:

(7) ( n + 2 ) ( n + 1 ) a n + 2 + ω 2 a n = 0 (8) a n + 2 = − ω 2 ( n + 2 ) ( n + 1 ) a n

This is the recurrence relation that determines all coefficients from a 0 and a 1 . We note that there are two independent series: one for even n (depending on a 0 ) and another for odd n (depending on a 1 ). Developing the first terms:

Even series ( n = 2 k ):

(9) a 2 = − ω 2 2 ⋅ 1 a 0 = − ω 2 2 ! a 0 (10) a 4 = − ω 2 4 ⋅ 3 a 2 = ω 4 4 ! a 0 (11) a 6 = − ω 2 6 ⋅ 5 a 4 = − ω 6 6 ! a 0 ⋮ (12) a 2 k = ( − 1 ) k ω 2 k ( 2 k ) ! a 0

Odd series ( n = 2 k + 1 ):

(13) a 3 = − ω 2 3 ⋅ 2 a 1 = − ω 2 3 ! a 1 (14) a 5 = − ω 2 5 ⋅ 3 a 3 = ω 4 5 ! a 1 (15) a 7 = − ω 2 7 ⋅ 5 a 5 = − ω 6 7 ! a 1 ⋮ (16) a 2 k + 1 = ( − 1 ) k ω 2 k ( 2 k + 1 ) ! a 1

The general solution is therefore [12]:

(17) x ( t ) = a 0 ∑ k = 0 ∞ ( − 1 ) k ( ω t ) 2 k ( 2 k ) ! + a 1 ω ∑ k = 0 ∞ ( − 1 ) k ( ω t ) 2 k + 1 ( 2 k + 1 ) !

We recognize the series as the Taylor expansions of cos ( ω t ) and sin ( ω t ) , respectively [13]:

(18) x ( t ) = a 0 cos ( ω t ) + a 1 ω sin ( ω t )

Defining A = a 0 2 + ( a 1 ω ) 2 and δ = arctan ( a 1 ω a 0 ) , we obtain the canonical form:

(19) x ( t ) = A cos ( ω t − δ )

where A is the maximum oscillation amplitude and δ the initial phase.

The transition to quantum mechanics requires the canonical quantization of the dynamical variables, replacing classical quantities with operators that satisfy fundamental commutation relations. The classical Hamiltonian:

(20) H = p 2 2 m + 1 2 m ω 2 x 2

becomes, in the quantum description, an operator acting on an appropriate Hilbert space, where x and p are Hermitian operators satisfying:

(21) [ x , p ] = x p − p x = i ℏ

This commutation relation is the foundation of quantum mechanics and will be essential for the development of creation and annihilation operators.

2.2. The Schrödinger Equation and the Quantum Harmonic Oscillator

The transition from classical to quantum mechanics is carried out through the process of canonical quantization, in which classical dynamical variables such as position x and momentum p are promoted to the category of Hermitian operators acting on a Hilbert space, obeying the fundamental commutation relation [ x , p ] = i ℏ . The time evolution and stationary states of a quantum system are governed by the time-independent Schrödinger equation [2][3]:

(22) H ^ ψ ( x ) = E ψ ( x )

where H ^ is the Hamiltonian operator of the system and ψ ( x ) represents the wave function associated with the stationary state of energy E .

For the quantum harmonic oscillator, the Hamiltonian is obtained by directly substituting the classical variables with the corresponding quantum operators in the classical expression for the total energy. Starting from the classical Hamiltonian given by Equation (23):

(23) H = p 2 2 m + 1 2 m ω 2 x 2

and applying canonical quantization, we obtain the quantum Hamiltonian operator:

(24) H ^ = p ^ 2 2 m + 1 2 m ω 2 x ^ 2

In the position representation, we operate with x ^ = x and p ^ = − i ℏ d d x . Substituting these representations into the Schrödinger Equation (22), we obtain the differential equation governing the eigenfunctions ψ ( x ) of the harmonic oscillator [1]:

(25) − ℏ 2 2 m d 2 ψ d x 2 + 1 2 m ω 2 x 2 ψ ( x ) = E ψ ( x )

This is a second-order linear differential equation with variable coefficients. To analyze it more clearly and highlight its essential mathematical structure, it is convenient to introduce dimensionless variables. We define:

(26) ξ = m ω ℏ x = α x ,         α = m ω ℏ

and rewrite the energy as E = ℏ ω ε , where ε is a dimensionless numerical parameter to be determined. In this case, Equation (25) transforms into:

(27) d 2 ψ d ξ 2 + ( 2 ε − ξ 2 ) ψ ( ξ ) = 0

This form reveals that the asymptotic behavior of the solution for | ξ | → ∞ is dominated by the term − ξ 2 , suggesting a solution of the type ψ ( ξ ) ~ e − ξ 2 / 2 . We therefore seek solutions of the form [14]:

(28) ψ ( ξ ) = h ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 / 2

Substituting this ansatz into Equation (27), we obtain the differential equation for h ( ξ ) :

(29) d 2 h d ξ 2 − 2 ξ d h d ξ + ( 2 ε − 1 ) h ( ξ ) = 0

Equation (29) is the Hermite differential equation. Its solution is obtained by the Frobenius method (power series). Assuming:

(30) h ( ξ ) = ∑ k = 0 ∞   a k ξ k

and substituting into (29), we obtain the recurrence relation:

(31) a k + 2 = 2 k + 1 − 2 ε ( k + 1 ) ( k + 2 ) a k

2.3. Quantization Condition and Hermite Polynomials

The recurrence relation (31) connects coefficients of the same parity. For large values of k , we have a k + 2 ~ 2 k a k . If the series does not terminate, this asymptotic behavior leads to h ( ξ ) ~ e ξ 2 for | ξ | → ∞ [15]. This solution would make ψ ( ξ ) = h ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 / 2 ~ e + ξ 2 / 2 , which diverges as | ξ | → ∞ and is therefore not square-integrable ( ∫ | ψ | 2 d x → ∞ ). Consequently, such a solution is not physically acceptable as it cannot represent a probability amplitude for a bound state.

The physical condition that the wave function be square-integrable ( ∫ | ψ | 2 d x < ∞ ) imposes that the series (30) be truncated, transforming into a polynomial of finite degree [16]. This truncation occurs when the numerator of the recurrence relation vanishes for some k = n , that is:

(32) 2 n + 1 − 2 ε = 0     ⇒     ε = n + 1 2 ,     n = 0 , 1 , 2 , ⋯

Substituting ε = E / ℏ ω , we obtain the quantized energy eigenvalues:

(33) E n = ℏ ω ( n + 1 2 )

For each value of n , the series reduces to a polynomial of degree n , precisely the Hermite polynomial H n ( ξ ) . The general solution of the Schrödinger equation for the quantum harmonic oscillator is therefore:

(34) ψ n ( x ) = N n H n ( α x ) e − α 2 x 2 / 2

The constant N n is determined by the normalization condition. This analytical procedure through the power series method combined with the physical boundary condition rigorously and directly establishes the origin of Hermite polynomials as the natural mathematical solution of the problem, unequivocally linking the degree n of the polynomial to the quantum number that indexes the energy levels of the system.

2.4. Definition and Derivation of Creation and Annihilation Operators

The algebraic formulation of the quantum harmonic oscillator introduces a canonical transformation of the variables x and p into new operators that simplify the structure of the Hamiltonian. These operators, called annihilation (or destruction) operators a and creation operators a † , are defined as dimensionless linear combinations of position and momentum [17].

2.4.1. Definition of the Operators

Consider the following linear combinations:

(35) a = m ω 2 ℏ x + i 2 m ω ℏ p (36) a † = m ω 2 ℏ x − i 2 m ω ℏ p

Theorem2.1 (Conjugate Hermiticity) The operator a † is the adjoint (Hermitian conjugate) operator of a .

Proof. We note that x and p are Hermitian operators ( x = x † , p = p † ), and that the imaginary number i changes sign under Hermitian conjugation ( i † = − i ) [18]. Therefore:

(37) a † = ( m ω 2 ℏ x + i 2 m ω ℏ p ) † = m ω 2 ℏ x † − i 2 m ω ℏ p † = m ω 2 ℏ x − i 2 m ω ℏ p

which coincides with definition (36). □

2.4.2. Inversion of the Definitions

We can express x in terms of a and a † :

For position x :

Adding Equations (35) and (36):

(38) a + a † = 2 m ω 2 ℏ x = 2 m ω ℏ x

Therefore:

(39) x = ℏ 2 m ω ( a + a † )

For momentum p :

Subtracting Equation (36) from Equation (35) [14]:

(40) a − a † = 2 i 2 m ω ℏ p = i 2 m ω ℏ p

Therefore:

(41) p = 2 m ω ℏ 2 i ( a − a † ) = − i m ω ℏ 2 ( a − a † ) (42) p = i m ω ℏ 2 ( a † − a )

2.4.3. Demonstration of the Fundamental Commutation Relation

Theorem2.2. The operators a and a † satisfy the commutation relation [19]:

(43) [ a , a † ] = a a † − a † a = 1

Proof. We calculate the commutator directly using definitions (35) and (36) [20]:

(44) [ a , a † ] = [ m ω 2 ℏ x + i 2 m ω ℏ p , m ω 2 ℏ x − i 2 m ω ℏ p ] = m ω 2 ℏ [ x , x ] − i 2 ℏ [ x , p ] + i 2 ℏ [ p , x ] + 1 2 m ω ℏ [ p , p ] = 0 − i 2 ℏ ( i ℏ ) + i 2 ℏ ( − i ℏ ) + 0 = − i 2 2 − i 2 2 = 1 2 + 1 2 = 1 (45) ∴ [ a , a † ] = 1

□

2.5. Reformulation of the Hamiltonian in Terms of Creation and Annihilation Operators

The canonical Hamiltonian of the harmonic oscillator is given by Equation (23):

Theorem2.3. The Hamiltonian can be rewritten as:

(46) H = ℏ ω ( a † a + 1 2 ) = ℏ ω ( N + 1 2 )

where N = a † a is the number operator.

Proof. We substitute expressions (39) and (42) for x and p into the Hamiltonian:

For the kinetic term p 2 2 m :

(47) p 2 = [ i m ω ℏ 2 ( a † − a ) ] 2 = − m ω ℏ 2 ( a † − a ) 2 = − m ω ℏ 2 [ ( a † ) 2 − a † a − a a † + a 2 ] (48) p 2 2 m = − ω ℏ 4 [ ( a † ) 2 − a † a − a a † + a 2 ]

For the potential term 1 2 m ω 2 x 2 :

(49) x 2 = [ ℏ 2 m ω ( a + a † ) ] 2 = ℏ 2 m ω ( a + a † ) 2 = ℏ 2 m ω [ a 2 + a a † + a † a + ( a † ) 2 ] (50) 1 2 m ω 2 x 2 = ω ℏ 4 [ a 2 + a a † + a † a + ( a † ) 2 ]

The sum of the terms:

(51) H = p 2 2 m + 1 2 m ω 2 x 2 = − ω ℏ 4 [ ( a † ) 2 − a † a − a a † + a 2 ] + ω ℏ 4 [ a 2 + a a † + a † a + ( a † ) 2 ] = ω ℏ 4 [ a † a + a a † + a a † + a † a ] = ω ℏ 4 [ 2 a † a + 2 a a † ] = ω ℏ 2 ( a † a + a a † )

Using [ a , a † ] = a a † − a † a = 1 from Equation (43), we have a a † = a † a + 1 :

(52) H = ω ℏ 2 ( a † a + a † a + 1 ) = ω ℏ 2 ( 2 a † a + 1 ) = ℏ ω ( a † a + 1 2 ) (53) ∴ H = ℏ ω ( N + 1 2 )

□

2.6. Energy Spectrum and Stationary States

The algebraic structure of the quantum harmonic oscillator is particularly clearly revealed in the diagrammatic representation of the energy levels, presented in Figure 2. This diagram illustrates the action of the creation and annihilation operators on the stationary states of the system.

Figure 2

Figure 2. Energy level diagram of the quantum harmonic oscillator. Creation operators ( a ^ † ) raise the quantum state, while annihilation operators ( a ^ ) lower it. Each level corresponds to an eigenvalue E n = ℏ ω ( n + 1 2 ) . Source: Personal archive.

As shown in Figure 2, the creation operator a † promotes upward transitions between energy levels, while the annihilation operator a induces downward transitions. This visual representation synthesizes the underlying algebraic structure of the system and provides an immediate physical intuition about the mechanism of energy quantization.

Theorem2.4. The eigenvalues of the number operator N are non-negative integers n = 0 , 1 , 2 , ⋯ , and the eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian are given by the equation:

(54) E n = ℏ ω ( n + 1 2 )

Proof. Let | n 〉 be an eigenstate of N with eigenvalue n :

(55) N | n 〉 = n | n 〉

Lemma2.1. N a | n 〉 = ( n − 1 ) a | n 〉 (the operator a decreases the number of quanta by 1).

Proof.

(56) N a = a † a a = ( a a † − 1 ) a = a a † a − a = a N − a = a ( N − 1 ) (57) N a | n 〉 = a ( N − 1 ) | n 〉 = a ( n − 1 ) | n 〉 = ( n − 1 ) a | n 〉

□

Lemma2.2. N a † | n 〉 = ( n + 1 ) a † | n 〉 (the operator a † increases the number of quanta by 1).

Proof.

(58) N a † = a † a a † = a † ( a † a + 1 ) = a † ( N + 1 ) (59) N a † | n 〉 = a † ( N + 1 ) | n 〉 = a † ( n + 1 ) | n 〉 = ( n + 1 ) a † | n 〉

□

Positivity condition:

Since N = a † a is a positive semi-definite operator, its eigenvalues must satisfy n ≥ 0 . If we apply a successively, we must eventually reach a state | 0 〉 such that:

(60) a | 0 〉 = 0

Otherwise, we would obtain negative eigenvalues, violating the positivity of N .

For the ground state | 0 〉 :

(61) N | 0 〉 = a † a | 0 〉 = a † ⋅ 0 = 0

Hence, n = 0 for the ground state.

Applying a † successively:

(62) | n 〉 = ( a † ) n n ! | 0 〉

with eigenvalues n = 0 , 1 , 2 , ⋯ and energies:

(63) E n = ℏ ω ( n + 1 2 )

□

2.7. Connection with Hermite Polynomials

2.7.1. Ground State in the Position Representation

The ground state | 0 〉 is defined by condition (60), a | 0 〉 = 0 . In the position representation ψ 0 ( x ) = x | 0 〉 , this condition becomes a differential equation.

Theorem2.5. The ground state wave function is:

(64) ψ 0 ( x ) = ( m ω π ℏ ) 1 4 e − ξ 2 2 = ( α 2 π ) 1 4 e − α 2 x 2 2 α = m ω ℏ

Proof.

(65) a | 0 〉 = 0 (66) [ m ω 2 ℏ x + i 2 m ω ℏ p ] | 0 〉 = 0

In the position representation, p = − i ℏ d d x :

(67) m ω 2 ℏ x ψ 0 ( x ) + i 2 m ω ℏ ( − i ℏ ) d ψ 0 d x = 0 (68) m ω 2 ℏ x ψ 0 ( x ) + ℏ 2 m ω d ψ 0 d x = 0

Multiplying by 2 m ω ℏ :

(69) m ω ℏ x ψ 0 ( x ) + d ψ 0 d x = 0

Defining α = m ω ℏ and ξ = α x :

(70) α 2 x ψ 0 + d ψ 0 d x = 0 (71) d ψ 0 ψ 0 = − α 2 x   d x = − ξ   d ξ

Integrating:

(72) ln | ψ 0 | = − ξ 2 2 + C (73) ψ 0 ( x ) = A 0 e − ξ 2 2 = A 0 e − α 2 x 2 2

Normalization:

(74) ∫ − ∞ ∞ | ψ 0 ( x ) | 2 d x = | A 0 | 2 ∫ − ∞ ∞ e − α 2 x 2 d x = | A 0 | 2 π α = 1 (75) | A 0 | 2 = α 2 π = m ω π ℏ

Therefore:

(76) ψ 0 ( x ) = ( m ω π ℏ ) 1 4 e − ξ 2 2 = ( α 2 π ) 1 4 e − α 2 x 2 2

□

2.7.2. Excited States and Hermite Polynomials

Excited states are generated by the successive application of the creation operator according to Equation (62):

(77) ψ n ( x ) = 〈 x | n 〉 = 〈 x | ( a † ) n n ! 〉 0 = 1 n ! ( a † ) n ψ 0 ( x )

Theorem2.6. The excited eigenfunctions take the form:

(78) ψ n ( x ) = 1 2 n n ! H n ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 2 ⋅ ( α 2 π ) 1 4 = N n H n ( α x ) e − α 2 x 2 2

where H n ( ξ ) are the Hermite polynomials.

Proof by Induction. Base case ( n = 0 ):

H 0 ( ξ ) = 1 , consistent with ψ 0 ( x ) from Equation (64).

Through the inductive step, we have the following:

Assuming it holds for n , we prove it for n + 1 :

(79) ψ n + 1 ( x ) = 1 n + 1 a † ψ n ( x )

In the position representation:

(80) a † = m ω 2 ℏ x − i 2 m ω ℏ ( − i ℏ ) d d x = 1 2 ( ξ − d d ξ )

Therefore:

(81) ψ n + 1 ( x ) = 1 2 ( n + 1 ) ( ξ − d d ξ ) [ N n H n ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 2 ] = N n 2 ( n + 1 ) [ ξ H n ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 2 − d d ξ ( H n ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 2 ) ] = N n 2 ( n + 1 ) [ ξ H n ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 2 − H ′ n ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 2 + ξ H n ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 2 ] = N n 2 ( n + 1 ) [ 2 ξ H n ( ξ ) − H ′ n ( ξ ) ] e − ξ 2 2

By the property of Hermite polynomials:

(82) H n + 1 ( ξ ) = 2 ξ H n ( ξ ) − H ′ n ( ξ )

Therefore:

(83) ψ n + 1 ( x ) = N n 2 ( n + 1 ) H n + 1 ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 2

With N n + 1 = N n 2 ( n + 1 ) , we complete the induction.

□

2.8. Actions of Creation and Annihilation Operators and Recurrence Relations

The action of the creation a † and annihilation a operators on the eigenstates of the number operator N ^ = a † a can be rigorously derived from the fundamental commutation relations. Consider the Hilbert space generated by the orthonormal states | n 〉 , with n = 0 , 1 , 2 , ⋯ , which satisfy:

(84) N ^ | n 〉 = n | n 〉 ,         〈 m | n 〉 = δ m n .

2.8.1. Action of the Annihilation Operator

We compute N ^ ( a | n 〉 ) = a † a ( a | n 〉 ) . Using the commutator [ a , a † ] = 1 , we have a † a a = a ( a † a − 1 ) . Therefore,

(85) N ^ ( a | n 〉 ) = a ( N ^ − 1 ) | n 〉 = ( n − 1 ) ( a | n 〉 ) .

Thus, a | n 〉 is an eigenstate of N ^ with eigenvalue n − 1 , which implies a | n 〉 = c n | n − 1 〉 , where c n is a complex constant to be determined. The norm of this state is:

(86) ‖ a | n 〉 ‖ 2 = 〈 n | a † a | n 〉 = 〈 n | N ^ | n 〉 = n .

On the other hand, ‖ a | n 〉 ‖ 2 = | c n | 2 〈 n − 1 | n − 1 〉 = | c n | 2 . Equating, we obtain | c n | 2 = n . Adopting the standard phase convention (real and positive constants), we conclude:

(87) a | n 〉 = n | n − 1 〉 ,     with     a | 0 〉 = 0.

2.8.2. Action of the Creation Operator

Analogously, we consider N ^ ( a † | n 〉 ) = a † a ( a † | n 〉 ) . Using a a † = a † a + 1 , we have:

(88) N ^ ( a † | n 〉 ) = a † ( N ^ + 1 ) | n 〉 = ( n + 1 ) ( a † | n 〉 ) .

showing that a † | n 〉 is an eigenstate of N ^ with eigenvalue n + 1 . Hence, a † | n 〉 = d n | n + 1 〉 . Calculating the norm:

(89) ‖ a † | n 〉 ‖ 2 = 〈 n | a a † | n 〉 = 〈 n | ( N ^ + 1 ) | n 〉 = n + 1 ,

and comparing with ‖ a † | n 〉 ‖ 2 = | d n | 2 , we obtain | d n | 2 = n + 1 . With the same phase convention:

(90) a † | n 〉 = n + 1 | n + 1 〉 .

2.8.3. Immediate Consequence

The derived relations show that a and a † act as lowering and raising operators, respectively, on the ladder of number states. Successive applications of a † allow generating all states from the ground state | 0 〉 :

(91) | n 〉 = ( a † ) n n ! | 0 〉 .

This algebraic structure is directly reflected in the properties of the harmonic oscillator eigenfunctions in the position representation, where Hermite polynomials arise naturally from the action of the operators on the Gaussian ground state. The actions of the operators (87) and (90) translate into recurrence relations for the Hermite polynomials.

In the position representation, the creation and annihilation operators are given by:

(92) a = 1 2 ( ξ + d d ξ ) ,       a † = 1 2 ( ξ − d d ξ ) ,

where ξ = m ω ℏ x , and the normalized eigenfunctions are:

(93) ψ n ( ξ ) = 1 2 n n ! π H n ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 / 2 .

2.8.4. Recurrence Relations for Hermite Polynomials

a † ψ n = n + 1   ψ n + 1 (94) 1 2 ( ξ − d d ξ ) [ H n ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 / 2 ] = n + 1 ⋅ 1 2 n + 1 ( n + 1 ) ! π H n + 1 ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 / 2 .

Simplifying, we obtain:

(95) ( ξ − d d ξ ) H n ( ξ ) = H n + 1 ( ξ ) ,

that is,

(96) H n + 1 ( ξ ) = 2 ξ H n ( ξ ) − H ′ n ( ξ ) . a ψ n = n ψ n − 1 (97) 1 2 ( ξ + d d ξ ) [ H n ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 / 2 ] = n ⋅ 1 2 n − 1 ( n − 1 ) ! π H n − 1 ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 / 2 .

Simplifying:

(98) ( ξ + d d ξ ) H n ( ξ ) = 2 n H n − 1 ( ξ ) ,

resulting in:

(99) H ′ n ( ξ ) = 2 n H n − 1 ( ξ ) .

Combining (96) and (99), we obtain the classical recurrence formula:

(100) H n + 1 ( ξ ) = 2 ξ H n ( ξ ) − 2 n H n − 1 ( ξ ) .

Explicit Bridge: The connection between the algebraic and analytic methods is now made explicit. The differential operators in (16) are the position representation of the ladder operators. Their action on the eigenfunctions, as shown in (18) and (20), directly yields the fundamental recurrence relations (19) and (21) for the Hermite polynomials. Furthermore, the Rodrigues formula (23) can be seen as the position-space manifestation of repeatedly applying the creation operator a † to the Gaussian ground state, providing a complete mapping between the operator algebra and the polynomial properties.

2.9. Rodrigues Formula and Properties of Hermite Polynomials

2.9.1. Rodrigues Formulation

Definition2.1(Rodrigues Formula). Hermite polynomials are defined by the equation:

(101) H n ( ξ ) = ( − 1 ) n e ξ 2 d n d ξ n ( e − ξ 2 ) ,       n = 0 , 1 , 2 , ⋯

Theorem2.7 (Equivalence with the operator definition). The Rodrigues formula is equivalent to the definition via creation operators.

Proof. From the expression of excited states:

(102) ψ n ( ξ ) = 1 2 n n ! ( ξ − d d ξ ) n ψ 0 ( ξ ) ψ 0 ( ξ ) = π − 1 / 4 e − ξ 2 / 2

Note that:

(103) ( ξ − d d ξ ) e − ξ 2 2 = ξ e − ξ 2 2 + ξ e − ξ 2 2 = 2 ξ e − ξ 2 2

and more generally:

(104) ( ξ − d d ξ ) n e − ξ 2 2 = H n ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 2

It can be shown by induction that:

(105) H n ( ξ ) = e ξ 2 2 ( ξ − d d ξ ) n e − ξ 2 2 = ( − 1 ) n e ξ 2 d n d ξ n e − ξ 2

Verification for n = 0 :

(106) H 0 ( ξ ) = ( − 1 ) 0 e ξ 2 e − ξ 2 = 1

Verification for n = 1 :

(107) H 1 ( ξ ) = ( − 1 ) 1 e ξ 2 d d ξ ( e − ξ 2 ) = − e ξ 2 ( − 2 ξ e − ξ 2 ) = 2 ξ

Verification for n = 2 :

(108) H 2 ( ξ ) = ( + 1 ) e ξ 2 d 2 d ξ 2 ( e − ξ 2 ) = e ξ 2 d d ξ ( − 2 ξ e − ξ 2 ) = e ξ 2 [ − 2 e − ξ 2 + 4 ξ 2 e − ξ 2 ] = − 2 + 4 ξ 2 = 4 ξ 2 − 2

□

2.9.2. First Hermite Polynomials

Using the recurrence relation (100) with H 0 ( ξ ) = 1 and H 1 ( ξ ) = 2 ξ :

(109) H 0 ( ξ ) = 1 H 1 ( ξ ) = 2 ξ H 2 ( ξ ) = 4 ξ 2 − 2 H 3 ( ξ ) = 8 ξ 3 − 12 ξ H 4 ( ξ ) = 16 ξ 4 − 48 ξ 2 + 12                       ⋮

2.10. Orthogonality of Hermite Polynomials

2.10.1. Orthogonality Condition

Theorem2.8. Hermite polynomials are orthogonal with respect to the weight function w ( ξ ) = e − ξ 2 on the interval ( − ∞ , ∞ ) according to the equation:

(110) ∫ − ∞ ∞ H m ( ξ ) H n ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 d ξ = π 2 n n ! δ m n

where δ m n is the Kronecker delta.

Proof. Consider the integral:

(111) I m n = ∫ − ∞ ∞ H m ( ξ ) H n ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 d ξ

Using the Rodrigues formula (101) for H m :

(112) I m n = ∫ − ∞ ∞ ( − 1 ) m e ξ 2 d m d ξ m ( e − ξ 2 ) H n ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 d ξ = ( − 1 ) m ∫ − ∞ ∞ d m d ξ m ( e − ξ 2 ) H n ( ξ ) d ξ

Integrating by parts m times:

(113) I m n = ∫ − ∞ ∞ e − ξ 2 d m H n d ξ m d ξ

Case m > n :

Since H n is a polynomial of degree n , its m -th derivative is zero for m > n . Therefore, I m n = 0 .

Case m = n :

Since H n ( ξ ) = 2 n ξ n + lower-degree terms , we have:

(114) d n H n d ξ n = 2 n n !

Therefore:

(115) I n n = 2 n n ! ∫ − ∞ ∞ e − ξ 2 d ξ = 2 n n ! π (116) ∴ ∫ − ∞ ∞ H m ( ξ ) H n ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 d ξ = π 2 n n ! δ m n

□

2.10.2. Orthogonality of Eigenfunctions

The eigenfunctions of the quantum harmonic oscillator form an orthogonal set, an essential property for the description of stationary states and for the spectral structure of the Hamiltonian.

Theorem2.9.

(117) ∫ − ∞ ∞ ψ m * ( x ) ψ n ( x ) d x = δ m n

Proof.

(118) ∫ − ∞ ∞ ψ m * ( x ) ψ n ( x ) d x = N m N n ∫ − ∞ ∞ H m ( α x ) H n ( α x ) e − α 2 x 2 d x

Making the substitution ξ = α x , d ξ = α d x :

(119) ∫ − ∞ ∞ ψ m * ( x ) ψ n ( x ) d x = N m N n ∫ − ∞ ∞ H m ( ξ ) H n ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 d ξ α = N m N n α π 2 n n ! δ m n

For normalization, we require:

(120) N n 2 α π 2 n n ! = 1 (121) N n = ( α π 2 n n ! ) 1 / 2 = ( m ω π ℏ ) 1 / 4 1 2 n n !

Therefore:

(122) ∫ − ∞ ∞ ψ m * ( x ) ψ n ( x ) d x = δ m n

□

The Kronecker delta, denoted by δ m n , is defined as [21]:

(123) δ m n = { 1 , if   m = n , 0 , if   m ≠ n .

This discrete function plays the role of the identity element in the space of integer indices, being widely used to express orthogonality conditions in vector and functional spaces. In the context of the quantum harmonic oscillator, the orthonormality of the eigenfunctions ψ n ( ξ ) can be represented, in the state space, by means of an identity matrix, as follows:

(124) [ ∫ − ∞ ∞ ψ m ( ξ ) ψ n ( ξ ) d ξ ] = ( 1 0 0 ⋯ 0 1 0 ⋯ 0 0 1 ⋯ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋱ ) ≡ I ,

in which each matrix element corresponds directly to the Kronecker delta δ m n , evidencing that distinct states are mutually orthogonal and that each eigenfunction has unit norm.

2.11. Detailed Calculation of the Berry Phase in the Quantum Harmonic Oscillator

The Berry phase is a geometric phase acquired by a quantum system when its Hamiltonian is varied adiabatically along a closed path in parameter space. For the quantum harmonic oscillator, this phase can be calculated explicitly, revealing both trivial and non-trivial geometric contributions depending on the nature of the parameter space.

2.11.1. Parameter-Dependent Hamiltonian

Consider a one-dimensional quantum harmonic oscillator with a Hamiltonian that depends on an external parameter R ( t ) (for example, the spring constant k or the mass m ):

(125) H ^ ( R ( t ) ) = p ^ 2 2 m + 1 2 m ω ( R ) 2 x ^ 2 ,

where ω ( R ) = k ( R ) / m . We assume that R ( t ) varies slowly (adiabatic approximation) and returns to its initial value after a time T , tracing a closed path C in parameter space.

2.11.2. Instantaneous Eigenstates

The instantaneous eigenstates of H ^ ( R ) are the Fock states | n ( R ) 〉 , with energies:

(126) E n ( R ) = ℏ ω ( R ) ( n + 1 2 ) .

In an adiabatic evolution, if the system starts in the eigenstate | n ( R ( 0 ) ) 〉 , it will remain in the instantaneous eigenstate | n ( R ( t ) ) 〉 , acquiring a total phase:

(127) | ψ ( t ) 〉 = e i γ n ( t ) e i θ n ( t ) | n ( R ( t ) ) 〉 ,

where:

θ n ( t ) = − 1 ℏ ∫ 0 t E n ( R ( t ′ ) ) d t ′ is the dynamical phase; γ n ( t ) is the geometric Berry phase.

2.11.3. Berry Phase Formula

The Berry phase for a closed path C in parameter space is given by:

(128) γ n ( C ) = i ∮ C 〈 n ( R ) | ∇ R | n ( R ) 〉 ⋅ d R ,

where the Berry connection (or Berry vector potential) is defined as A n ( R ) = i 〈 n ( R ) | ∇ R | n ( R ) 〉 . Figure 3 illustrates a typical cyclic evolution in a two‑dimensional parameter space ( λ 1 , λ 2 ) . The closed path C encloses a region, and the Berry phase is related to the flux of the Berry curvature through that region.

Figure 3

Figure 3. Schematic representation of a cyclic evolution in a two‑dimensional parameter space. The system starts at a point R 0 , evolves adiabatically along a closed loop C , and returns to the same point in parameter space. The Berry phase γ n ( C ) is given by the line integral of the Berry connection A n around C . Source: Personal archive.

2.11.4. Berry Connection for the Ground State

For the ground state ( n = 0 ), we can write the Gaussian wave function explicitly:

(129) 〈 x | 0 ( R ) 〉 = ( m ω ( R ) π ℏ ) 1 / 4 exp ( − m ω ( R ) 2 ℏ x 2 ) .

Let us define λ = m ω ℏ . The wave function becomes ψ 0 ( x ; λ ) = ( λ π ) 1 / 4 e − λ x 2 / 2 .

We now compute the Berry connection for a variation in λ [22]:

(130) 〈 0 | ∂ ∂ λ | 0 〉 = ∫ − ∞ ∞ ψ 0 * ( x ; λ ) ∂ ψ 0 ( x ; λ ) ∂ λ d x .

The derivative of the wave function is:

(131) ∂ ψ 0 ∂ λ = 1 4 λ ψ 0 − x 2 2 ψ 0 .

Substituting:

(132) 〈 0 | ∂ ∂ λ | 0 〉 = 1 4 λ − 1 2 〈 0 | x 2 | 0 〉 .

For the ground state, we know that 〈 x 2 〉 = ℏ 2 m ω = 1 2 λ . Therefore:

(133) 〈 0 | ∂ ∂ λ | 0 〉 = 1 4 λ − 1 2 ⋅ 1 2 λ = 1 4 λ − 1 4 λ = 0.

Thus, for the ground state, the Berry connection is zero when the parameter λ (and hence ω ) is real. Consequently, if we vary the frequency along a closed path in the real parameter space, the Berry phase is zero. This occurs because the ground state wave function can be taken as real and positive, and the Berry phase only arises when there is an imaginary contribution that cannot be removed by a global gauge transformation.

2.11.5. Non-Trivial Example: Complex Parameter (Squeezing)

To obtain a non-trivial Berry phase, we need a parameter space that includes a phase parameter. Consider the Hamiltonian:

(134) H ^ ( t ) = p ^ 2 2 m + 1 2 m ω 0 2 x ^ 2 + λ ( t ) 2 ( x ^ p ^ + p ^ x ^ ) ,

which describes a harmonic oscillator with a time-dependent squeezing term. Alternatively, consider a harmonic oscillator whose ground state is a squeezed state dependent on a complex parameter z = r e i θ .

We can parametrize the squeezed ground state using the squeezing operator:

(135) S ^ ( ζ ) = exp ( 1 2 ( ζ * a ^ 2 − ζ a ^ † 2 ) ) ,

where ζ = r e i ϕ is a complex parameter. The squeezed ground state is | ζ 〉 = S ^ ( ζ ) | 0 〉 .

If we vary ζ adiabatically along a closed path in the complex plane, the state acquires a Berry phase. For a path where ζ traces a circle (varying ϕ from 0 to 2 π with constant r ), the Berry phase for the ground state is known to be:

(136) γ 0 = π ,

for a full cycle. More generally, the Berry phase for a closed path C in the ζ -plane is given by [23]:

(137) γ 0 = 1 2 ∮ C ζ d ζ * − ζ * d ζ 1 − | ζ | 2 ,

which is proportional to the area enclosed by the path in the parameter space.

2.11.6. Physical Example: 2D Harmonic Oscillator with Magnetic Field

An important physical example is the isotropic charged harmonic oscillator in two dimensions subjected to a uniform perpendicular magnetic field [24]. The Hamiltonian is:

(138) H ^ = 1 2 m ( p ^ − e A ) 2 + 1 2 m ω 0 2 ( x 2 + y 2 ) ,

where A is the vector potential. In this case, the energy levels are modified Landau levels. If we adiabatically vary the magnetic field B (or some other parameter) along a closed path, the eigenstates acquire a Berry phase. For the ground state, the Berry phase is related to the magnetic flux through the classical orbit and is an integer multiple of 2 π depending on the quantum number.

Thus, the Berry phase in the quantum harmonic oscillator reveals a rich geometric structure that complements the algebraic and analytic descriptions, with non-trivial phases arising when the parameter space includes complex degrees of freedom or when external fields introduce a geometric contribution to the quantum phase.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Wave Functions of the Quantum Harmonic Oscillator

The graphical representation of the quantum harmonic oscillator eigenfunctions is presented in Figure 4, constructed from the general expression given by [25]:

(139) ψ n ( x ) = 1 2 n n ! ( m ω π ℏ ) 1 / 4 H n ( ξ ) e − ξ 2 / 2

where H n ( ξ ) are the Hermite polynomials.

Figure 4

Figure 4. Dimensionless wave functions ψ n ( ξ ) of the quantum harmonic oscillator corresponding to the first stationary states, expressed as a function of the dimensionless variable ξ = x m ω ℏ . Each curve results from the product of the Hermite polynomial H n ( ξ ) associated with state n and the Gaussian factor e − ξ 2 / 2 . Source: Personal archive.

The dimensionless variable ξ is defined by ξ = x m ω / ℏ , which allows the solutions to be formulated in a universal manner, that is, independent of the specific physical parameters of the system. Full dimensionalization is recovered through the inverse relation x = ξ ℏ / ( m ω ) , fully preserving the physical content of the problem while, at the same time, highlighting its fundamental mathematical structure.

From a mathematical perspective, Figure 4 explicitly shows that the degree of the Hermite polynomial H n ( ξ ) controls the spatial complexity of the wave function. Each eigenfunction exhibits exactly n nodes, directly reflecting the quantum number associated with the state. The ground state ( n = 0 ) corresponds to a purely Gaussian distribution, without nodes, while excited states show progressively more pronounced oscillations as n increases. The parity alternation is also observed: states with even n are symmetric about the origin, while states with odd n are antisymmetric, in full agreement with the symmetry of the harmonic potential. Furthermore, although Hermite polynomials exhibit polynomial growth for large values of | ξ | , the Gaussian exponential factor dominates the asymptotic behavior, ensuring the decay of the eigenfunctions and their normalizability.

3.2. Physical Interpretation

From a physical perspective, these graphical properties reflect the simultaneous increase in energy and spatial extent of quantum states with the growth of the quantum number n . The algebraic derivation using ladder operators provides a deeper insight into this structure. The commutation relation [ a , a † ] = 1 and the form of the Hamiltonian H = ℏ ω ( N + 1 / 2 ) directly imply that the energy levels are equally spaced by ℏ ω . Furthermore, the positivity of the norm requires the existence of a ground state | 0 〉 annihilated by a , which directly leads to the unavoidable zero-point energy E 0 = ℏ ω / 2 . The absence of nodes in the ground state wave function and the inevitable presence of this zero-point energy evidence that the particle cannot remain at absolute rest, in accordance with the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Thus, Figure 4 clearly synthesizes the correspondence between the mathematical structure of Hermite polynomials and the fundamental physical properties of the quantum harmonic oscillator, reinforcing their role as the natural analytical solution of this model system.

4. Conclusions

Hermite polynomials constitute the natural analytical solution of the quantum harmonic oscillator, emerging directly from the mathematical structure of the Schrödinger equation when the physical condition of square-integrability of the wave functions is imposed. The application of the power series method leads to a differential equation whose general solutions only remain normalizable when the series is truncated, precisely selecting Hermite polynomials of integer degree. This mechanism unequivocally establishes the quantization of energy levels and highlights the central role of these polynomials in the exact description of the system.

From an algebraic point of view, the same structure is recovered through the creation and annihilation operators, responsible for constructing the excited states from the ground state. The successive action of the creation operator generates wave functions whose polynomial part is described by Hermite polynomials, while the Gaussian envelope ensures the normalization of the solutions. The correspondence between the recurrence relations of Hermite polynomials and the algebra of ladder operators reveals a mathematical isomorphism that directly connects the analytical solution of the differential equation to the algebraic formalism of quantum mechanics.

Furthermore, the orthogonality of Hermite polynomials with Gaussian weight guarantees the orthonormality of the complete set of eigenfunctions of the quantum harmonic oscillator, allowing the expansion of arbitrary quantum states in this basis. The number of nodes of the wave functions, determined by the degree of the polynomial, is directly associated with the quantum number of the state and the respective energy level, establishing a clear link between mathematical properties and physical interpretation. Thus, Hermite polynomials not only provide the analytical solution of the quantum harmonic oscillator but also synthesize in a unified manner the quantization, symmetry, and spectral structure of this fundamental system.

Additionally, the study of the Berry phase in the quantum harmonic oscillator reveals a geometric layer that complements the algebraic and analytic descriptions. Under adiabatic cyclic changes of parameters, the system acquires a purely geometric phase, which can be non‑trivial in extended models such as the relativistic harmonic oscillator or in the presence of gravitational waves. This geometric perspective enriches the topological understanding of the system and opens new avenues for exploring quantum geometry in simple yet fundamental systems.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Coordination of the Licentiate in Mathematics at IFPB/CG for institutional support and research infrastructure.

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