Eigenfunction expansions for the Schrödinger equation with an inverse-square potential

Abstract

We consider the one-dimensional Schrödinger equation -f″ + q_κf = Ef on the positive half-axis with the potential q_κ(r) = (κ² - 1/4)r^-2. For each complex number ν, we construct a solution u_ν^κ(E) of this equation that is analytic in κ in a complex neighborhood of the interval (-1, 1) and, in particular, at the “singular” point κ = 0. For -1 < κ < 1 and real ν, the solutions u_ν^κ(E) determine a unitary eigenfunction expansion operator U_κ,ν: L₂(0,∞) → L₂(R, Vκ,ν), where Vκ,ν is a positive measure on R. We show that every self-adjoint realization of the formal differential expression -∂_r² + q_κ(r) for the Hamiltonian is diagonalized by the operator U_κ,ν for some ν ∈ R. Using suitable singular Titchmarsh–Weyl m-functions, we explicitly find the measures V_κ,ν and prove their continuity in κ and ν.