A finite oscillator model related to sl(2|1)

We investigate a new model for the finite one-dimensional quantum oscillator based upon the Lie superalgebra sl(2|1). In this setting, it is natural to present the position and momentum operators of the oscillator as odd elements of the Lie superalgebra. The model involves a parameter p (0<p<1) and an integer representation label j. In the (2j+1)-dimensional representations W_j of sl(2|1), the Hamiltonian has the usual equidistant spectrum. The spectrum of the position operator is discrete and turns out to be of the form $\pm\sqrt{k}$, where k=0,1,...,j. We construct the discrete position wave functions, which are given in terms of certain Krawtchouk polynomials. These wave functions have appealing properties, as can already be seen from their plots. The model is sufficiently simple, in the sense that the corresponding discrete Fourier transform (relating position wave functions to momentum wave functions) can be constructed explicitly

On q-orthogonal polynomials, dual to little and big q-Jacobi polynomials

This paper studies properties of q-Jacobi polynomials and their duals by means of operators of the discrete series representations for the quantum algebra U_q(su_{1,1}). Spectrum and eigenfunctions of these operators are found explicitly. These eigenfunctions, when normalized, form an orthogonal basis in the representation space. The initial U_q(su_{1,1})-basis and the bases of these eigenfunctions are interconnected by matrices, whose entries are expressed in terms of little and big q-Jacobi polynomials. The orthogonality by rows in these unitary connection matrices leads to the orthogonality relations for little and big q-Jacobi polynomials. The orthogonality by columns in the connection matrices leads to an explicit form of orthogonality relations on the countable set of points for {}_3\phi_2 and {}_3\phi_1 polynomials, which are dual to big and little q-Jacobi polynomials, respectively. The orthogonality measure for the dual little q-Jacobi polynomials proves to be extremal, whereas the measure for the dual big q-Jacobi polynomials is not extremal.Comment: 26 pages, LaTeX, the exposition is slightly improved and some additional references have been adde

A superintegrable finite oscillator in two dimensions with SU(2) symmetry

A superintegrable finite model of the quantum isotropic oscillator in two dimensions is introduced. It is defined on a uniform lattice of triangular shape. The constants of the motion for the model form an SU(2) symmetry algebra. It is found that the dynamical difference eigenvalue equation can be written in terms of creation and annihilation operators. The wavefunctions of the Hamiltonian are expressed in terms of two known families of bivariate Krawtchouk polynomials; those of Rahman and those of Tratnik. These polynomials form bases for SU(2) irreducible representations. It is further shown that the pair of eigenvalue equations for each of these families are related to each other by an SU(2) automorphism. A finite model of the anisotropic oscillator that has wavefunctions expressed in terms of the same Rahman polynomials is also introduced. In the continuum limit, when the number of grid points goes to infinity, standard two-dimensional harmonic oscillators are obtained. The analysis provides the $N\rightarrow \infty$ limit of the bivariate Krawtchouk polynomials as a product of one-variable Hermite polynomials

Big q-Laguerre and q-Meixner polynomials and representations of the algebra U_q(su(1,1))

Diagonalization of a certain operator in irreducible representations of the positive discrete series of the quantum algebra U_q(su(1,1)) is studied. Spectrum and eigenfunctions of this operator are found in an explicit form. These eigenfunctions, when normalized, constitute an orthonormal basis in the representation space. The initial U_q(su(1,1))-basis and the basis of eigenfunctions are interrelated by a matrix with entries, expressed in terms of big q-Laguerre polynomials. The unitarity of this connection matrix leads to an orthogonal system of functions, which are dual with respect to big q-Laguerre polynomials. This system of functions consists of two separate sets of functions, which can be expressed in terms of q-Meixner polynomials M_n(x;b,c;q) either with positive or negative values of the parameter b. The orthogonality property of these two sets of functions follows directly from the unitarity of the connection matrix. As a consequence, one obtains an orthogonality relation for q-Meixner polynomials M_n(x;b,c;q) with b<0. A biorthogonal system of functions (with respect to the scalar product in the representation space) is also derived.Comment: 15 pages, LaTe

Factorization method for difference equations of hypergeometric type on nonuniform lattices

We study the factorization of the hypergeometric-type difference equation of Nikiforov and Uvarov on nonuniform lattices. An explicit form of the raising and lowering operators is derived and some relevant examples are given.Comment: 21 page

More on the q-oscillator algebra and q-orthogonal polynomials

Properties of certain $q$-orthogonal polynomials are connected to the $q$-oscillator algebra. The Wall and $q$-Laguerre polynomials are shown to arise as matrix elements of $q$-exponentials of the generators in a representation of this algebra. A realization is presented where the continuous $q$-Hermite polynomials form a basis of the representation space. Various identities are interpreted within this model. In particular, the connection formula between the continuous big $q$-Hermite polynomials and the continuous $q$-Hermite polynomials is thus obtained, and two generating functions for these last polynomials are algebraically derived

On a q-extension of Mehta's eigenvectors of the finite Fourier transform for q a root of unity

It is shown that the continuous q-Hermite polynomials for q a root of unity have simple transformation properties with respect to the classical Fourier transform. This result is then used to construct q-extended eigenvectors of the finite Fourier transform in terms of these polynomials.Comment: 12 pages, thoroughly rewritten, the q-extended eigenvectors now N-periodic with q an M-th root of

Discrete quantum model of the harmonic oscillator

We construct a new model of the quantum oscillator, whose energy spectrum is equally-spaced and lower-bounded, whereas the spectra of position and momentum are a denumerable non-degenerate set of points in [-1,1] that depends on the deformation parameter q from (0,1). We provide its explicit wavefunctions, both in position and momentum representations, in terms of the discrete q-Hermite polynomials. We build a Hilbert space with a unique measure, where an analogue of the fractional Fourier transform is defined in order to govern the time evolution of this discrete oscillator. In the limit q to 1, one recovers the ordinary quantum harmonic oscillator.Comment: 21 page