The Schrödinger operator with Morse potential on the right half-line (Q1032775)

Motivated by the search of a spectral representation of the zeros of Riemann's zeta function via hypothetical ``Hilbert-Polya operators'', the author considers, for real \(k\) and the Morse potential \[ V_k(u):=\tfrac14\,e^{2u}+ke^u, \] the Schrödinger operator \(H_k:=-(d/d u)^2+V_k\) on the half-line \([u_0,\infty)\), using various boundary conditions at \(u_0\). Denote by \(W_{\kappa,\mu}\) the solution of Whittaker's equation \[ \left(\frac{d^2}{d x^2} +\left(-\frac14+\frac{\kappa}{x}+\frac{1/4-\mu^2}{x^2}\right)\right)f(x)=0 \] that decays as \(x\to\infty\) and set \[ Z_1(z):=W_{-k,z-1/2}(e^{u_0}). \] Then \(Z_1\) is an entire function of \(z\in\mathbb{C}\) and \(z\) is a zero of \(Z_1\) if and only if \(-(z-1/2)^2\) is an eigenvalue of \(H_k\) with Dirichlet boundary conditions. Since in this case \(H_k\) is self adjoint and positive in \(L^2([u_0,\infty))\), it follows that all zeros of \(Z_1\) lie on the line \(1/2+i t\), \(t\in\mathbb R\). The function \(Z_1\) may therefore be thought of as a toy model of Riemann's zeta function, and its zero distribution can be studied via the correspondence with the eigenvalues of \(H_k\). Moreover, there is also a deeper correspondence at the level of de Branges spaces and canonical systems. As an example for the types of results obtained in this way, using the asymptotic density of eigenvalues of \(H_k\), it is shown that the total number \(N(T)\) of zeros \(z\) with \(|\text{Im}(z)|\leq T\) satisfies the asymptotic formula \[ N(T)=\tfrac2\pi\, T\log T+\tfrac2\pi\,(2\log 2-1-u_0)T+O(1) \] as \(T\to\infty\), where the \(O(1)\)-term depends on \(k\).