Algebraic treatment of a general noncentral potential (Q4030944)

The authors solve the problem of a quantum particle moving in the Coulomb and the ring-shaped potentials which are the particular cases of a general noncentral potential of the form \[ V(r,\theta)=- {{2e^ 2} \over 4}+ {{b\hslash^ 2} \over {2mr^ 2\sin^ 2\theta}}+ {{c\hslash^ 2\cos\theta} \over {2mr^ 2\sin^ 2\theta}}, \tag{1} \] where \(e\), \(m\) are the electron charge and mass respectively and \(b\) and \(c\) are real constants. The authors give the solution to the compound potential (1) via the algebraic approach of \textit{H. Kleinert} [Fortschr. Phys. 16, 1-74 (1968; Zbl 0161.239)], using the Kustaanheimo-Stiefel transformation [\textit{P. Kustaanheimo} and \textit{E. Stiefel}, J. Reine Angew. Math. 218, 204-219 (1965; Zbl 0151.349)] which is the transformation \(\{x,y,z\}\to \{u_ 1,u_ 2,u_ 3,u_ 4\}\) corresponding to the \(\mathbb{R}^ 4\to \mathbb{R}^ 3\) surjection, the generators of the \(SO(2,1)\) group and Baker-Campbell- Hausdorff formulas. They give explicit formulae for the Green function, energy spectrum and bound state wave functions for the potential (1) as well as for some special cases of Coulomb potential, the ring-shaped and Aharanov-Bohm potentials. The authors' main ideas are limpid and pellucid for the calculations are made in straigtforward manner and for that reason are cumbersome.