A class of exactly-solvable eigenvalue problems (Q4533680)

The authors consider eigenvalue problems of the form \[ -y''(x)+x^{2N+2} y(x) = x^N E y(x), \quad x\in(-\infty,\infty), \] where \(N=-1,0,1,2,\dots\) and \(y\) is supposed to vanish exponentially as \(x\to \pm\infty\). Such problems can be solved explicitly, the eigenvalues \(E\) are integer and the eigenfunctions are confluent hypergeometric functions. Here, the eigenfunctions are rewritten as products of polynomials and functions that decay exponentially as \(x\to \pm\infty\). For even \(N\), the spectrum is positive and the \(n\)th eigenfunction is a polynomial of degree \(n\) in \(x^{N+2}\) (generalized Laguerre polynomials) times the exponential \(\exp(-x^{N+2})\). For odd \(N\), the spectrum is not semi-bounded and the \(n\)th eigenfunction is a linear combination of two products of a polynomial of degree \(n\) in \(x^{N+2}\) and generalized Airy functions in \(x^{N+1}\) and its derivative, respectively. The special cases \(N=-1\) and \(N=1\) are studied in greater detail.