Transfer matrices for piecewise constant potentials

Abstract

By expressing the time-independent Schrodinger equation in one dimension as a system of two first-order differential equations, the transfer matrix for a rectangular potential barrier is obtained making use of the matrix exponential. It is shown that the transfer matrix allows one to find the bound states and the quasinormal modes. A similar treatment for the one-dimensional propagation of electromagnetic waves in a homogeneous medium is also presented.