Quantum Mechanics in Wavelet Basis

Abstract

We describe a multi-scale resolution approach to analyzing problems in Quantum Mechanics using Daubechies wavelet basis. The expansion of the wavefunction of the quantum system in this basis allows a natural interpretation of each basis function as a quantum fluctuation of a specific resolution at a particular location. The Hamiltonian matrix constructed in this basis describes couplings between different length scales and thus allows for intuitive volume and resolution truncation. In quantum mechanical problems with a natural length scale, one can get approximate solution of the problem through simple matrix diagonalization. We illustrate this approach using the example of the standard quantum mechanical simple harmonic oscillator.