Umbral Calculus, Difference Equations and the Discrete Schroedinger Equation

Abstract

We discuss umbral calculus as a method of systematically discretizing linear differential equations while preserving their point symmetries as well as generalized symmetries. The method is then applied to the Schrödinger equation in order to obtain a realization of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics in discrete space-time. In this approach a quantum system on a lattice has a symmetry algebra isomorphic to that of the continuous case. Moreover, systems that are integrable, superintegrable or exactly solvable preserve these properties in the discrete case.