Bound and Unbound Wave Functions at Short Distances

Abstract

There exists a simple relationship between a quantum-mechanical bound-state wave function and that of nearby scattering states, when the scattering energy is extrapolated to that of the bound state. This relationship is demonstrated numerically for the case of a spherical well potential and analytically for this and other soluble potentials. Provided that the potential is of finite range and that the binding is weak, the theorem gives a useful approximation for the short-distance behaviour of the scattering wave functions. The connection between bound and scattering-state perturbation theory is established in this limit.