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# 1/𝑁-expansions in non-relativistic quantum mechanics

## I Introduction

In chemistry and atomic physics, $`1/N`$ (or $`1/D`$) perturbation theory is very powerful in calculating energy eigenstates for many complicated systemsalin ; dtp ; lod ; loo . The method is especially valuable when the applicability of Hartree-Fock methods is limited. In this study the behaviour of $`1/N`$ expansions is investigated at a very high order of approximation. For the sake of simplicity only radial potentials with spherical symmetry will be considered. The $`N`$-dimensional non-relativistic Schrödinger equation for such potentials may be written as

$$\left[\frac{1}{2}\frac{d^2}{dr^2}\frac{1}{2}\frac{N1}{r}\frac{d}{dr}+\frac{l(l+N2)}{2r^2}+V(r)\right]\varphi (r)=E\varphi (r)$$
(1)
where $`N`$ is the number of spatial dimensions louck . A brief review of this equation is presented in appendix B.

The concept underlying $`1/N`$ expansion methods is the use of perturbation theory on the expandable parameter $`1/N`$. A standard problem in perturbation theory would be a solvable Schrödinger equation plus a small perturbation, expressed as

$$H=H_0+gV$$
(2)
where $`H_0`$ is the solvable Hamiltonian and $`gV`$ is the small perturbation. In this notation $`g`$ is a real expansion coefficient. To optain an approximation to the eigenstates of the perturbed Schrödinger equation one inserts a series for the wave function in powers of $`g`$ as

$$u=u^{(0)}+gu^{(1)}+g^2u^{(2)}+\mathrm{}$$
(3)
and a series in energy as

$$E=E^{(0)}+gE^{(1)}+g^2E^{(2)}+\mathrm{}$$
(4)
Finally, these series are solved for the unknown functions $`u^{(\nu )}`$ and the energy coefficients $`E^{(\nu )}`$.

For the standard problem this procedure provides an efficient way to obtain an estimate of the eigenstates and the energy of the physical system. Widespread application of this method is, however, limited since only problems with an expandable coefficient $`g`$ can be solved. The dimensional dependency of the Schrödinger equation provides us with a hidden expandable variable of the potential. Roughly speaking, enlarging the dimensions of a physical system turns the system “classical”, and in the limit of large dimensionality a particle in a potential is fixed at the minimum; in some sense, $`\mathrm{}0`$. A classical analog could be a damped pendulum. A differential equation describing this is e.g.:

$$mr\ddot{\theta }+b\dot{\theta }+mg\theta =0$$

where $`mr\ddot{\theta }b\dot{\theta }`$ (assuming small angles). In the case of a very heavily damped pendulum it is safe to disregard the $`\ddot{\theta }mr`$ term. This implies that the second-order differential equation reduces to the first-order differential equation

$$b\dot{\theta }+mg\theta =0$$

Solutions of a first-order differential equation are unable to oscillate. The pendulum thus seeks the fixed point of the potential.

An $`N`$-dimensional particle, where $`N`$ is very large, behaves somewhat like a pendulum in a highly viscous fluid. Its “damping term” (the first order differential term) in the Schrödinger equation is large, and hence its de Broglie wavelength becomes small. To leading order in $`1/N`$, the particle may be addressed by quasi-classical concepts. Accordingly, the fixed point of the potential provides a starting point for a power series expansion in $`1/N`$ for the energy eigenvalue and the wave function.

Most $`1/N`$-series provide accurate results even when only the first few terms are summed; it is thus more interesting to examine the behaviour of the series as the order of approximation increases. An interesting aspect of the $`1/N`$-method is that it is perturbatively exact in the sense that there are no explicit approximations in the method. Most potentials lead to apparently asymptotic series at large orders of approximation. The approach here is to calculate the $`1/N`$ series to a significant order (30 - 100 terms) for miscellaneous potentials and then explore the behaviour of the series. This is accomplished by employing a computer algebraic program. Round-off errors are also taken account of in the calculations.

## II Theory

### How to obtain the $`1/N`$-series

In order to obtain $`1/N`$-series for a given potential there are several ways to proceed. One procedure is to expand the wave function, the energy, and the potential in Taylor series stse . This approach makes it easy to make an efficient computer algorithm. Before the Taylor series expansions are made, it is preferable to redefine the equations slightly. First, the $`N`$-dimensional Schrödinger equation is transformed into

$$\left(\frac{1}{2}\frac{d^2}{dr^2}+k^2\left[\frac{(1\frac{1}{k})(1\frac{3}{k})}{8r^2}\right]+\widehat{V}(r)\right)\psi (r)=E^{}\psi (r)$$
(5)
by redefining $`\psi (r)=r^{\frac{(N1)}{2}}\varphi (r)`$. Now, $`k`$ is defined by $`k=N+2l`$. The energy eigenvalue is denoted by E’.
The position $`r`$ is then redefined in terms of $`k`$, $`r=\sqrt{k}\rho `$ or $`yr=\rho `$ where $`y`$ is $`\frac{1}{\sqrt{k}}`$. The Schrödinger equation is subsequently recast into to a differential equation in $`\rho `$, as

$$\left(\frac{1}{2}\frac{d^2}{d\rho ^2}+k^2\left[\frac{(1\frac{1}{k})(1\frac{3}{k})}{8\rho ^2}+\frac{\widehat{V}(\rho \sqrt{k})}{k}\right]\right)\psi (\rho )=E^{}k\psi (\rho )$$
(6)
If now $`\widehat{V}(r)=kV(\rho )`$, then

$$\left(\frac{1}{2}\frac{d^2}{d\rho ^2}+k^2\left[\frac{(1\frac{1}{k})(1\frac{3}{k})}{8\rho ^2}+V(\rho )\right]\right)\psi (\rho )=E^{}k\psi (\rho )$$
(7)
In the large-$`N`$ limit one has an effective potential like

$$k\left[\frac{1}{8\rho ^2}+V(\rho )\right]$$
(8)
Its minimum is the energy $`kE^{(2)}`$ which matches the energy at the minimum $`\rho _0`$.
To ease the further derivations it is preferable to rescale distance as $`x=\sqrt{k}(\rho \rho _0)`$ and define $`\psi (\rho )=e^{U(x)}`$ and

$$V_{\mathrm{eff}}(x)=\frac{1}{8}\rho (x)^2+V(\rho )E^{(2)}$$
(9)
Introducing $`\psi `$ in eq. (7) leads to a differential equation for $`U(x)`$.

$$\frac{1}{2}\left[\ddot{U}(x)+\dot{U}(x)^2\right]+kV_{\mathrm{eff}}(x)+\left(\frac{1}{2}+\frac{3}{8}k^1\right)\rho (x)^2=E^{}E^{(2)}k=E$$
(10)
or

$$\ddot{U}(x)+\dot{U}(x)^22W(x)+2E=0$$
(11)
where $`W(x)=kV_{\mathrm{eff}}(x)+\left[\frac{\frac{1}{2}+\frac{3}{8}k^1}{\rho (x)^2}\right]`$. Now the actual Taylor series expansion may begin. Extending $`\dot{U}(x)`$, $`E`$, $`W(x)`$ in Taylor series in $`x`$ and $`y`$ one obtains.

$`U(x)={\displaystyle \underset{n=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{m=0}{\overset{n+1}{}}}\left[{\displaystyle \frac{D_m^nx^{2m}}{2m}}\right]y^{2n}+{\displaystyle \underset{n=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{m=0}{\overset{n+1}{}}}\left[{\displaystyle \frac{C_m^nx^{2m+1}}{2m+1}}\right]y^{2n+1}`$ (12)
$`E={\displaystyle \underset{n=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}E^{(n1)}y^{2n}`$ (13)
Coefficients of the type $`D_0^n`$ are defined to be zero. The series for the potential is extraordinary. For $`W(x)`$ it turns out that for any power of $`x`$, say $`k`$ $`(k>1)`$, one has solely terms of $`y`$ in powers $`k2`$, $`k`$ and $`k+2`$.

### The recursion formulas

Using the Taylor series technique, series expansions for the energy and the wave function have to be found by recursion. The easiest way to do this is to find universal recursion formulas stse  for the required coefficients and then use a computer to recursively calculate each coefficient one by one to a preferred number of terms. For the ground state, the recursion relations are established by the requirement that

$$\ddot{U}(x)+\dot{U}(x)^22W(x)+2E=0$$
(14)
or

$`{\displaystyle \underset{n=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{m=0}{\overset{n}{}}}\left[(2m+1)D_{m+1}^nx^{2m}\right]y^{2n}+{\displaystyle \underset{n=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{m=0}{\overset{n+1}{}}}\left[(2m)C_m^nx^{2m1}\right]y^{2n+1}`$
$`+\left[{\displaystyle \underset{n=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{m=0}{\overset{n+1}{}}}\left[D_m^nx^{2m1}\right]y^{2n}+{\displaystyle \underset{n=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{m=0}{\overset{n+1}{}}}\left[C_m^nx^{2m}\right]y^{2n+1}\right]^2+2{\displaystyle \underset{n=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}E^{(n1)}y^{2n}`$
$`2[W_0^0+W_2^0x^2+(W_1^1x+W_3^1x^3)y+{\displaystyle \underset{n=1}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}(W_{2n2}^{2n}x^{2n2}+W_{2n}^{2n}x^{2n}+W_{2n+2}^{2n}x^{n+2})y^{2n}`$
$`+{\displaystyle \underset{n=1}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}(W_{2n1}^{2n+1}x^{2n1}+W_{2n+1}^{2n+1}x^{2n+1}+W_{2n+3}^{2n+1}x^{2n+3})y^{2n+1}]=0`$ (15)
From these equations it is apparent that

$$D_1^0=\sqrt{2W_2^0}$$
(16)
and

$$C_{n+2}^n=D_{n+2}^n=0$$
(17)
Likewise, for the coefficients $`D_m^n`$ it follows that

$`D_m^n={\displaystyle \frac{1}{2D_1^0}}\left[2W_{2m}^{2n}+(2m+1)D_{m+1}^n+{\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{n1}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{j=1}{\overset{i+1}{}}}D_j^iD_{m+1j}^{ni}+{\displaystyle \underset{i=0}{\overset{n1}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{j=0}{\overset{i+1}{}}}C_j^iC_{mj}^{ni1}\right]`$ (18)
For the coefficients $`C_m^n`$ one obtains

$`C_m^n={\displaystyle \frac{1}{2D_1^0}}\left[2W_{2m+1}^{2n+1}+2(m+1)C_{m+1}^n+2{\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{j=1}{\overset{i+1}{}}}D_j^iC_{m+1j}^{ni}\right]`$ (19)
And for the energy one obtains, after some algebra,

$`E^{(n1)}={\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}\left[D_1^n+2W_0^{2n}{\displaystyle \underset{i=0}{\overset{n1}{}}}C_0^iC_0^{ni1}\right]`$ (20)
All coefficients of the type $`C_j^n`$, where $`j`$ is negative, or $`D_j^n`$, where $`j`$ is zero or negative, are assumed to be zero in the summation.

Obvious extensions of this technique to include excited states are possible. We can always write

$$\psi =\left(xyA(y)\right)e^{U(x)}$$
(21)
for the first excited state, and

$$\psi =\left(x^2y^2+xyC(y)+B(y)\right)e^{U(x)}$$
(22)
for the second excited state, etc. Here, $`A(y)`$, $`B(y)`$ and $`C(y)`$ are series expansions in $`y`$ for the nodes in $`\psi `$.

$$A(y)=\underset{n=1}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}a_ny^{2n}B(y)=\underset{n=1}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}b_ny^{2n}C(y)=\underset{n=1}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}c_ny^{2n}$$
(23)
Subsequently, a differential equation for $`U(x)`$ is obtained for the first excited state.

$`\left(xyA\right)\left(\ddot{U}(x)+\dot{U}(x)^22W(x)+2E\right)+2y\dot{U}(x)=0`$ (24)
Expressing

$$\ddot{U}(x)+\dot{U}(x)^22W(x)+2E$$
(25)
in a new Taylor series

$$T+S=\underset{n=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}\underset{m=0}{\overset{n}{}}\left[T_m^nx^{2m}\right]y^{2n}+\underset{n=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}\underset{m=0}{\overset{n}{}}\left[S_m^nx^{2m+1}\right]y^{2n+1}$$
(26)
the previously obtained universal recursion formulas for the ground state are again useful. The recursion formulas for $`T`$ and $`S`$ are arrived at using the relation

$`\left(xyA\right)\left(T+S\right)+2y\dot{U}(x)=0`$ (27)
or

$`\left[xy{\displaystyle \underset{n=1}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}a_ny^{2n}\right]\left[{\displaystyle \underset{n=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{m=0}{\overset{n}{}}}\left[T_m^nx^{2m}\right]y^{2n}+{\displaystyle \underset{n=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{m=0}{\overset{n}{}}}\left[S_m^nx^{2m+1}\right]y^{2n+1}\right]`$
$`+2y\left[{\displaystyle \underset{n=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{m=0}{\overset{n+1}{}}}\left[D_m^nx^{2m1}\right]y^{2n}+{\displaystyle \underset{n=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{m=0}{\overset{n+1}{}}}\left[C_m^nx^{2m}\right]y^{2n+1}\right]=0`$ (28)
One obtains

$$T_m^n=\underset{k=1}{\overset{nm}{}}a_kS_m^{nk}2D_{m+1}^n$$
(29)
and

$$S_m^n=\underset{k=1}{\overset{nm}{}}a_kT_{m+1}^{nk+1}2C_{m+1}^n$$
(30)
$$a_n=\frac{1}{T_0^0}\left[2C_0^{n1}\underset{k=1}{\overset{n1}{}}a_kT_0^{nk}\right]$$
(31)
Once again

$$D_1^0=\sqrt{2W_2^0},C_{n+2}^n=D_{n+2}^n=0$$
(32)
$`D_m^n={\displaystyle \frac{1}{2D_1^0}}\left[T_m^n2W_{2m}^{2n}+(2m+1)D_{m+1}^n+{\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{n1}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{j=1}{\overset{i+1}{}}}D_j^iD_{m+1j}^{ni}+{\displaystyle \underset{i=0}{\overset{n1}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{j=0}{\overset{i+1}{}}}C_j^iC_{mj}^{ni1}\right]`$ (33)
$`C_m^n={\displaystyle \frac{1}{2D_1^0}}\left[S_m^n2W_{2m+1}^{2n+1}+2(m+1)C_{m+1}^n+2{\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{j=1}{\overset{i+1}{}}}D_j^iC_{m+1j}^{ni}\right]`$ (34)
$`E^{(n1)}={\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}\left[T_0^nD_1^n+2W_0^{2n}{\displaystyle \underset{i=0}{\overset{n1}{}}}C_0^iC_0^{ni1}\right]`$ (35)
Successively for the second excited state it is found that

$`\left(x^2y^2+Cxy+B\right)\left(\ddot{U}(x)+\dot{U}(x)^22W(x)+2E\right)+2y^2+2\left(2xy^2+yC\right)\dot{U}(x)=0`$ (36)
Note that there is a misprint in stse , in that $`2x^2y`$ should read $`2xy^2`$. Once again

$`\left[x^2y^2+xy{\displaystyle \underset{n=1}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}c_ny^{2n}+{\displaystyle \underset{n=1}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}b_ny^{2n}\right]\left[{\displaystyle \underset{n=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{m=0}{\overset{n}{}}}\left[T_m^nx^{2m}\right]y^{2n}+{\displaystyle \underset{n=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{m=0}{\overset{n}{}}}\left[S_m^nx^{2m+1}\right]y^{2n+1}\right]`$
$`+2y^2+2\left[2xy^2+y{\displaystyle \underset{n=1}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}c_ny^{2n}\right]\left[{\displaystyle \underset{n=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{m=0}{\overset{n+1}{}}}\left[D_m^nx^{2m1}\right]y^{2n}+{\displaystyle \underset{n=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{m=0}{\overset{n+1}{}}}\left[C_m^nx^{2m}\right]y^{2n+1}\right]=0`$ (37)
Now

$`T_m^n={\displaystyle \underset{k=1}{\overset{nm}{}}}\left[2c_kC_{m+1}^{nk}+b_kT_{m+1}^{nk+1}+c_kS_m^{nk}\right]4D_{m+1}^n`$ (38)
$`S_m^n={\displaystyle \underset{k=1}{\overset{nm}{}}}\left[2c_kD_{m+2}^{nk+1}+b_kS_{m+1}^{nk+1}+c_kT_{m+1}^{nk+1}\right]4C_{m+1}^n`$ (39)
$`b_n={\displaystyle \frac{1}{T_0^0}}\left[{\displaystyle \underset{k=1}{\overset{n1}{}}}\left[2c_kC_0^{nk1}+b_kT_0^{nk}\right]+2\delta _{n,1}\right]`$ (40)
$`c_n={\displaystyle \frac{1}{T_0^0+2D_1^0}}\left[{\displaystyle \underset{k=1}{\overset{n1}{}}}\left[2D_1^{nk}+T_0^{nk}\right]c_k+{\displaystyle \underset{k=1}{\overset{n}{}}}b_kS_0^{nk}+4C_0^{n1}\right]`$ (41)
Employing the Taylor expansion technique the sign of the $`D_1^0`$ coefficient has to be decided. The two signs lead to distinct dissimilar solutions. The choice leading to finite energy eigenvalues is the negative solution, and this is the one we must choose.

## III The results

Exploying a computer algebraic algorithm programmed in MapleV * , all coefficients were calculated to a selected order of approximation by recursion.

The energy estimates obtained using the $`1/N`$ method were compared with strict analytical or accurate numerical results from different sources stse ; smb ; Shi ; ees ; lar . In Table 1, the results of the series for the harmonic oscillator and the Coulomb potential are displayed. The approximation to the appropriate energy eigenvalues is extremely good, indicating that in this case the Taylor expansion procedure is exceedingly reliable. The $`1/N`$ outcome for two additional potentials is also shown in the Table 1. The results are excellent, but the energy sum starts to diverge at some point in the approximation (around 29th order or so), suggesting that the approximation is correct to about 6-7 digits. To illustrate the behaviour graphically, some plots of the partial sums of the energy approximation versus the order of approximation have been made for these potentials (see figures 1, 2 and 3).

Some potentials, also dealt with in stse ; ees , are recomputed here to a much higher order of approximation (see Tables 2, 3 and 4). The results are very reasonable, and the high order of approximation make the results nearly exact. In particular, it is observed that the high-$`l`$ states approximate the correct energy quite well. In Table 4 for the 2nd excited states, only series which did not begin to diverge to around 30th order of approximation are presented. Most of the approximated partial energy sums for the 1st and 2nd excited states diverged at low $`l`$ in an oscillatory manner around the correct energy eigenvalue. A high-$`l`$ quantum number entirely cancelled the divergence, leading to a seemingly convergent series. As seen from the Tables 3 and 4 the results for the harmonic oscillator and the Coulomb potential are excellent and correspond exactly to the analytically known energy eigenvalues.

The surveyed energy series are frequently seen to oscillate around a certain energy value when plotted against the order of approximation. The exact energy eigenvalue is found to be around this energy. The series begins to diverge at some order of approximation but still varies around the same definite energy. The oscillating series are often seen to fluctuate not termwise, but with two terms or more above the specific energy value and then two terms or more below, etc.

Some convention is required in order to discuss the results when this behaviour is seen. In order to discover the best energy eigenvalue, the last (first) term above and first (last) term below (or opposite) the center of oscillation with least variation across it is found. The result presented in the Tables is then these two terms. For a normal oscillating series, the two terms with least variation across the center of oscillation are presented. In Tables 2, 3 and 4 the normal oscillating behaviour is observed. The order of approximation of the partial sums employed is noted in the Tables. For the convergent series, only the highest order term is presented.

To examine the oscillations more carefully another potential also discussed in stse ; ees , namely the linear potential $`2^{\frac{7}{2}}r`$, will be analysed. (the curious value of the constant is chosen such that the results in this paper can be directly compared with those in stse ; ees ) The results are presented in Table 5. For this potential the energy eigenvalue is calculated to about the 29th order using the $`1/N`$ method for the first three excited states. The results show partial energy sums for the ground, the 1st and 2nd excited state seemingly swinging around the correct energy eigenvalue. Some graphs showing the oscillations of the partial energy sums are presented (see figures 4, 5 and 6).

Different radial potentials for which “exact” results from ees  are used, are shown in Tables 6. For most of these, satisfactory agreement with exact values is obtained. Many of them are not termwise oscillating series. The order of approximation employed gives a hint about the convergence of the expansion. The $`r^k`$ potentials where $`k>3`$ are seen to diverge very quickly. An empirical formulation of this principle would be “the higher the power of the potential, the poorer the convergence of the resulting $`1/N`$ energy series.”

In order to investigate the applicability of the $`1/N`$ procedure for potentials with analytically precise eigenvalues, the method is now applied in the case of fabricated potentials where the potential is set up from the Schrödinger equation (see appendix A). These examples illustrate the reliability of $`1/N`$ progressions in the case of explicit, analytically known solutions and are hence interesting for our purposes. The results in Table 7 are obtained using potentials calculated from a selected eigenfunction. Most of the constructed potentials are seen in particular to have a not termwise oscillatory behaviour.

Miscellaneous “quark” potentials and a particular double-well potential have also been developed in $`1/N`$ series (see Tables 8 and 9). The double-well potential has also been handled in lar  using ordinary perturbation calculations.

These results are not quite as good as those encountered for the other potentials, but the Taylor method still yields a fairly good approximation to the proper eigenvalue.

The double-well potential ($`\frac{(r^2R^2)^2}{8R^2}`$, where $`R`$ is a constant) is in fact a rather peculiar potential because in a normal perturbation calculation one has to add powers of small terms proportional to $`\mathrm{exp}(\frac{2}{3}R^2)`$ in order to take into account quantum-mechanical tunnelling lar  in the perturbation series. Such tunnelling considerations have not been included here, but clearly for certain potentials such terms proportional to e.g. $`\mathrm{exp}(aN)`$ should have an effect on the approximated energy eigenvalues. Maybe that is why the result for the double-well potential deviates slightly from the correct energy eigenvalue. This should of course be investigated in more details before using the Taylor expansion method more generally. To demonstrate the behaviour of some of the approximations, plots of the partial energy sums versus the order of convergence for some of the potentials are presented (see figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12).

Most series are generated to about the 29th order of approximation with a numerical precision of about 100 digits. In fact, it is feasible to generate the series to the 100th (or higher) order of approximation with a numerical precision of about 1000 digits. Further, it is conceivable to calculate the $`1/N`$-series exactly using calculations with fractions and fractional roots to about the 100th order of approximation. The most important potentials are the harmonic oscillator, the Coulomb potential, and with the constructed potentials examples where analytic exact solutions are available.

Shanks resummed sums could have been used to resum the series. In a Shanks resummation Shanks extrapolants are calculated from the partial sums, as

$$S_n=\frac{P_{n+1}P_{n1}P_n^2}{P_{n+1}+P_{n1}2P_n}$$

where $`S_n`$ is the $`n`$th Shanks extrapolant and $`P_n`$ the $`n`$th partial sum. See SP . In this paper it has been chosen not to do so because this question is an auxiliary aspect of the technique.

## IV Discussion

The major aspect of the long term behaviour of the $`1/N`$-series is of course their apparently asymptotic behaviour. As demostrated, many $`1/N`$ series match the exact energy satisfactorily when only a certain number of terms are summed, but as further terms are added the sum diverges oscillatingly to infinity. The plots presented clearly show this behaviour with some minor differences. Convergent $`1/N`$ series are also seen, such as the Coulomb and the harmonic oscillator potentials series, together with the high-$`l`$ states 1/N series (i.e. 1/k). This behaviour is very similar to that of asymptotic series. Most perturbation series are actually asymptotic. An asymptotic series is, briefly stated, a series which begins to converge towards a finite value, but which in the long run diverges. Mathematically, an asymptotic power series in $`\frac{1}{x}`$ (here $`x`$ plays the rule of $`N`$) is a series for which

$$\underset{|x|\mathrm{}}{lim}x^n\left[f(x)\underset{r=0}{\overset{n}{}}\frac{a_r}{x^r}\right]0$$
(42)
for all zero and positive $`n`$, (Poincar$`\stackrel{´}{\mathrm{e}}`$’s definition) as  or as2  where $`f(x)`$ is a function and the sum is a partial sum for the asymptotic power series of $`f(x)`$.

If the 1/$`N`$ series are asymptotic, the Coulomb and harmonic oscillator potentials would then just be special cases in which the divergence is extremely slow. Comparing the eigenfunctions for the Coulomb and harmonic oscillator potentials, they are both of the type $`\mathrm{exp}(r^k)`$, with $`k=1`$ and $`k=2`$, respectively. As a numerical experiment in this paper, eigenfunctions of the type $`\mathrm{exp}(r^k)`$ are used to find the corresponding potential with eigenvalue fixed at $`E=1`$ (see appendix A). These potentials are then expanded using the $`1/N`$ method, (see Table 7). Examining this table one notices that the nearer $`k`$ is to 1 or 2, the later the divergence of the resulting series, suggesting that the point of divergence is related to $`k`$. For instance, with $`k`$ equal to 1.2 or 1.15, the convergence is good to 25-30 orders or so.

One possible hint could be the radius of convergence for the Taylor series of the $`U(x)`$ function, but further investigations examining the $`1/N`$ series for, e.g., $`U(x)=\mathrm{cosh}(x)`$ have shown that there is no simple relationship between the radius of convergence of the Taylor series of the $`U(x)`$ function and the point of divergence of its corresponding $`1/N`$ series. Furthermore, for $`k=3`$ the resulting series is divergent, like the series for $`k`$ between 1 and 2. In a more comprehensive treatment this should be inspected more carefully, and the apparent relation between $`k`$ and the order of convergence of the resulting $`1/N`$ series surveyed.

The series reported in this article are derived to a very high numerical accuracy. Strong evidence that numerical round-off errors have not affected the results have been presented. By calculating results for different power-law potentials it has been found that results obtained “exactly” (by fractions and fractional roots) and results obtained with an exactness of 1000 digits and 100 digits, respectively, are nearly identical, and that differences occur only at about the 60th-70th digit.

The purpose of this article has been to consider the convergence of quantum mechanical $`1/N`$ series in detail. Many of the energy series presented are extremely close to the exact energy eigenvalues. The results clearly demonstrate that $`1/N`$ methods can be used to obtain approximate energy eigenvalues for different physical and chemical potentials.

The method has proved to yield fine results not only for the ground state but also for the 1st and 2nd excited states. For the harmonic oscillator and Coulomb potentials the results are extremely accurate.

The question of the convergence of the series has been settled, and much evidence points towards the $`1/N`$ series being asymptotic. Some of the series are so rapidly convergent at low orders that it will be very difficult to see that they diverge at all.

It has been established that numerical round-off errors are completely insignificant here. This is a very important point because it demonstrates that the divergence problem is a feature of the method itself and not a product of the computer arithmetic calculations.

## V Acknowledgements

This article could never have been written had it not been for Poul Henrik Damgaard’s help and advice. I also which to thank Patrick Ismail Ipsen for his help and for discussions.

## Appendix A How to construct the potential from a given ground-state wavefunction

If $`\varphi (r)=\mathrm{exp}(\psi (r))`$ is an eigenfunction of

$$\left[\frac{1}{2}\frac{d^2}{dr^2}\frac{1}{2}\frac{N1}{r}\frac{d}{dr}+V(r)\right]\varphi (r)=E\varphi (r)$$
(43)
with eigenvalue $`E`$, then the potential must be

$$V(r)=\frac{1}{2}\frac{^2\psi (r)}{r^2}+\frac{1}{2}\frac{\psi (r)}{r}^2+\frac{1}{r}\frac{\psi (r)}{r}+E$$
(44)
## Appendix B The Schrödinger equation in $`𝑵`$ dimensions

In this appendix we shall see how to derive the most important equation in this paper, namely the radial Schrödinger equation in $`N`$ dimensions (see also louck ).

The Laplace operator in polar coordinates can be written louck  as

$$^2=\frac{1}{h}\underset{i=0}{\overset{N1}{}}\frac{}{\theta _i}\left(\frac{h}{h_i^2}\frac{}{\theta _i}\right)$$
(45)
where $`\theta _0=r,h=_{j=0}^{N1}h_j`$ and $`h_i^2=_{j=1}^N\left(\frac{x_j}{\theta _i}\right)^2`$.
The expressions for the spatial coordinates in $`N`$ dimensions are given by

$`x_1`$ $`=`$ $`r\mathrm{cos}\theta _1\mathrm{sin}\theta _2\mathrm{sin}\theta _3\mathrm{}\mathrm{sin}\theta _{N1}`$
$`x_2`$ $`=`$ $`r\mathrm{sin}\theta _1\mathrm{sin}\theta _2\mathrm{sin}\theta _3\mathrm{}\mathrm{sin}\theta _{N1}`$
$`\mathrm{}`$
$`x_i`$ $`=`$ $`r\mathrm{cos}\theta _{i1}\mathrm{sin}\theta _i\mathrm{sin}\theta _{i+1}\mathrm{}\mathrm{sin}\theta _{N1}`$
$`\mathrm{}`$
$`x_N`$ $`=`$ $`r\mathrm{cos}\theta _{N1}`$ (46)
for $`N3`$, $`\left(x_1=r\mathrm{cos}\theta _1,x_2=r\mathrm{sin}\theta _1;N=2\right)`$ and where $`0r<\mathrm{}`$; $`0\theta _12\pi `$$`0\theta _i\pi `$; $`2iN1`$ and $`r^2=_{i=1}^Nx_i^2`$.
The functions $`h_j`$ are given by the following expressions

$`h_0`$ $`=`$ $`1`$
$`h_1`$ $`=`$ $`r\mathrm{sin}\theta _2\mathrm{sin}\theta _3\mathrm{}\mathrm{sin}\theta _{N1}`$
$`\mathrm{}`$
$`h_j`$ $`=`$ $`r\mathrm{sin}\theta _{j+1}\mathrm{sin}\theta _{j+2}\mathrm{}\mathrm{sin}\theta _{N1}`$
$`\mathrm{}`$
$`h_{N1}`$ $`=`$ $`r`$ (47)
Inserting the expression for $`h_j`$ in equation (45) leads to

$`^2`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{r^{N1}}}{\displaystyle \frac{}{r}}r^{N1}{\displaystyle \frac{}{r}}+{\displaystyle \frac{1}{r^2}}{\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{N2}{}}}{\displaystyle \frac{1}{_{j=i+1}^{N1}\mathrm{sin}^2\theta _j}}\left[{\displaystyle \frac{1}{\mathrm{sin}^{i1}\theta _i}}{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _i}}\mathrm{sin}^{i1}\theta _i{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _i}}\right]`$ (48)
$`+{\displaystyle \frac{1}{r^2}}\left[{\displaystyle \frac{1}{\mathrm{sin}^{N2}\theta _{N1}}}{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _{N1}}}\mathrm{sin}^{N2}\theta _{N1}{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _{N1}}}\right]`$
In general, the Hamiltonian can be written ($`m=1=\mathrm{}`$)

$$\widehat{H}=\frac{1}{2}^2=\frac{\widehat{p}_r^2}{2}+\frac{\widehat{L}^2}{2r^2}$$
(49)
separating angular momentum and radial momentum. Hence, from equation (49) and equation (48) one can define total angular momentum operators as

$`\widehat{L}_1^2`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{^2}{\theta _1^2}}`$
$`\widehat{L}_2^2`$ $`=`$ $`\left[{\displaystyle \frac{1}{\mathrm{sin}\theta _2}}{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _2}}\mathrm{sin}\theta _2{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _2}}{\displaystyle \frac{\widehat{L}_1^2}{\mathrm{sin}^2\theta _2}}\right]`$
$`\mathrm{}`$
$`\widehat{L}_i^2`$ $`=`$ $`\left[{\displaystyle \frac{1}{\mathrm{sin}^{i1}\theta _i}}{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _i}}\mathrm{sin}^{i1}\theta _i{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _i}}{\displaystyle \frac{\widehat{L}_{i1}^2}{\mathrm{sin}^2\theta _i}}\right]`$
$`\mathrm{}`$
$`\widehat{L}_{N1}^2`$ $`=`$ $`\left[{\displaystyle \frac{1}{\mathrm{sin}^{N2}\theta _{N1}}}{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _{N1}}}\mathrm{sin}^{N2}\theta _{N1}{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _{N1}}}{\displaystyle \frac{\widehat{L}_{N2}^2}{\mathrm{sin}^2\theta _{N1}}}\right]`$ (50)
In three dimensions, $`\widehat{L}_1^2`$ is simply $`\widehat{L}_z^2`$, and $`\widehat{L}_2^2`$ is $`\widehat{L}^2`$. Also, it is seen that $`\widehat{L}_i^2`$ has the same expression independently of the number of spatial dimensions.

Equation (48) may now be recast as

$$^2=\frac{1}{r^{N1}}\frac{}{r}r^{N1}\frac{}{r}\frac{\widehat{L}_{N1}^2}{r^2}$$
(51)
The eigenvalues of the operator $`\widehat{L}_{N1}^2`$ will subsequently be determined.

Only total angular momentum operators have so far been addressed, but as in three dimensions, angular momentum components also exist. They are written as

$$\widehat{L}_{ij}=\widehat{L}_{ji}=\widehat{x}_i\widehat{p}_j\widehat{x}_j\widehat{p}_i1ij1;2jN$$
(52)
where $`\widehat{p}_j`$ is defined as

$$\widehat{p}_j=i\underset{k=0}{\overset{N1}{}}\left(\frac{1}{h_k^2}\frac{\widehat{x}_j}{\theta _k}\right)\frac{}{\theta _k}$$
(53)
Considering the potential combinations, there are $`\frac{N(N1)}{2}`$ distinct (not just differing by a sign) operators of the pattern $`\widehat{L}_{ij}`$. The generalized angular momentum operators can then be obtained in polar coordinates from equations (46), (53) and (47). The results, i.e. the operators $`\widehat{L}_{ij}`$, are then as follows

$`\widehat{L}_{12}`$ $`=`$ $`i{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _1}}`$
$`\widehat{L}_{13}`$ $`=`$ $`i\left[\mathrm{sin}\theta _1\mathrm{cot}\theta _2{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _1}}\mathrm{cos}\theta _1{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _2}}\right]`$
$`\widehat{L}_{23}`$ $`=`$ $`+i\left[\mathrm{cos}\theta _1\mathrm{cot}\theta _2{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _1}}+\mathrm{sin}\theta _1{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _2}}\right]`$
$`\widehat{L}_{1j}`$ $`=`$ $`i\left[{\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{sin}\theta _1\mathrm{cot}\theta _{j1}}{_{k=2}^{j2}\mathrm{sin}\theta _k}}{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _1}}{\displaystyle \underset{k=2}{\overset{j2}{}}}\mathrm{cot}\theta _k\mathrm{cos}\theta _1\mathrm{cos}\theta _{j1}\left({\displaystyle \frac{_{h=2}^k\mathrm{sin}\theta _h}{_{h=k+1}^{j1}\mathrm{sin}\theta _h}}\right){\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _k}}\right]`$
$`+`$ $`i\left[\mathrm{cos}\theta _1{\displaystyle \underset{k=2}{\overset{j2}{}}}\mathrm{sin}\theta _k{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _{j1}}}\right],4jN`$
$`\widehat{L}_{2j}`$ $`=`$ $`+i\left[{\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{cos}\theta _1\mathrm{cot}\theta _{j1}}{_{k=2}^{j2}\mathrm{sin}\theta _k}}{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _1}}+{\displaystyle \underset{k=2}{\overset{j2}{}}}\mathrm{cot}\theta _k\mathrm{sin}\theta _1\mathrm{cos}\theta _{j1}\left({\displaystyle \frac{_{h=2}^k\mathrm{sin}\theta _h}{_{h=k+1}^{j1}\mathrm{sin}\theta _h}}\right){\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _k}}\right]`$
$`+`$ $`i\left[\mathrm{sin}\theta _1{\displaystyle \underset{k=2}{\overset{j2}{}}}\mathrm{sin}\theta _k{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _{j1}}}\right],4jN`$
$`\widehat{L}_{ij}`$ $`=`$ $`i\left[{\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{sin}\theta _{i1}\mathrm{cot}\theta _{j1}}{_{k=i}^{j2}\mathrm{sin}\theta _k}}{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _{i1}}}{\displaystyle \underset{k=i}{\overset{j2}{}}}\mathrm{cot}\theta _k\mathrm{cos}\theta _{i1}\mathrm{cos}\theta _{j1}\left({\displaystyle \frac{_{h=i}^k\mathrm{sin}\theta _h}{_{h=k+1}^{j1}\mathrm{sin}\theta _h}}\right){\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _k}}\right]`$
$`+`$ $`i\left[\mathrm{cos}\theta _{i1}{\displaystyle \underset{k=i}{\overset{j2}{}}}\mathrm{sin}\theta _k{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _{j1}}}\right],3ij2,5jN`$
$`\widehat{L}_{j1j}`$ $`=`$ $`i\left[\mathrm{sin}\theta _{j2}\mathrm{cot}\theta _{j1}{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _{j2}}}\mathrm{cos}\theta _{j2}{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _{j1}}}\right],4jN`$ (54)
for $`N3,\left(h_0=1,h_1=r;N=2\right)`$ louck . For $`N=3`$, it is noted that $`\widehat{L}_{12}`$ is simply $`\widehat{L}_z`$, $`\widehat{L}_{13}`$ is $`\widehat{L}_y`$ and that $`\widehat{L}_{23}`$ is $`\widehat{L}_x`$. As equation (50) shows $`\widehat{L}_1^2,\widehat{L}_2^2,\mathrm{},\widehat{L}_{N1}^2`$ clearly commute because they depend on distinct angles, meaning that they have simultaneous eigenfunctions. Since $`\widehat{L}_i^2`$ is a sum of squares of Hermitian operators of the form ($`\widehat{x}_i\widehat{p}_j\widehat{x}_j\widehat{p}_i`$), it is known that the eigenvalues of $`\widehat{L}_i^2`$ will be real and non-negative. Furthermore, the eigenfunctions are orthogonal because they are eigenfunctions of Hermitian operators. Assuming a proper normalisation, they may be written as

$$Y(\lambda _{N1},\mathrm{},\lambda _1)=Y_{\lambda _{N1},\mathrm{},\lambda _1}(\theta _1,\mathrm{},\theta _{N1})=\underset{i=1}{\overset{N1}{}}\mathrm{\Theta }_i(\lambda _i,\lambda _{i1})$$
(55)
where $`\mathrm{\Theta }_i(\lambda _i,\lambda _{i1})`$ is a function only of $`\theta _i`$, and $`\mathrm{\Theta }_1(\lambda _1,\lambda _0)\mathrm{\Theta }_1\left(\lambda _1\right)`$ and $`\lambda _i`$ is the associated eigenvalue of $`\widehat{L}_i^2`$.
Clearly, $`\mathrm{\Theta }_i(\lambda _i,\lambda _{i1})`$ will satisfy

$`\widehat{L}_1^2\mathrm{\Theta }_1\left(\lambda _1\right)=\lambda _1\mathrm{\Theta }_1\left(\lambda _1\right)`$
$`\widehat{L}_i^2\left(\lambda _{i1}\right)\mathrm{\Theta }_i(\lambda _i,\lambda _{i1})=\lambda _i\mathrm{\Theta }_i(\lambda _i,\lambda _{i1})`$
$`\left(\widehat{L}_i^2\left(\lambda _{i1}\right)\widehat{L}_{i1}^2\left(\lambda _{i2}\right)\right)\mathrm{\Theta }_{i1}(\lambda _{i1},\lambda _{i2})\mathrm{\Theta }_i(\lambda _i,\lambda _{i1})`$
$`=\left(\lambda _i\lambda _{i1}\right)\mathrm{\Theta }_{i1}(\lambda _{i1},\lambda _{i2})\mathrm{\Theta }_i(\lambda _i,\lambda _{i1})`$ (56)
for $`2iN1`$.
Since

$$\widehat{L}_i^2\left(\lambda _{i1}\right)\widehat{L}_{i1}^2\left(\lambda _{i2}\right)=\underset{j=1}{\overset{i}{}}\left(\widehat{x}_j\widehat{p}_{i+1}\widehat{x}_{i+1}\widehat{p}_j\right)^2$$
(57)
the eigenvalues of $`\left(\widehat{L}_i^2\left(\lambda _{i1}\right)\widehat{L}_{i1}^2\left(\lambda _{i2}\right)\right)=\lambda _i\lambda _{i1}`$ must be non-negative and real simply because the sum is the diagonal matrix elements of the Hermitian operator $`(\widehat{x}_j\widehat{p}_{i+1}\widehat{x}_{i+1}\widehat{p}_j)^2`$ louck . Clearly

$$\lambda _i\lambda _{i1}$$
(58)
which implies that

$$\lambda _{N1}\lambda _{N2}\mathrm{}\lambda _10$$
(59)
because $`\lambda _1=m^20`$
At $`N=3`$, $`\lambda _1=l_1^2=m^2`$ and $`\lambda _2=l_2\left(l_2+1\right)=l\left(l+1\right)=l\left(l+21\right)`$
This suggests that in $`(i1)`$ dimensions

$$\lambda _i=l_i\left(l_i+i1\right)$$
(60)
Although the value of $`l_i`$ is unknown, a sensible guess would be $`l_i_0`$ since it should be legitimate for $`N=3`$. By the principle of induction it is feasible to prove this proposition by proving that if

$$\widehat{L}_{i1}^2\left(l_{i2}\right)\mathrm{\Theta }_{i1}(l_{i1},l_{i2})=l_{i1}\left(l_{i1}+i2\right)\mathrm{\Theta }_{i1}(l_{i1},l_{i2})$$
(61)
where $`l_{i1}_0`$,
then

$$\widehat{L}_i^2\left(l_{i1}\right)\mathrm{\Theta }_i(l_i,l_{i1})=l_i\left(l_i+i1\right)\mathrm{\Theta }_i(l_i,l_{i1})$$
(62)
$`l_i_0`$, and for a given $`l_i=0,1,2,..`$ one has $`l_{i1}=0,1,2,..,l_i`$.
Proof:
Using (50), $`\widehat{L}_i^2(l_{i1})`$ may be transformed into

$$\widehat{L}_i^2\left(l_{i1}\right)=\left[\frac{^2}{\theta _i^2}+\left(i1\right)\mathrm{cot}\theta _i\frac{}{\theta _i}\frac{l_{i1}\left(l_{i1}+i2\right)}{\mathrm{sin}^2\theta _i}\right]$$
(63)
If ladder operators are defined as

$`\widehat{L}_i^+\left(l_{i1}\right)`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _i}}l_{i1}\mathrm{cot}\theta _i`$
$`\widehat{L}_i^{}\left(l_{i1}\right)`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{}{\theta _i}}\left(l_{i1}+i2\right)\mathrm{cot}\theta _i`$ (64)
then $`\widehat{L}_i^2\left(l_{i1}\right)`$ can be written as

$`\widehat{L}_i^2\left(l_{i1}\right)`$ $`=`$ $`\widehat{L}_i^+\left(l_{i1}1\right)\widehat{L}_i^{}\left(l_{i1}\right)+\left(l_{i1}+i2\right)\left(l_{i1}1\right)`$ (65)
$`=`$ $`\widehat{L}_i^{}\left(l_{i1}+1\right)\widehat{L}_i^+\left(l_{i1}\right)+l_{i1}\left(l_{i1}+i1\right)`$
By multiplying (65) from right and left with $`\widehat{L}_i^\pm \left(l_{i1}\right)`$ one finds

$`\widehat{L}_i^2\left(l_{i1}+1\right)\widehat{L}_i^+\left(l_{i1}\right)`$ $`=`$ $`\widehat{L}_i^+\left(l_{i1}\right)\widehat{L}_i^2\left(l_{i1}\right)`$
$`\widehat{L}_i^2\left(l_{i1}1\right)\widehat{L}_i^{}\left(l_{i1}\right)`$ $`=`$ $`\widehat{L}_i^{}\left(l_{i1}\right)\widehat{L}_i^2\left(l_{i1}\right)`$ (66)
If now (66) operates on $`\mathrm{\Theta }_i(\lambda _i,l_{i1})`$ it leads to

$`\widehat{L}_i^2\left(l_{i1}+1\right)\widehat{L}_i^+\left(l_{i1}\right)\mathrm{\Theta }_i(\lambda _i,l_{i1})`$ $`=`$ $`\lambda _i\widehat{L}_i^+\left(l_{i1}\right)\mathrm{\Theta }_i(\lambda _i,l_{i1})`$
$`=`$ $`\lambda _iA(\lambda _i,l_{i1})\mathrm{\Theta }_i(\lambda _i,l_{i1}+1)`$
$`\widehat{L}_i^2\left(l_{i1}1\right)\widehat{L}_i^{}\left(l_{i1}\right)\mathrm{\Theta }_i(\lambda _i,l_{i1})`$ $`=`$ $`\lambda _i\widehat{L}_i^{}\left(l_{i1}\right)\mathrm{\Theta }_i(\lambda _i,l_{i1})`$ (67)
$`=`$ $`\lambda _iB(\lambda _i,l_{i1})\mathrm{\Theta }_i(\lambda _i,l_{i1}1)`$
where $`A,B`$ are normalizing factors. It turns out that $`B(\lambda _i,l_{i1}+1)=A^{}(\lambda _i,l_{i1})`$ louck .
Thus, from (65)

$`\widehat{L}_i^2\left(l_{i1}\right)\mathrm{\Theta }_i(\lambda _i,l_{i1})`$ $`=`$ $`\lambda _i\mathrm{\Theta }_i(\lambda _i,l_{i1})`$
$`=`$ $`\left(|A(\lambda _i,l_{i1})|^2+l_{i1}\left(l_{i1}+i1\right)\right)\mathrm{\Theta }_i(\lambda _i,l_{i1})`$
$`\lambda _il_{i1}\left(l_{i1}+i1\right)`$ $`=`$ $`|A(\lambda _i,l_{i1})|^20`$ (68)
As a consequence of (59), i.e. $`\lambda _i0`$, there must exist a maximum value for $`l_{i1}`$, say $`l_i`$, for a given $`\lambda _i`$, such that

$$\widehat{L}_i^+\left(l_i\right)\mathrm{\Theta }_i(\lambda _i,l_i)=0$$
(69)
where $`l_i_0`$, because $`l_{i1}_0`$. This leads to

$$\lambda _i=l_i\left(l_i+i1\right)$$
(70)
where $`l_i`$ is a positive integer or zero.
To see what the possible values of $`l_{i1}`$ are, given $`l_i`$, one notes that clearly $`l_{i1}=l_i`$ is plausible and that (67) implies that

$$L_i^{}\left(l_i\right)\mathrm{\Theta }_i(\lambda _i,l_i)$$
(71)
is an eigenfunction of $`\widehat{L}_i^2\left(l_i1\right)`$ with eigenvalue $`\lambda _i`$. Hence, $`l_{i1}=l_i1`$ is viable. Continuing this argument and introducing $`l_{i1}=l_i1`$ into (67), one discovers that $`\widehat{L}_i^2\left(l_i2\right)`$ has the eigenvalue $`\lambda _i`$. Consequently, another feasible value for $`l_{i1}`$ is $`l_i2`$. Since 0 is the lowest probable value of $`l_{i1}`$ by presumption and one diminish $`l_{i1}`$ one by one, it is unquestionably seen that the possible values of $`l_{i1}`$ are $`l_i,l_i1,l_i2,..,0`$ for $`l_i_0`$.
From (59) it is demonstrated that $`\lambda _{N1}`$, and accordingly $`l_{N1}`$, have no upper boundaries. It thus follows that $`l_{N1}=0,1,2,\mathrm{}`$, and in addition it is seen that $`l_2\left(l_2+1\right)l_1^20`$, leading to $`l_1|l_2|`$. Since (61) is believed to be correct for $`i=3`$, it will also be valid for $`i=4`$, and therefore by induction

$`\widehat{L}_i^2\mathrm{\Theta }_i(l_i,l_{i1})`$ $`=`$ $`l_i\left(l_i+i1\right)\mathrm{\Theta }_i(l_i,l_{i1})`$ (72)
where $`1iN1`$, $`0l_2l_3l_4\mathrm{}l_{N3}l_{N2}l_{N1}<\mathrm{}`$ and $`l_1|l_2|`$.
Equation (55) may now be written as

$$Y(l_{N1},\mathrm{},l_1)=\underset{i=1}{\overset{N1}{}}\mathrm{\Theta }_i(l_i,l_{i1})$$
(73)
and

$$\widehat{L}_i^2Y(l_{N1},\mathrm{},l_i,\mathrm{},l_1)=l_i\left(l_i+i1\right)Y(l_{N1},\mathrm{},l_i,\mathrm{},l_1)$$
(74)
Substituting $`i=N1`$ into (8), one finally arrives at

$$\left[\frac{1}{2}\frac{d^2}{dr^2}\frac{1}{2}\frac{N1}{r}\frac{d}{dr}+\frac{l(l+N2)}{2r^2}+V(r)\right]\varphi (r)=E\varphi (r)$$
(75)
as the $`N`$-dimensional radial Schrödinger equation.