Heisenberg Algebra, Umbral Calculus and Orthogonal Polynomials

Abstract

Umbral calculus can be viewed as an abstract theory of the Heisenberg commutation relation $[\hat P,\hat M]=1$. In ordinary quantum mechanics $\hat P$ is the derivative and $\hat M$ the coordinate operator. Here we shall realize $\hat P$ as a second order differential operator and $\hat M$ as a first order integral one. We show that this makes it possible to solve large classes of differential and integro-differential equations and to introduce new classes of orthogonal polynomials, related to Laguerre polynomials. These polynomials are particularly well suited for describing so called flatenned beams in laser theory

19 pages, 5 figures