Desperate trying to solve a simple Sturm-Liouville equation

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on solving a Sturm-Liouville equation related to wave problems, specifically the equation \(\frac{d}{dx}\left[(1-x^2)^2\frac{d}{dx}y\right] - k^2y = -\omega^2y\) with boundary conditions \(\frac{dy}{dx} = 0\) at \(x = 0\) and \(y = 2A\) at \(x = A\). The goal is to find the ground state solution for general values of \(k > 0\) and \(0 < A < 1\). The numeric approach using Mathematica's NDSolve function is suggested, with specific parameters \(k = 1.21\), \(\omega = 3.25\), and \(a = 0.825\) to illustrate the solution process.

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While dealing with a wave problem,
I encountered the following equation

[tex]\frac{d}{dx}\left[(1-x^2)^2\frac{d}{dx}y\right] - k^2y = -\omega^2y[/tex]

with x ∈ [0,A], (0<A<=1)

where k is a real number.

Thus it has eigenvalue ω^2 and weight unity.

Boundary conditions are

[tex]\frac{dy}{dx} = 0[/tex]

at x = 0 and

[tex]y=2A[/tex]

at x= A.


I only need to obtain the solution for the ground state (the one with lowest eigenvalue).

for general values of k>0, 0<A<1.

I find from the physical point of view that the solution should look like

y_0=constant for A->1,

and y_0 = cosh(kx) for A -> 0


Can anybody give me a hint on how to solve this equation?
 
Last edited:
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Here's a numeric approach in Mathematica:

Code:
k = 1.21; 
\[Omega] = 3.25; 
a = 0.825; 

sols = 
   (First[NDSolve[{(1 - x^2)^2*Derivative[2][y][
            x] - 4*x*(1 - x^2)*Derivative[1][y][
            x] + (\[Omega]^2 - k^2)*y[x] == 0, 
        Derivative[1][y][0] == 0, y[a] == 2*a}, y, 
       x, Method -> {"Shooting", 
         "StartingInitialConditions" -> 
          {y[0] == #1, Derivative[1][y][0] == 
            0}}]] & ) /@ {-2, 0, 2}; 

Plot[Evaluate[y[x] /. sols], {x, 0, a}, 
  PlotStyle -> {Black, Blue, Green}]
 

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