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The polynomial solutions of the Hermite differential equation, with n a non-negative integer, are
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usually normed so that the highest degree term is (2z)n and called the Hermite polynomials
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Hn (z) . The Hermite polynomials may be defined explicitly by
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(1)
Main Menu
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Encyclopædia since this is a polynomial having the highest degree term (2z)n and satisfying the Hermite
Papers equation. The equation (1) is the Rodrigues's formula for Hermite polynomials. Using the Faà di
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Expositions Bruno's formula, one gets from (1) also

meta n!
Requests (237) Hn (x) = (−1)n m1 +2m2 =n (−1)m1 +m2 (2x)m1
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m1 !m2 !
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Unproven (550) The first six Hermite polynomials are
Corrections (54)
Classification H0 (z) 1
H1 (z) 2z
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H5 (z) 32z 5 −160z 3 +120z
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Snapshots and the general polynomial form is
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information n(n −1) n(n −1)(n −2)(n −3)
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Hn (z) (2z)n − (2z)n−2 + (2z)n−4 − +
1! 2!
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TODO List Differentiating this termwise gives
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(n −1)(n −2) (n −1)(n −2)(n −3)(n −4)
Hn (z) = 2n (2z)n−1 − (2z)n−3 + (2z)n−5 − +
1! 2!
i.e.

(2)

The Hermite polynomials are sometimes scaled to such ones Hen which obey the differentiation

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PlanetMath: Hermite polynomials http://planetmath.org/encyclopedia/HermitePolynomials.html

rule
(3)

Such Hermite polynomials form an Appell sequence.

We shall now show that the Hermite polynomials form an orthogonal set on the interval
2
(− ) with the weight factor e−x . Let m n ; using (1) and integrating by parts we get

2
The substitution portion here equals to zero because e−x and its derivatives vanish at .
Using then (2) we obtain
2
−x2 1+n dn−1 e−x
− Hm (x)Hn (x)e dx = 2(−1) m − Hm−1 (x) dx
dxn−1
Repeating the integration by parts gives the result

whereas in the case m = n the result

2 2

− (Hn (x))2 e−x dx = 2n (−1)2n n! − e−x dx = 2n n!

Hn (x) x2
(see area under Gaussian curve). The results mean that the functions x e− 2 form
2n n!
an orthonormal set on (− ).
The Hermite polynomials are used in the quantum mechanical treatment of a harmonic
oscillator, the wave functions of which have the form
2

n( ) = Cn Hn ( )e− 2

"Hermite polynomials" is owned by pahio.

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See Also: substitution notation, Appell sequence, Laguerre Log in to rate this entry.
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generating function of Hermite polynomials (Derivation) by pahio

Cross-references: wave functions, harmonic oscillator, orthonormal set, functions, area under Gaussian curve,
integration by parts, vanish, derivatives, substitution, interval, Appell sequence, differentiation, Faà di Bruno's formula,
Rodrigues's Formula, equation, integer, Hermite differential equation, solutions, polynomial
There are 12 references to this entry.

This is version 25 of Hermite polynomials, born on 2005-05-17, modified 2010-01-03.

Object id is 7061, canonical name is HermitePolynomials.
Accessed 12424 times total.

Classification:
AMS MSC: 12D99 (Field theory and polynomials :: Real and complex fields :: Miscellaneous)
26A09 (Real functions :: Functions of one variable :: Elementary functions)
26C05 (Real functions :: Polynomials, rational functions :: Polynomials: analytic properties, etc.)
33B99 (Special functions :: Elementary classical functions :: Miscellaneous)
33E30 (Special functions :: Other special functions :: Other functions coming from differential, difference and integral equations)

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