Hermite functions are Fourier eigenfunctions

ID: hermite-functions-are-fourier-eigenfunctions

Use the unitary Fourier transform with phase . It commutes with , because differentiation transforms to multiplication by and multiplication by transforms to . The Hermite differential equation has a unique polynomial solution of each degree up to scale, and multiplying by the Gaussian gives a Hermite function. Transforming a polynomial times this Gaussian again gives a polynomial times the Gaussian of the same degree; comparison of leading coefficients gives the eigenvalue .

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