= Solution
For the <WKB approximation>, put $Q(x)=|x|-E$. Away from the <turning points> $x=\pm E$, the forbidden-region solutions have the form $Q^{-1/4}\exp(\pm\int\sqrt Q\,dx)$; in the allowed region put $k(x)=\sqrt{E-|x|}$ and use $k^{-1/2}\exp(\pm i\int k\,dx)$. The decaying tails selected by the <boundary conditions> are
$$
y\sim C_+(x-E)^{-1/4}e^{-\frac23(x-E)^{3/2}}\ (x>E),\qquad
y\sim C_-(-x-E)^{-1/4}e^{-\frac23(-x-E)^{3/2}}\ (x<-E).
$$
The simple-turning-point Airy connection formula matches these to
$$
2C_+k(x)^{-1/2}\sin\left(\int_x^E k(s)ds+\frac\pi4\right),\qquad
2C_-k(x)^{-1/2}\sin\left(\int_{-E}^x k(s)ds+\frac\pi4\right).
$$
Compatibility requires the <Bohr-Sommerfeld quantization> condition
$$
\int_{-E}^E\sqrt{E-|x|}\,dx=\frac43E^{3/2}\sim\pi(n+1/2),
$$
with levels indexed from $n=0$. Therefore
$$
\boxed{E_n\sim\left[\frac{3\pi}{4}(n+1/2)\right]^{2/3},\qquad E_n=O(n^{2/3}).}
$$
The cusp at zero does not alter the leading high-energy count. An exact matching check is available: on $x\ge0$ the decaying solution is $\operatorname{Ai}(x-E)$, and parity at zero imposes $\operatorname{Ai}'(-E)=0$ for even states or $\operatorname{Ai}(-E)=0$ for odd states. Their interlacing large negative zeros give the same combined leading quantization. Reindexing from one changes only the constant phase shift, not the requested growth law.
Back to article page