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For the normalized second-order linear differential equation $y^{\prime \prime }+P(z)y^{\prime }+Q(z)y=0$, an ordinary point $z_0$ has analytic $P,Q$ near $z_0$. At a regular singular point, which is not ordinary, $(z-z_0)P(z)$ and $(z-z_0{)}^{2}Q(z)$ are analytic. Ordinary points admit two independent convergent power series solutions. Regular singular points instead call for the Frobenius method, which permits leading powers and, in some cases, logarithms.

Here zero is an ordinary point. Substitute $y={\sum }_{n\ge 0}{a}_n{z}^n$ into the Hermite differential equation and equate coefficients:The even and odd initial coefficients are independent, givingThese are the power series solutions of the Hermite differential equation, with the present parameter equal to twice the parameter in that article. The ratio of successive terms within each nonterminating parity is asymptotically $2|z{|}^2/n$, so both series have infinite radius of convergence.

For a nonzero polynomial of degree $m$, its highest coefficient in $-2z{y}^{\prime }+\lambda y$ forces $\lambda =2m$. Conversely at that value the matching parity terminates. HenceThe polynomial solutions are scalar multiples of the Hermite polynomials. Two examples are $\boxed{\lambda =0:y=1;\lambda =2:y=z}$; direct substitution verifies both. The other independent solution generally remains nonpolynomial.

The product rule gives ${\psi }^{\prime }=e^{-x^2/2}(y^{\prime }-xy)$ and ${\psi }^{\prime \prime }=e^{-x^2/2}[y^{\prime \prime }-2x{y}^{\prime }+(x^2-1)y]$. Substituting in the Schrödinger equation cancels the $x^2$ and constant terms, leaving the Hermite differential equationFor $y={\sum }_{n\ge 0}{a}_n{x}^n$, matching coefficients givesThe power series solutions of the Hermite differential equation split into independent even and odd series. With initial data $(y(0),y^{\prime }(0))=(1,0)$ and $(0,1)$, respectively, their first three terms areEach nonterminating parity series has infinite radius of convergence: the ratio of successive terms of that parity has magnitude asymptotic to $2|x{|}^2/n$. Their initial data prove linear independence. If a coefficient shown vanishes at a special parameter, the recurrence supplies the terminating series instead.

A nonzero polynomial solution of degree $N$ requires $\lambda =N$, by its highest-degree term, and the recurrence then terminates the matching parity. Thus all possible values are $\lambda =0,1,2,\dots$. Up to nonzero scalar multiples, the degree-at-most-three solutions are the Hermite polynomials