We construct an expansion of the solutions of the bi-confluent Heun equation in terms of the Hermite functions. The series is governed by a three-term recurrence relation between successive coefficients of the expansion. We examine the restrictions that are imposed on the involved parameters in order that the series terminates thus resulting in closed-form finitesum solutions of the bi-confluent Heun equation. A physical application of the closed-form solutions is discussed. We present the five six-parametric potentials for which the general solution of the one-dimensional Schrödinger equation is written in terms of the bi-confluent Heun functions and further identify a particular conditionally integrable potential for which the involved bi-confluent Heun function admits a four-term finite-sum expansion in terms of the Hermite functions. This is an infinite well defined on a half-axis. We present the explicit solution of the one-dimensional Schrödinger equation for this potential and discuss the bound states supported by the potential. We derive the exact equation for the energy spectrum and construct an accurate approximation for the bound-state energy levels.

We examine the series expansions of the solutions of the confluent Heun equation in terms of three different sets of the Kummer confluent hypergeometric functions. The coefficients of the expansions in general obey three-term recurrence relations defining double-sided infinite series; however, four-term and two-term relations are also possible in particular cases. The conditions for left-and/or right-side termination of the derived series are discussed. C 2014 Author(s). All article content, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. [http://dx.

We derive 35 five-parametric classes of the quantum time-dependent two-state models solvable in terms of the general Heun functions. Each of the classes is defined by a pair of generating functions the first of which is referred to as the amplitude-and the second one as the detuning-modulation function. The classes suggest numerous families of specific field configurations with different physical properties generated by appropriate choices of the transformation of the independent variable, real or complex. There are many families of models with constant detuning or constant amplitude, numerous classes of chirped pulses of controllable amplitude and/or detuning, families of models with double or multiple (periodic) crossings, periodic amplitude modulation field configurations, etc.The detuning modulation function is the same for all the derived classes. This function involves four arbitrary parameters, that is, two more than the previously known hypergeometric classes. These parameters in general are complex and should be chosen so that the resultant detuning is real for the applied (arbitrary) complex-valued transformation of the independent variable. The generalization of the detuning modulation function to the fourparametric case is the most notable extension since many useful properties of the two-state models described by the Heun equation are due to namely the additional parameters involved in this function. Many of the derived amplitude modulation functions present different generalizations of the known hypergeometric models. In several cases the generalization is achieved by multiplying the amplitude modulation function of the corresponding prototype hypergeometric class by an extra factor including an additional parameter. Finally, many classes suggest amplitude modulation functions having forms not discussed before.We present several families of constant-detuning field configurations generated by a real transformation of the independent variable. The members of these families are symmetric or asymmetric two-peak finite-area pulses with controllable distance between the peaks and controllable amplitude of each of the peaks. We show that the edge shapes, the distance between the peaks as well as the amplitude of the peaks are controlled almost independently, by different parameters. We identify the parameters controlling each of the mentioned features and discuss other basic properties of pulse shapes. We show that the pulse edges may become step-wise functions and determine the positions of the limiting vertical-wall edges. We show that the pulse width is controlled by only two of the involved parameters. For some values of these parameters the pulse width diverges and for some other values the pulses become infinitely narrow. We show that the effect of the two mentioned parameters is almost similar, that is, both parameters are able to independently produce pulses of almost the same shape and width. We determine the conditions for generation of pulses of almost indistinguishable shape and width, and pres...

We examine the expansions of the solutions of the general Heun equation in terms of the Gauss hypergeometric functions. We present several expansions using functions, the forms of which differ from those applied before. In general, the coefficients of the expansions obey three-term recurrence relations. However, there exist certain choices of the parameters for which the recurrence relations become two-term. The coefficients of the expansions are then explicitly expressed in terms of the gamma functions. Discussing the termination of the presented series, we show that the finite-sum solutions of the general Heun equation in terms of generally irreducible hypergeometric functions have a representation through a single generalized hypergeometric function. Consequently, the power-series expansion of the Heun function for any such case is governed by a two-term recurrence relation.