Ladder operators for the modified Poschl-Teller potential

A closed form of the normalization constants of the wave function for the modified Poschl-Teller (MPT) potential is obtained from two different methods. It is shown that the discrete spectrum of the MPT potential is associated to the su(2) algebra. This identification is achieved by means of a realization of raising and lowering operators in terms of the physical variable u = tanh(alphax). Analytical expressions for the matrix elements derived from these operators are obtained for the functions u/root1 - u(2) and root1 - u(2)(d/du). The harmonic limit of the su(2) operators is also analyzed. (C) 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.