Quantum Realization of the Wallis Formula

Abstract

We present a unified quantum-mechanical derivation of the Wallis formula from two solvable radial systems: the circular states of the three-dimensional isotropic harmonic oscillator and the lowest-radial-branch states of the planar Fock--Darwin problem, including the lowest Landau level sector. In both cases, the radial probability density has the exact form $P(r)\propto r^νe^{-λr^2}$, which yields the scale-independent reciprocal observable $Q=\langle r\rangle\langle r^{-1}\rangle$. The two systems realize the even and odd half-integer Gamma-function branches of the same moment formula, so that the associated finite Wallis partial products are determined by $Q$ in one case and by $Q^{-1}$ in the other. In the large-angular-momentum regime, the corresponding states become localized on a thin spherical shell or a narrow annulus, with vanishing relative radial width, so that $Q\to1$ and both finite-product representations reduce to the Wallis formula for $π$.

Figures (1)

• Figure 1: Scaled defects $4\ell(Q_{\ell}^{(\mathrm{osc})}-1)$ and $4m(Q_{m}^{(\mathrm{FD})}-1)$. Both approach unity, showing the common leading asymptotic law $Q=1+\frac{1}{4n}+O(n^{-2})$ underlying the two Wallis-product realizations.