A topical review on time-independent perturbation theory in one-dimensional quantum systems

Abstract This review presents time-independent perturbative methods for solving the one-dimensional Schrödinger equation, highlighting representative cases that reveal key aspects of the theory. The focus is on their relevance to quantum computing applications, particularly in systems with finite-dimensional state spaces. The main link between these methods and quantum processing emerges when we consider systems with only a finite number of well-defined energy levels, e.g., two levels corresponding to the ‘zero’ and ‘one’ states of a quantum bit (qubit), for which the Schrödinger equation describes a quantum algorithm corresponding to the unitary evolution of the qubits. Perturbative techniques can then be applied to this evolution to gain deeper insight into the algorithm or to simplify it in a controlled manner, as described in the last sections of this review. We initially discuss representative applications using benchmark cases that exemplify the essential features of perturbation theory while avoiding unnecessary technical complications. The methods presented involve direct approaches to solutions for quantum systems with small potential perturbations, with consideration of indirect and approximation techniques. Key cases examined include the particle in a potential well, the harmonic oscillator, and systems with polynomial or Dirac delta distribution perturbations, each chosen to highlight unique aspects of perturbative analysis. Starting with an overview of the unperturbed Schrödinger equation, we derive canonical solutions and then use perturbative techniques to approximate energy shifts and wavefunction corrections in both non-degenerate and degenerate settings. By combining theoretical discussion with case studies, this review underscores how perturbative methods are applied across a range of elementary quantum mechanical problems especially for applications in the qubit model, which, in many cases of interest, can be reduced to the explicit calculations shown here.