Solution of spherically symmetric quantum models by the transfer-matrix method

In this paper we show that the eigenfunctions and eigenvalues of quantum three-dimensional spherical symmetric models can be obtained numerically using the path-integral formalism and the transfer-matrix technique. We illustrate this formalism with the quantum spherical harmonic potential and we discuss its advantages over the path-integral Monte Carlo method. The application of our results to other simple systems of physical interest is also discussed. (author)