(a) Use the recursion formula (Equation 4.76) to confirm that whenI=n-1 the radial wave function takes the form

Rn(n-1)=Nnrn-1e-r/na and determine the normalization constant by direct integration.

(b) Calculate 200a and <r2> for states of the form ψn(n-1)m·

(c) Show that the "uncertainty" in r(δr) is<r>/2n+1for such states. Note that the fractional spread in decreases, with increasing (in this sense the system "begins to look classical," with identifiable circular "orbits," for large ). Sketch the radial wave functions for several values of, to illustrate this point.

Short Answer

Expert verified

(a) The normalization constant Nnby direct integration isNn=2nan+1212n!

(b) The value of rand r2is r=n+12naand r2=n+12n+1na2

(c) The uncertainty isδr=r2n+1

Step by step solution

01

Determine the recursion formula

A recursive formula is one that defines each term in a series in terms of the term before it (s). As an example: An arithmetic sequence's recursive formula is an=an-1+dgeometric sequence's recursive formula is an=an-1r.

02

Determine the normalization constant Nn by direct integration

(a)

The radial equation is given by:

Nn=2nan+1212n!

where:

Vρ=j0cjρjρ=κrκ=-2mEh

and the coefficients turned out to satisfy the recursion formula:

cj+1=2j+I+1-2nj+1j+2I+1cj

let I=n-1thus:

Rnn-1=1rρne-pvρ

but:

c1=2n-n12nc0=0ρ=rnavρ=c0

so:

Rnn-1r=c0annrn-1e-r/an

combine the constant out front into a single constant, Nn=c0/ann, so:

Rnn-1=Nnrn-1e-r/na

Normalize the wave function, that is:

role="math" localid="1656315281010" 0R2r2dr=1

to do the integral I used the integral-calculator.com. Thus:

0R2r2dr=Nn20r2ne-2r/nadr=Nn22n!na22n+1=1

Nn=2nan+1212n!

Therefore, the normalization constant Nnby direct integration isNn=2nan+1212n!

03

Determine the value of <r> and  <r2>

(b)

Now find the expectation value of r and r2 , first we find it for rIthen we let I=1and I=2as:

rI=0R2rI+2dr=Nn20r2n+Ir-2r/na

for I=1, we have:

r=2na2n+112n!2n+1!na22n+2=n+12na

r=n+12na

For I=2:

r2=2na2n+112n!2n+2!na22n+3=2n+22n+1na2=n+12n+1na2

role="math" localid="1656316300775" r2=n+12n+1na2

Therefore, the value of rand r2is r=n+12naandr2=n+12n+1na2

04

Determine the uncertainty equation 

(c)

The uncertainty in ris given by:

localid="1656316682565" σr2=r2-r2

substitute from part bto get:

localid="1656316692244" σr2=n+12n+1na2-n+122na2=12n+12na2=22n+1/2r2

Thus :

σr=r2n+1

Now we need to sketch few wave functions with different nvalues, combine Nnwith Rnn-1in part a, so we get:

Rnn-1=2nan+1212n!rn-1e-r/nato plot this function /set a=1(for simplicity) and plot rfrom 0 to 200 (actully from 0 to 200a ), I used python to plot it and the code is shown in the following picture:

Therefore, the uncertainty isσr=r2n+1

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Most popular questions from this chapter

(a) Prove that for a particle in a potential V(r)the rate of change of the expectation value of the orbital angular momentum L is equal to the expectation value of the torque:

ddt<L>=<N>

Where,

N=r×(VV)

(This is the rotational analog to Ehrenfest's theorem.)

(b) Show that d<L>/dt=0for any spherically symmetric potential. (This is one form of the quantum statement of conservation of angular momentum.)

Deduce the condition for minimum uncertainty inSx andSy(that is, equality in the expression role="math" localid="1658378301742" σSxσSy(ħ/2)|<Sz>|, for a particle of spin 1/2 in the generic state (Equation 4.139). Answer: With no loss of generality we can pick to be real; then the condition for minimum uncertainty is that bis either pure real or else pure imaginary.

Because the three-dimensional harmonic oscillator potential (Equation 4.188)is spherically symmetric, the Schrödinger equation can be handled by separation of variables in spherical coordinates, as well as cartesian coordinates. Use the power series method to solve the radial equation. Find the recursion formula for the coefficients, and determine the allowed energies. Check your answer against Equation4.189.

(a) Apply S_tolocalid="1656131461017" 10>(Equation4.177), and confirm that you getlocalid="1656131442455" 2h1-1>.

(b) ApplyS+to[00>(Equation4.178), and confirm that you get zero.

(c) Show thatlocalid="1656131424007" 11>andlocalid="1656131406083" 1-1>(Equation4.177) are eigenstates ofS2, with the appropriate eigenvalue

Determine the commutator of S2withSZ(1)(whereSS(1)+S(2)) Generalize your result to show that

[S2,S1]=2Ih(S1×S2)

Comment: Because Sz(1)does not commute with S2, we cannot hope to find states that are simultaneous eigenvectors of both. In order to form eigenstates ofS2weneed linear combinations of eigenstates ofSz(1). This is precisely what the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients (in Equation 4.185) do for us, On the other hand, it follows by obvious inference from Equation 4.187that the sumrole="math" localid="1655980965321" S(1)+S(2)does commute withdata-custom-editor="chemistry" S2, which is a special case of something we already knew (see Equation 4.103).

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