(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

Consider the observablesA=x2andB=Lz .

(a) Construct the uncertainty principle forσAσB

(b) EvaluateσB in the hydrogen stateψn/m .

(c) What can you conclude about<xy>in this state?

(a) Using Equation 4.88, work out the first four Laguerre polynomials.

(b) Using Equations 4.86, 4.87, and 4.88, find v(ρ), for the case n=5,I=2.

(c) Find v(ρ)again (for the case role="math" localid="1658315521558" n=5,I=2), but this time get it from the recursion formula (Equation 4.76).

Lq(x)=eqq!(ddx)q(e-x-x9)(4.88)v(ρ)=Ln-2l+1l-1(4.86)Lqp(x)(-1)pddxρLp+q(x)(4.87)cj+1=2(j+l+1-n)(j+1)(j+2l+2)cj(4.76)

The (time-independent) momentum space wave function in three dimensions is defined by the natural generalization of Equation 3.54:

Φ(p,t)=12πhe-ipx/hψ(x,t)dx(3.54).ϕ(p)1(2πh)3/2e-i(p.r)Ihψ(r)d3r.(4.223).

(a)Find the momentum space wave function for the ground state of hydrogen (Equation 4.80). Hint: Use spherical coordinates, setting the polar axis along the direction of p. Do the θ integral first. Answer:

ψ100(r,θ,ϕ)=1πa3e-r/a(4.80).ϕ(p)=1π(2ah)3/21[1+ap/h2]2.(4.224).

(b) Check that Φ(p)is normalized.

(c) Use Φ(p)to calculate <p2>, in the ground state of hydrogen.

(d) What is the expectation value of the kinetic energy in this state? Express your answer as a multiple of E1, and check that it is consistent with the virial theorem (Equation 4.218).

<T>=-En;<V>=2En(4.218).

What is the most probable value of r, in the ground state of hydrogen? (The answer is not zero!) Hint: First you must figure out the probability that the electron would be found between r and r + dr.

[Attempt this problem only if you are familiar with vector calculus.] Define the (three-dimensional) probability current by generalization of Problem 1.14:

J=ih2m(ψψ*-ψ*ψ)

(a) Show that satisfies the continuity equation .J=-t|ψ|2which expresses local conservation of probability. It follows (from the divergence theorem) that sJ.da=-ddtv|ψ|2d3rwhere Vis a (fixed) volume and is its boundary surface. In words: The flow of probability out through the surface is equal to the decrease in probability of finding the particle in the volume.

(b) FindJfor hydrogen in the staten=2,l=1,m=1 . Answer:

h64ma5re-r/asinθϕ^

(c) If we interpretmJas the flow of mass, the angular momentum is

L=m(r×J)d3r

Use this to calculate Lzfor the stateψ211, and comment on the result.

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