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Chen
Dec2-05, 06:47 AM
Hi,

A particle is subjected to a central potential of:

V(r) = -k\frac{e^{-\alpha r}}{r}
Where k, \alpha are known, positive constants.

If we make this problem one-dimensional, the effective potential of the particle is given by:
V_{eff}(r) = -k\frac{e^{-\alpha r}}{r} + \frac{l^2}{2 m r^2}
Where the second term is the "centrifugal potential", l is the absolute value of the angular momentum the particle has.

Now suppose that this effective potential has a minimum at r_0, which is known, so that if placed there the particle will have a circular motion.

The question is - what is the period of small oscillations (in the r-dimension) around the circular orbit?
The answer needn't depend on the energy of the particle or its angular momentum.

Thanks,
Chen

Tom Mattson
Dec2-05, 03:39 PM
You know the rules: Post what you've got so far, and we'll help from there.

Chen
Dec3-05, 01:40 AM
I've solved it myself. Thank you very very much.