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psingh
Mar31-08, 08:50 PM
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Consider the electron wave function where x is in nm:

psi(x)=cx |x|<= 1nm & c/s |x| => 1 nm

Determine the normalization constant c

2. Relevant equations

integral(|psi(x)|^2) dx=1 between infinity and negative infinity


3. The attempt at a solution

this may be very far from the real solution but this is what ive tried

integral{ (cx)^2 dx + (c/x)^2 dx}

1= integral { (c^2x^2) + (c^2/x^2) }

c^2 integral{ x^2 + x^-2 }

(x^3/3 - 1/x)*c^2=1

integral{ x^3/3 - 1/x }

im not quite sure where to go from here

Dick
Mar31-08, 10:58 PM
You need to split the integral into two parts, one for |x| in 0-1 nm, the other from |x| in 1 nm to infinity. Then add them.