# Recent content by skate_nerd

1. ### How to make thick line error bar for plot

Disclaimer: I'm not exactly sure that this topic would belong in this thread but I don't think it would fit better anywhere else. I'm working on writing a paper for my grad research project and my PI wants me to model the plots after another paper that our lab published in the past, but I'm...
2. ### Can total angular momentum j be negative?

I appreciate the response! Cheers
3. ### Can total angular momentum j be negative?

Homework Statement I'm just stuck on one part of a larger problem. I need to find the range of total angular momentum values for an electron in a j-j coupling scheme. Homework Equations j= l + and - 1/2 The Attempt at a Solution The electrons here are in a 5d 6s configuration. So for the...
4. ### Present for favorite professor

Not really sure if this topic belongs here...but anyways, I am getting my physics degree soon and I want to get my favorite physics professor a gift before I go off to grad school. She wrote me a letter of rec and I took 5 classes with her, so she definitely deserves it. She practically does...
5. ### Small question about atomic form factor calculation

Homework Statement This problem just has me find an atomic form factor for some arbitrary basis atom in a bravais lattice where the electron wave function is given (it has a dependence on the Bohr radius in an exponential). I calculated the form factor (a very long, nasty integral that...
6. ### Speed of light in unusual materials

Ah! Thank you! This is precisely the answer I was looking for. Much appreciated DrDu.
7. ### Speed of light in unusual materials

Just for a little background: What brought this up originally was that I have been working in a Quantum Optics lab as of late, and I am trying to reproduce part of a thesis experiment that a classmate just finished last semester. This thesis explored Plasmonic Resonant Solitons in Metallic...
8. ### Speed of light in unusual materials

This is my point exactly...I am aware of Brewster's angle, and it makes sense to me that to calculate the speed of light in anything translucent you would just need to find the speed of light in air experimentally and then from there you could employ Brewster's angle to find the index of...
9. ### Speed of light in unusual materials

Thanks Dave! That was really enlightening...I guess for a more thorough understanding I'll have to wait a month until I start my first Solid State Physics class. Question: Is the end of this FAQ saying that determining the speed of light in a given material (assuming the photons are outside...
10. ### Speed of light in unusual materials

Hi all, I've recently learned some details about refractive indices in different media that I never knew about before. Up until now, I was aware that the speed light travels in a certain medium is dependent on the wavelength of light used. However I wasn't aware that for different kinds of...
11. ### Is there a formula for this gaussian integral

Ahhh thank you thank you thank you! That works 100%! Man I've been trying to get this formula for a week...I really appreciate it.
12. ### Is there a formula for this gaussian integral

I'm sorry i just dont think that's correct. Try wolframalpha. I know the formulas for the x, x^2, x^3 cases, but not the x^4. But everything up to x^3 agrees with wolframalpha's output, and this formula you guys are giving doesnt look very similar and does not agree...
13. ### Is there a formula for this gaussian integral

Sorry, but you can't :/
14. ### Is there a formula for this gaussian integral

Is there a formula for this gaussian integral: $$int_{-\infty}^{\infty}{x^4}{e^{-a(x-b)^2}}dx$$ I've tried wikipedia and they only have formulas for the integrand with only x*e^... not x^4e^... Wolframalpha won't do it either, because I actually have an integral that looks just like that...
15. ### Potential well, harmonic oscillator

Homework Statement Parabolic harmonic oscillator potential well. A particle is trapped in the well, oscillating classically back and forth between x=b and x=-b. The potential jumps from Vo to zero at x=a and x=-a. The particle's energy is Vo/2. I need to find the potential function V(x) in...