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Homework Statement
Show that the Hamiltonian H = (p^2/2m)+V commutes with all three components of L, provided that V depends only on r.
Homework Equations
In previous parts of the problem, I've worked out the following relations:
[L_z,x] = i\hbar y, \quad [L_z,y] = -i\hbar x, \quad [L_z, z] = 0,\\<br /> [L_z, p_x] = i\hbar p_y, \quad [L_z, p_y] = -i\hbar p_x, \quad [L_z, p_z] = 0,\\<br /> [L_z, L_x] = i \hbar L_y, \quad [L_z, r^2] = xy(xp_x - yp_y), \quad [L_z, p^2] = (xp_x -yp_y)p_xp_y
where
p_i = \frac{\hbar}{i}\frac{\partial}{\partial i}, \quad r^2 = x^2 + y^2 + z^2,\\<br /> p^2 = p_x^2 + p_y^2 + p_z^2, \quad L_z = yp_z - zp_y
The Attempt at a Solution
I started with [L_z, H], expanded it, canceled a bunch of stuff and wound up with,
[L_z, H] = \frac{1}{2m}(xp_yp_x^2 - yp_xp_y^2) + xp_yV - yp_xV + Vxp_y - Vyp_X.
Assuming I did everything right, I need this equation to equal 0 to show L_z commutes with H and the problem suggests that this can only be the case if V is a function of r, but I don't see how to get there. Any help would be appreciated.
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