Boundary Conditions for Hydrogen Schrodinger Equation

In summary, the boundary conditions for the hydrogen atom involve the wave function going to zero as the radius goes to infinity and the integral of the wave function squared being finite. The usual method of separation of variables also imposes additional boundary conditions, such as time-invariance and orthogonality/normality of the wave function components in polar coordinates. However, in other coordinate systems, the wave functions may not be square-integrable. It is important to note that normalization is not a boundary condition.
  • #1
space-time
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If I am trying to derive the energy eigenvalues and quantum numbers for the hydrogen atom (basic hydrogen-1), I obviously need to solve the hydrogen Schrodinger equation and account for some boundary conditions. However, no website ever gives me the boundary conditions. What would be the boundary conditions for the hydrogen atom?
 
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  • #2
The usual thing is to have the wave function go to zero as radius goes to infinity. Is that enough?
 
  • #3
DEvens said:
The usual thing is to have the wave function go to zero as radius goes to infinity. Is that enough?
Integral of Psi*Psi needs to be finite (square integrable). You can have a function go to zero as r->inf. that would not be square integrable.
 
  • #4
The usual method of separation of variables imposes a 'boundary' condition that the spatial components of the solution are independent of time - i.e. time-invariant.
This may be excessive, as the requirement that the final wave function be square-integrable permits wave functions that are periodic with finite integrability.
The other boundary conditions also imposed by the method are that the components of the wave function in polar coordinates are orthogonal and normal.
The polar coordinates themselves are part of this, in that in other coordinate systems (rectilinear, cylindrical) the wave functions are NOTsquare-integrable.
 
  • #5
Quantum Defect said:
Integral of Psi*Psi needs to be finite (square integrable). You can have a function go to zero as r->inf. that would not be square integrable.

That is normalization, not boundary condition.
 
  • #6
Quantum Defect said:
Integral of Psi*Psi needs to be finite (square integrable). You can have a function go to zero as r->inf. that would not be square integrable.
And you can have square integrable functions which don't go to 0 when their argument goes to infinity.
 

What is the Schrodinger equation?

The Schrodinger equation is a mathematical equation that describes the behavior of quantum systems, such as atoms and molecules. It was developed by physicist Erwin Schrodinger in 1926 and is a cornerstone of quantum mechanics.

What are boundary conditions?

Boundary conditions refer to the specific conditions that must be satisfied at the boundaries of a system in order for a solution to the Schrodinger equation to be valid. These conditions are necessary for determining the energy levels and wave functions of a quantum system.

Why are boundary conditions important in the Schrodinger equation?

Boundary conditions are crucial in the Schrodinger equation because they determine the allowed energy levels and wave functions of a quantum system. Without satisfying these conditions, the solution to the equation would not accurately describe the behavior of the system.

What are some common boundary conditions for the hydrogen Schrodinger equation?

Some common boundary conditions for the hydrogen Schrodinger equation include the normalization condition, which ensures that the wave function is properly normalized, and the boundary condition at the origin, which ensures that the wave function is continuous at the origin.

How do boundary conditions affect the solutions to the hydrogen Schrodinger equation?

Boundary conditions play a crucial role in determining the solutions to the hydrogen Schrodinger equation. They restrict the possible energy levels and wave functions for a hydrogen atom, leading to the quantization of energy levels in an atom.

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