Coulomb integrals of spherical Bessel functions

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SUMMARY

This discussion centers on the analytical solution of Coulomb integrals involving spherical Bessel functions, specifically the integrals defined as $$V_{1234}=\int_{x=0}^{\infty}\int_{y=0}^{\infty}d^3\pmb{x}d^3\pmb{y}\, j_{l_1}^*(a_1\pmb{x})j_{l_2}(a_2\pmb{x})|\pmb{x}-\pmb{y}|^{-1}j_{l_3}^*(a_3\pmb{y})j_{l_4}(a_4\pmb{y})$$ and its finite counterpart. Participants suggest using resources like the DLMF and Legendre polynomials to simplify the integrals. The discussion highlights the challenges faced when attempting to derive these integrals analytically for applications in configuration interaction (CI) calculations on colloidal nanostructures.

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  • Basic knowledge of configuration interaction (CI) methods
  • Proficiency in mathematical tools such as Mathematica
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  • Study the application of Legendre polynomials in quantum mechanics
  • Research analytical techniques for solving integrals involving spherical Bessel functions
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Ben Wilson
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Hi, I'm no expert in math so I'm struggling with solving these integrals, I believe there's an analytical solution (maybe in http://www.hfa1.physics.msstate.edu/046.pdf).
$$V_{1234}=\int_{x=0}^{\infty}\int_{y=0}^{\infty}d^3\pmb{x}d^3\pmb{y}\, j_{l_1}^*(a_1\pmb{x})j_{l_2}(a_2\pmb{x})|\pmb{x}-\pmb{y}|^{-1}j_{l_3}^*(a_3\pmb{y})j_{l_4}(a_4\pmb{y})$$
where $j_l(r)$ are spherical Bessel functions. Does anyone know how to solve these integrals analytically?
 
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DrDu said:
I would try to express the spherical Bessel functions in terms of eq. 10.54.2 from http://dlmf.nist.gov/10.54
i don't know how this helps, could you elaborate on your next step?

what if the integral was... $$
V_{1234}=\int_{x=0}^{R}\int_{y=0}^{R}dxdy\, j_{l_1}^*(z_{l_1}x/R)j_{l_2}(z_{l_2}x/R)|x-y|^{-1}j_{l_3}^*(z_{l_3}y/R)j_{l_4}(z_{l_4}y/R) $$
where z_l is the first root of the l-th order spherical Bessel function
 
I think it would be helpful if you could state your original problem.
 
DrDu said:
I think it would be helpful if you could state your original problem.
im lookin for an analytical way of solving these integrals, specifically the second one, for use as a basis set in a full CI calculation on idealized colloidal nanostructures, hence infinite spherical well solutions - the bessel functions :)

if i turn my integrand into a product of integrals themselve, does this lead to some simplifications? how does this work?
 
Ben Wilson said:
im lookin for an analytical way of solving these integrals, specifically the second one, for use as a basis set in a full CI calculation on idealized colloidal nanostructures, hence infinite spherical well solutions - the bessel functions :)

if i turn my integrand into a product of integrals themselve, does this lead to some simplifications? how does this work?
and to give you a clue of my level of math, I have no idea what a Wronskian is haha

I've tried solving this using mathematica but i can't figure out how to do it.
really appreciate your help btw
 
DrDu said:
I think it would be helpful if you could state your original problem.
to further elaborate, I'm trying show that a CI code works, and so I chose to have single particle states in an inf sph potential thinking that my Coulomb integrals i need in my CI hamiltonian for my system would have some nice neat forms. I'm starting to doubt this haha.

I'm contemplating switching to a cubic potential but that impacts on demonstrating angular momenta in the way I want to from my CI code. Would you expect things to be easier for me with solutions to a cubic potential?(i.e. same integrals but the bessell functions are replaced with sines and cosines)
 
Ben Wilson said:
i don't know how this helps, could you elaborate on your next step?

what if the integral was... $$
V_{1234}=\int_{x=0}^{R}\int_{y=0}^{R}dxdy\, j_{l_1}^*(z_{l_1}x/R)j_{l_2}(z_{l_2}x/R)|x-y|^{-1}j_{l_3}^*(z_{l_3}y/R)j_{l_4}(z_{l_4}y/R) $$
where z_l is the first root of the l-th order spherical Bessel function
Don't forget the ##x^2## and ##y^2## from the volume elements!
 
Ben, have a look at "Application of the Legendre polynomials in physics":
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legendre_polynomials
The formula stated there is used to convert the coulomb operator into a sum of two operators depending only on x and y and some Legendre polynomials.
The integral over the latter together with the angular dependence of your wavefunctions restricts the summation to a small number of terms.
The remaining integrals involve only products of two Bessel functions and powers of x or y. This is the kind of integrals covered by the article you cited.
I expect that this problem has been tackled before, probably in nuclear physics. So maybe you find a solution there more readily.
Edit: Have a look here:
http://k2.chem.uh.edu/library/Index/UnCatagorized/PRB35118.pdf
 
Last edited:
  • #10
DrDu said:
Don't forget the ##x^2## and ##y^2## from the volume elements!
do you mean $$d^3\pmb{x} \to x^2 dx$$ or something else?
 
  • #11
Ben Wilson said:
do you mean $$d^3\pmb{x} \to x^2 dx$$ or something else?
yes, I meant this.
 

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