How Is the Integral from (3-22) to (3-23) Calculated in Quantum Mechanics?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the calculation of an integral in quantum mechanics, specifically the transition from equation (3-22) to (3-23) as presented in the textbook "Intermediate Quantum Mechanics, 3rd Edition - Bethe, Jackiw". Participants seek clarification on the steps involved in this calculation.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about the transition between two equations and requests clarification on the integral calculation.
  • Another participant provides hints, suggesting the use of the constancy of the spherical harmonic and the importance of orthogonality in the integration process.
  • A later reply indicates that the initial participant was able to solve the problem, sharing their detailed calculations and steps taken to arrive at the solution.
  • The calculations involve integrals of spherical harmonics and their properties, leading to a final expression for the integral in terms of \( r_1 \) and \( r_2 \).
  • There is a request for guidance on how to mark the post as "Solved", indicating a desire for clarity on forum etiquette.
  • Another participant clarifies that there is no formal way to mark posts as "Solved" in the forum, suggesting that the acknowledgment of finding a solution is sufficient.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

While one participant claims to have solved the integral, the discussion does not present any explicit consensus on the method or the correctness of the calculations, as it primarily reflects individual contributions and perspectives.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes various steps and assumptions related to the properties of spherical harmonics, but does not resolve any potential uncertainties or alternative approaches to the integral calculation.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in quantum mechanics, particularly those studying integrals involving spherical harmonics and their applications in quantum theory, may find this discussion relevant.

jamal_lamaj
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TL;DR
I don't understand how to get this result, can you help me? Thanks!!!
Capture.PNG


I don't get the step from (3-22) to (3-23), can you how this integral was calculated? Thanks!
Below there is a screenshoot of (3-9). Images are taken from "Intermediate Quantum Mechanics, 3rd Edition - Bethe, Jackiw".

Capture1.PNG
 
Last edited:
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What textbook is your excerpt from?
 
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PeterDonis said:
What textbook is your excerpt from?
"Intermediate Quantum Mechanics, 3rd Edition - Bethe, Jackiw"
And the same calculation in also in "Quantum Mechanics of One and Two Electron - Bethe, Salpeter", but no steps included.
 
Last edited:
I don't have the time at the moment to type it all out (and you should work through that yourself if you want to understand). But some hints:

1. Recognize ##Y_{00}(\Omega_1)=\text{constant}##, so ##Y^2_{00}(\Omega_1)=\text{constant}Y_{00}(\Omega_1)##
2. Substitute 3-9 into the integral and think about the integration over ##\Omega_1##, keeping the orthogonality of the spherical harmonics in mind.
 
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Hi! Your hints really helped me: I solved it, now it's clear!
If you wanna check up my calculation, here they are:

$$
r_1>r_2
$$

$$
\begin{aligned}

J(r_1,r_2) &= \int\int\ d\Omega_1 d\Omega_2 \hspace{5pt} Y^2_{00}(\Omega_1) |Y_{lm}(\Omega_2)|^2 (\frac{1}{r_{12}}-\frac{1}{r_2}) \\

&= \int\int\ d\Omega_1 d\Omega_2 \hspace{5pt} Y^2_{00}(\Omega_1) |Y_{lm}(\Omega_2)|^2 \frac{1}{r_{12}} - \int\int\ d\Omega_1 d\Omega_2 \hspace{5pt} Y^2_{00}(\Omega_1) |Y_{lm}(\Omega_2)|^2 \frac{1}{r_2} \\

&= \int\int\ d\Omega_1 d\Omega_2 \hspace{5pt} Y^2_{00}(\Omega_1) |Y_{lm}(\Omega_2)|^2 \frac{1}{r_{12}} - \frac{1}{r_2} \int\int\ d\Omega_1 d\Omega_2 \hspace{5pt} Y^2_{00}(\Omega_1) |Y_{lm}(\Omega_2)|^2 \\

&= \int\int\ d\Omega_1 d\Omega_2 \hspace{5pt} Y^2_{00}(\Omega_1) |Y_{lm}(\Omega_2)|^2 \frac{1}{r_{12}} - \frac{1}{r_2} \int d\Omega_1 \hspace{5pt} Y^2_{00}(\Omega_1) \int d\Omega_2 \hspace{5pt} |Y_{lm}(\Omega_2)|^2 \\

&= \int\int\ d\Omega_1 d\Omega_2 \hspace{5pt} Y^2_{00}(\Omega_1) |Y_{lm}(\Omega_2)|^2 \frac{1}{r_{12}} - \frac{1}{r_2} \\

&= I(r_1,r_2) - \frac{1}{r_2} \\

\end{aligned}
$$

$$
\begin{aligned}

I(r_1,r_2) &= \int\int\ d\Omega_1 d\Omega_2 \hspace{5pt} Y^2_{00}(\Omega_1) |Y_{lm}(\Omega_2)|^2 \frac{1}{r_{12}} \\

&= \int\int\ d\Omega_1 d\Omega_2 \hspace{5pt} Y^2_{00}(\Omega_1) |Y_{lm}(\Omega_2)|^2 \frac{1}{r_1} \sum_{l=0}^{\infty} (\frac{r_2}{r_1})^l \frac{4\pi}{2l+1} \sum_{m=-l}^l Y_{lm}(\Omega_1) Y^*_{lm}(\Omega_2) \\

&= \frac{4\pi}{2\sqrt{\pi}} \frac{1}{r_1} \int\int\ d\Omega_1 d\Omega_2 \hspace{5pt} Y_{00}(\Omega_1) |Y_{lm}(\Omega_2)|^2 \sum_{l=0}^{\infty} (\frac{r_2}{r_1})^l \frac{1}{2l+1} \sum_{m=-l}^l Y_{lm}(\Omega_1) Y^*_{lm}(\Omega_2) \\

&= \frac{2\sqrt{\pi}}{r_1} \int\int\ d\Omega_1 d\Omega_2 \hspace{5pt} |Y_{lm}(\Omega_2)|^2 \sum_{l=0}^{\infty} (\frac{r_2}{r_1})^l \frac{1}{2l+1} \sum_{m=-l}^l Y_{00}(\Omega_1) Y_{lm}(\Omega_1) Y^*_{lm}(\Omega_2) \\

&= \frac{2\sqrt{\pi}}{r_1} \int\int\ d\Omega_1 d\Omega_2 \hspace{5pt} |Y_{lm}(\Omega_2)|^2 \sum_{l=0}^{\infty} (\frac{r_2}{r_1})^l \frac{1}{2l+1} \sum_{m=-l}^l Y^*_{00}(\Omega_1) Y_{lm}(\Omega_1) Y^*_{lm}(\Omega_2) \\

&= \frac{2\sqrt{\pi}}{r_1} \int\int\ d\Omega_1 d\Omega_2 \hspace{5pt} |Y_{lm}(\Omega_2)|^2 \sum_{l=0}^{\infty} (\frac{r_2}{r_1})^l \frac{1}{2l+1} \sum_{m=-l}^l Y^2_{00}(\Omega_1) \delta_{0}^{l} \delta_{0}^{m} Y^*_{lm}(\Omega_2) \\

&= \frac{2\sqrt{\pi}}{r_1} \int\int\ d\Omega_1 d\Omega_2 \hspace{5pt} |Y_{00}(\Omega_2)|^2 (\frac{r_2}{r_1})^0 \frac{1}{2 \cdot 0+1} Y^2_{00}(\Omega_1) Y^*_{00}(\Omega_2) \\

&= \frac{2\sqrt{\pi}}{r_1} \int\int\ d\Omega_1 d\Omega_2 \hspace{5pt} Y^2_{00}(\Omega_2) Y^2_{00}(\Omega_1) Y_{00}(\Omega_2) \\

&= \frac{2\sqrt{\pi}}{r_1} \frac{1}{2\sqrt{\pi}} \int\int\ d\Omega_1 d\Omega_2 \hspace{5pt} Y^2_{00}(\Omega_2) Y^2_{00}(\Omega_1) \\

&= \frac{1}{r_1} \int d\Omega_1 \hspace{5pt} Y^2_{00}(\Omega_1) \int d\Omega_2 \hspace{5pt} Y^2_{00}(\Omega_2) \\

&= \frac{1}{r_1} \\

\end{aligned}
$$

$$
\begin{aligned}

J(r_1,r_2) &= I(r_1,r_2) - \frac{1}{r_2} \\

J(r_1,r_2) &= \frac{1}{r_1} - \frac{1}{r_2} \hspace{0.5cm} \blacksquare

\end{aligned}
$$

Thanks.

P.s.
I'm quite new to the forum, can you explain me how to mark the post as "Solved"?
Bye!
 
Last edited:
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jamal_lamaj said:
can you explain me how to mark the post as "Solved"?
There isn't a way to do that here. In general PF discussions aren't as simple to categorize as "Solved" vs. "Not Solved" so we don't have any such markings for them. Your post here saying you found the solution is sufficient.
 
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