Is the Transition Allowed for Δl = 0 in Electric Dipole Selection Rules?

CoreyJKelly
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Homework Statement



For \Deltal = 0 the transition rate can be obtained by evaluating the electric dipole matrix elements
given by

\vec{I} = \int \Psi^{*}_{1,0,0} (e \vec{r}) \Psi_{2,0,0} d\tau

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I've got the two wave functions, neither of which have a theta or phi dependance, so when multiplied by the r vector, I should just get their r components. Evaluating this integral is simple, but I'm not sure if I understand what the answer means.
The selection rule for l is \Deltal =\pm1, so doesn't that mean that this case, where \Deltal = 0 shouldn't be allowed? I might be completely off track, but I thought that the integral would give me 0, proving this, but that's not the value I'm getting. The actual calculation here isn't difficult, but I think I'm missing something conceptually.
 
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the operator has odd parity, angular wave functions has parity (-1)^l.

So \Psi_{2,0,0} means n=2, l = 0, m = 0 right ?

If that is the case, then you see that the total integrand has odd parity, and integration over whole space will give you zero.
 
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Makes sense.. I actually talked to the prof about the question, and it turns out we had to split r into components, and evaluate all three integrals explicitly.. it was a bit annoying, but I got it sorted out. Thanks for the help!
 
yeah, if you have explicit wave functions, then you just work it out. I was trying to explain the general idea behind the selection rules :)
 
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