Normalise wavefunction of hydrogen atom

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around normalizing the wavefunction of an electron in a hydrogen atom, which is expressed as a linear combination of various eigenfunctions associated with different quantum numbers. Participants are tasked with normalizing this wavefunction and evaluating several probabilities and expectation values related to the electron's state.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the normalization of the wavefunction by integrating the square of the wavefunction and setting it equal to one. There are attempts to apply the orthogonality of eigenfunctions and to derive probabilities for specific states. Questions arise regarding the calculations of expectation values and the reasoning behind certain steps in the process.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on using orthogonality to simplify calculations. Others are exploring the implications of their calculations and questioning the correctness of their approaches, particularly in relation to expectation values and probabilities.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of homework rules, which may limit the information they can share or the methods they can use. There are also discussions about the assumptions made regarding the eigenfunctions and their normalization.

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Homework Statement



An electron in a hydrogen atom is described by the wavefunction:

psi(r) is proportional to (psi(subscript 100)+2psi(subscript 210)-3psi(subscript 32 -1) -4psi(subscript411))

where psi(nlm(subscript l)) are the eigenfunctions of the hydrogen atom with n, l, m(subscript l) the usual quantum numbers

a)normalise this wavefunction
b)evaluate the probability that the electron is measured to be in the ground state
c) evaluate the expectation value of the energy (you may assume that the energy levels of the hydrogen atom are given by E(subscript n)=(-1/(2(n^2)))a.u.)
d)Evaluate the expectation value of L(subscript z)
e)evaluate the probability that the electron is found to have orbital angular omentum l=1
f) evaluate the probability that, having obtained l=1, a subsequent measurement of L(subscript z) obtains the value m(subscript l)=0

The Attempt at a Solution



psi(r)=c(psi(100)+2psi(210)-3psi(32 -2)-4psi(411))
integral of (c^2) (psi(100)+2psi(210)-3psi(32 -2)-4psi(411))^2 =1
integral of (c^2) ((psi (100))^2 +psi(100)*2psi(210) +psi(100)*3psi(32 -2) - psi(100)*4psi(411) +2psi(210)psi(100)+4psi^2(210)+2psi(210)*3psi(32 -2) - 2psi(210)*4psi(411) -3psi(32 -2)*psi(100) -3psi(32 -2)*2psi(210) +9psi^2 (32 -2) +3psi(32-2)*4psi(411) -4psi(411)*psi(100) -4psi(411)*2psi(210) +12psi(411)*psi(32 -2) +16psi^2 (411))=1
 
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Now use the facts that the eigenfunctions are orthogonal to each other and that each eigenfunction is normalized.
 
<psi|psi>=(c^2)((psi^2(100))+4(psi^2(210))+9(psi^2(32 -2))+16(psi^2(411)))=(1+4+9+16)(c^2)=1
c=1/(sqrt20)

??

b) ground state, n=1
probability = (1/(sqrt20))(psi(100))*(1/sqrt(20))(psi(100))=1/20

?
is this correct?
 
1+4+9+16=30, but otherwise it looks fine.
 
c) evaluate the expectation value of L(z)

psi=(1/(sqrt(30))(psi(100)+2psi(210)-3psi(32 -2) -4psi(100))

L(z)|psi(n, l, m>=m h-bar|psi(n, l, m>

<L(z)>=[h-bar/30](0+2*1-3*(-2)-4*1)=(h-bar)/15

I kind of did this by following an example I found on http://www.csun.edu/~jeloranta/CHEM352/ch2-examples.pdf

but I don't know whether I have done it right and why they added all of the values of l to get the expectation value,

and why even though psi=[1/(sqrt(30))]...
there expectation value would be h-bar/30... without the square root

please help
 
The expectation value [itex]\langle \hat{L}_z \rangle[/itex] is by definition [itex]\langle \psi | \hat{L}_z | \psi \rangle[/itex]. Just take it step by step.

Suppose have the state [itex]|\psi\rangle = \frac{1}{2}|2~1~1\rangle+ \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}|3~2~{-2}\rangle[/itex]. If we apply [itex]\hat{L}_z[/itex] to it, we get
\begin{align*}
\hat{L}_z |\psi\rangle &= \hat{L}_z\left(\frac{1}{2}|2~1~1\rangle+ \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}|3~2~{-2}\rangle\right) \\
&= \frac{1}{2}\hat{L}_z|2~1~1\rangle + \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\hat{L}_z|3~2~{-2}\rangle \\
&= \frac{1}{2}(1\hbar)|2~1~1\rangle + \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}(-2\hbar)|3~2~{-2}\rangle \\
&= (1\hbar)\frac{1}{2}|2~1~1\rangle + (-2\hbar)\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}|3~2~{-2}\rangle
\end{align*}so noting that the cross terms are going to be 0 because of the orthogonality of the eigenstates, we get
\begin{align*}
\langle \psi | \hat{L}_z |\psi\rangle &= \left(\frac{1}{2}\langle 2~1~1| + \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\langle 3~2~{-2} |\right) \left((1\hbar)\frac{1}{2}|2~1~1\rangle + (-2\hbar)\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}|3~2~{-2}\rangle\right) \\
&= (1\hbar)\frac{1}{4}\langle 2~1~1|2~1~1\rangle + (-2\hbar)\frac{3}{4}\langle 3~2~{-2} |3~2~{-2}\rangle \\
&= (1\hbar)\frac{1}{4} + (-2\hbar)\frac{3}{4} \\
&= -\frac{5}{4}\hbar
\end{align*}If you see the pattern, you should be able to write the next-to-the-last line down immediately for a given a superposition.
 

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