# Normalization of Radial wavefunction of hydrogen atom

1. Jul 21, 2012

### Arafat Sagar

All I need to evaluate the normalization coefficient. I need a step by step guide. It will be a great help if someone please tell me where can i get the solution (with intermediate steps). I think the solution can be done using the orthogonal properties of associated Laguerre polynomial. I need the steps. Thanks.

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2. Jul 21, 2012

### TSny

3. Jul 24, 2012

### Arafat Sagar

thanks a lot. the book contains the solution. but i still have one more confusion. the radial wavefunction (normalized) in the book has a minus sign. but i found many places where the minus sign has not been included. though the probability density requires the mod square of ψ, i want to know the shape of ψ. hence, what is the real value of it? should i include minus sign?

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4. Jul 24, 2012

### phyzguy

Wavefunctions are always uncertain up to a phase. So you can multiply the wavefunction by -1, or in fact by any number of the form exp(i * phi) where phi is any real value, without changing any observables.

5. Jul 24, 2012

### Arafat Sagar

i have an equation,
f(ρ) = $\rho^{l+1}$$e^{-\rho}$$\upsilon(2\rho)$

i want to transform it to the following multiplying only the right hand side with $(-1)^{2l+1}$$(2)^{l+1}$,
f(ρ) = $(-1)^{2l+1}$$(2\rho)^{l+1}$$e^{-\rho}$$\upsilon(2\rho)$

is it possible?

i want to use $(2\rho)^{l+1}$ instead of $\rho^{l+1}$, because, the normalization coefficient normalizes with respect to ρ whatever the the function f(ρ) is. and $(2)^{l+1}$ is not a function of ρ.

i want to multiply by $(-1)^{2l+1}$, because i found that if the associated Laguerre polynomial is $AL^{2l+1}_{n+l}(x)$=$\frac{d^{2l+1}}{dx^{2l+1}}$$L^{}_{n+l}(x)$. now, in some places, i found A=1 and other places $A=(-1)^{2l+1}$. besides, is it something related to Condon-Shortley Phase factor?
as after multiplyng by anything which is not a function of $\rho$ will still satisfy the associated laguerre differential equation, can i do this multiplication of $(-1)^{2l+1}$$(2)^{l+1}$? thanks.

Last edited: Jul 24, 2012