# Homework Help: Normalizing the Wave Function

1. Oct 28, 2013

### Hertz

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Normalize the wave function $Are^{-r/\alpha}$ from $r=0$ to $r=\infty$ where $A$ and $\alpha$ are constants.

3. The attempt at a solution

Beware, this is my first actual normalization problem! This thread could turn out to be pointless!

I started by integrating the function given from r=0 to r=infinity with respect to r. I then set this value equal to 1. This is what I got:

$A\alpha^2=1$

I'm just not sure if this is right because in all the example problems in class he actually solved for the variables.. Whereas in this one, I have two variables and only one equation so I'm unable to solve for the variables.. Is this solution right? Do I just say that A times alpha squared must be equal to 1 and leave it at that?

2. Oct 28, 2013

### Hakkinen

Should the integral of the wave function be equal to 1 or should the integral of probability density be equal to 1?

Also, remember you are trying to find the value of A that will make the initial WF normalized, so it's alright if there are some unknown constants in the final expression of A.

3. Oct 28, 2013

### Hertz

That was a fast reply! Usually takes a while on here.

Thank you so much! I was actually in the middle of eating and I realized that. Rookie mistake! I'll return to this thread after I eat and retry the problem

4. Oct 28, 2013

### Hakkinen

No problem! I actually had just posted a thread asking for help and saw your question pop up haha. Best of luck

5. Oct 28, 2013

### Hertz

Ok, so here is what I got for my probability distribution:

$P(r)=A^{\star}Ar^2e^{-2r/\alpha}$

Do I also need to consider the possibility that $\alpha$ could be complex? Please tell me no! Anyways, integrating this from zero to infinity yeilds:
$A^{\star}A(\frac{\alpha^3}{4})$

Setting it equal to 1 clearly still gives an equation of multiple variables.. (3 variables since A has two components? Or is it still just 2 variables?)

How do I know if one of the unknown constants is complex or not? Also, assuming that I'm right, do I just leave my answer as stated above (set equal to 1) or do I have to do something else?

6. Oct 28, 2013

### Hakkinen

What is another way to write $A^{\star}A$? Think back to complex numbers...

Your probability density looks correct, EDIT and the integral is as well.

I'm in QM 1 at the moment so I don't feel the most qualified to answer your question whether alpha can be complex, but it shouldn't matter in this problem of normalizing the wave function.

Edit:

In normalization problems once you have solved the integral it's just a matter of solving for A, ie:

$\left | A \right |^2(stuff)=1$

Last edited: Oct 28, 2013
7. Oct 28, 2013

### Hertz

Well, the only thing I can think of is $A^2$, but I'm in complex analysis right now and thus far I've treated $z^2$ as $(re^{i\theta})^2=re^{i\theta}re^{i\theta}=z*z$ and I'm pretty sure that's right, so I'm not sure what you're implying.

The integral is a double integration by parts

edit-
I saw your edit and whipped out some paper to try to see what you mean by $|A|^2=A^{\star}A$ and I got it, thank you :) So you can only solve for the magnitude of A, you can't actually solve for A? What do you plug back into the wave function? :P

8. Oct 28, 2013

### king vitamin

If I had to guess, I would assume that $\alpha$ is not supposed to be complex here, but in principle I suppose it could be. Is there any context to clarify?

Regarding determining coefficients, it's really up to you. First of all, note that every wave function is ambiguous in that, given a normalized wave function $\psi$, the wave function $e^{i \phi}\psi$ is also normalized, so you really do have a choice here. Most people would choose the phase here so that A is a real number.

Now you have a choice between solving A in terms of $\alpha$ and vice-versa. Once again, in principle it doesn't matter, but usually context dictates which is best. Almost always in quantum problems, you find an eigenfunction which takes some functional form, $f(x)$, but of course we are interested in normalizing the eigenfunction. So usually one multiplies the function by a constant, so you have $A*f(x)$, and then normalizes the wave function. Since A was just an added proportionality constant, it's sensible to get rid of it instead of any other given variable in the problem (which will in general be physical).

So if I had to guess, you probably want to solve A in terms of $\alpha$, but I don't have context!

9. Oct 28, 2013

### Hakkinen

No, you can solve for A from this expression

$\left | A \right |^2(stuff)=1$

10. Oct 28, 2013

### king vitamin

But knowing $\left | A \right |^2$ does not give you A, only its magnitude. Any number $e^{i \phi}A$ where $\phi$ is real will give the same value for $\left | A \right |^2$.

11. Oct 28, 2013

### Hertz

Thanks :) The way I worded the question above is the exact same as it was worded in the problem. Sorry that I'm unable to give you a more specific context.

I just left my answer as $|A|=$. I'm fairly certain he does not want us to consider complex values for A just yet, so I'm fairly sure this is the answer he's looking for.

12. Oct 28, 2013

### Hakkinen

While that is true, in the context of this problem (which I assume is from an intro qm course) isn't it usually implied that the phase is 1? EDIT: Sorry, I'm not doubting anything you've said king vitamin. So far from my experience in QM 1 we've normalized WF's where A is taken to be real, so |A|=A.

13. Oct 28, 2013

### king vitamin

You're completely right, but since the OP was wondering, I wanted to be specific about the ambiguity. The fact that you can just ignore the phase here and write a real number is very important!