Chen
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Hi,
A particle is subjected to a central potential of:
V(r) = -k\frac{e^{-\alpha r}}{r}
Where k, \alpha are known, positive constants.
If we make this problem one-dimensional, the effective potential of the particle is given by:
V_{eff}(r) = -k\frac{e^{-\alpha r}}{r} + \frac{l^2}{2 m r^2}
Where the second term is the "centrifugal potential", l is the absolute value of the angular momentum the particle has.
Now suppose that this effective potential has a minimum at r_0, which is known, so that if placed there the particle will have a circular motion.
The question is - what is the period of small oscillations (in the r-dimension) around the circular orbit?
The answer needn't depend on the energy of the particle or its angular momentum.
Thanks,
Chen
A particle is subjected to a central potential of:
V(r) = -k\frac{e^{-\alpha r}}{r}
Where k, \alpha are known, positive constants.
If we make this problem one-dimensional, the effective potential of the particle is given by:
V_{eff}(r) = -k\frac{e^{-\alpha r}}{r} + \frac{l^2}{2 m r^2}
Where the second term is the "centrifugal potential", l is the absolute value of the angular momentum the particle has.
Now suppose that this effective potential has a minimum at r_0, which is known, so that if placed there the particle will have a circular motion.
The question is - what is the period of small oscillations (in the r-dimension) around the circular orbit?
The answer needn't depend on the energy of the particle or its angular momentum.
Thanks,
Chen