Quantum Wave Function: Dependency & Increment Mystery

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the quantum wave function Ψ, which is dependent on spherical coordinates r, θ, and Φ. It highlights that the wave function can be expressed as Ψ = f(r,θ) exp(imΦ), where an increment of 2π in Φ does not alter the wave function due to its sinusoidal periodicity in Φ. The conversation clarifies that coordinate systems, such as spherical coordinates, serve as functions that assign numerical values to points in space, emphasizing the independence of the wave function from the specific coordinate system used.

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m-i-t-o
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Hi everyone, Can anybody solve my simple problems of quantum:
Usually we say, that wave function Ψ is dependent on r,θ,Φ .But this is just a coordinate system,or more than that. Imagination to this is qite difficult.
Moreover somewhere in a book I have read that if Ψ = f(r,θ) exp(imΦ),then on increment of 2pi in Φ does not change wave function.? Why?
 
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m-i-t-o said:
Usually we say, that wave function Ψ is dependent on r,θ,Φ .But this is just a coordinate system,or more than that.

Did you mean to ask the question: "Is this just a coordinate system,or more than that?"
If so, then it looks like you are just presenting spherical coordinates. Instead of your axes defining three edges of a box (as in Cartesian coordinates), your three axes define a sphere.

Moreover somewhere in a book I have read that if Ψ = f(r,θ) exp(imΦ),then on increment of 2pi in Φ does not change wave function.? Why?

This just means that the specific wavefunction you have is sinusoidally periodic in Φ.
 
You can think of points in space as something independent of coordinates, and coordinate systems as functions that assign three numbers to each point in space. If p is a point in space and f and g are coordinate systems, then

\psi(p)=(\psi\circ f^{-1})(f(p))=(\psi\circ g^{-1})(g(p))

If f assigns the cartesian coordinates and g the spherical coordinates, then we can write (\psi\circ f^{-1})(x,y,z)=(\psi\circ g^{-1})(r,\theta,\phi).

So you can think of your wave function as the composition of a coordinate independent wave function and the inverse of a coordinate system.
 

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