Solution of Schrodinger equation in axially symmetric case

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the solution of the Schrödinger equation in axially symmetric cases, specifically addressing the expansion of wave functions and the behavior of radial functions at infinity. The radial functions, denoted as ##R_{kl}(r)##, satisfy a specific differential equation and exhibit a normalization condition that reflects their spherical wave nature. Key points include the absence of the factor of ##2M## in the angular momentum term and the significance of the phase shift ##\delta_{l}(r)## in scattering theory. The normalization of ##R_{kl}(r)## is crucial for obtaining stationary states in quantum mechanics.

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  • Understanding of the Schrödinger equation and its applications in quantum mechanics.
  • Familiarity with angular momentum in quantum systems.
  • Knowledge of scattering theory and wave function normalization.
  • Basic concepts of potential energy functions in quantum mechanics.
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  • Study the derivation and implications of the Schrödinger equation in three dimensions.
  • Learn about angular momentum operators and their role in quantum mechanics.
  • Explore the normalization techniques used in quantum scattering, focusing on phase shifts.
  • Read Sakurai's "Modern Quantum Mechanics" for a comprehensive understanding of quantum scattering theory.
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Physicists, quantum mechanics students, and researchers interested in advanced topics related to the Schrödinger equation and scattering theory will benefit from this discussion.

spaghetti3451
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The following extract is taken from Appendix A of the following paper: http://arxiv.org/abs/0810.0713.Any solution of the Schrödinger equation with rotational invariance around the ##z##-axis can be expanded as ##\psi_{k}=\Sigma_{l}A_{l}P_{l}(cos \theta)R_{kl}(r)##, where ##R_{kl}(r)## are the continuum radial functions associated with angular momentum ##l## satisfying

##-\frac{1}{2M}\frac{1}{r^{2}}\frac{d}{dr}\big(r^{2}\frac{d}{dr}R_{kl}\big)+\big(\frac{l(l+1)}{r^{2}}+V(r)\big)R_{kl} = \frac{k^{2}}{2M}R_{kl}##

The ##R_{kl}(r)## are real, and at infinity look like a spherical plane wave which we can choose to normalise as

##R_{kl}(r) \rightarrow \frac{1}{r}sin(kr-\frac{1}{2}l\pi+\delta_{l}(r))##

where ##\delta_{l}(r) << kr## as ##r \rightarrow \infty##.

The phase shift ##\delta_{l}## is determined by the requirement that ##R_{kl}(r)## is regular as ##r \rightarrow 0##. Indeed, if the potential ##V(r)## does not blow up faster than ##\frac{1}{r}## near ##r \rightarrow 0##, then we can ignore it relative to the kinetic terms, and we have that ##R_{kl} \sim r^{l}## as ##r \rightarrow 0##; all but the ##l=0## terms vanish at the origin.
I have a couple of questions regarding the extract.

Firstly, there is a factor of ##2M## in front of ##r^{2}## in the expression ##\frac{l(l+1)}{r^{2}}## in quantum mechanics textbooks. Why is this factor missing here? Is this a typo?

Secondly, why is ##R_{kl}(r)## at infinity normalised as ##R_{kl}(r) \rightarrow \frac{1}{r}sin(kr-\frac{1}{2}l\pi+\delta_{l}(r))## where ##\delta_{l}(r) << kr## as ##r \rightarrow \infty##?

Thirdly, what does it mean to normalise ##R_{kl}(r)## as above?
 
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failexam said:
Firstly, there is a factor of ##2M## in front of ##r^{2}## in the expression ##\frac{l(l+1)}{r^{2}}## in quantum mechanics textbooks. Why is this factor missing here? Is this a typo?
I guess this is a typo, as otherwise there is a problem with dimensions.

failexam said:
Secondly, why is ##R_{kl}(r)## at infinity normalised as ##R_{kl}(r) \rightarrow \frac{1}{r}sin(kr-\frac{1}{2}l\pi+\delta_{l}(r))## where ##\delta_{l}(r) << kr## as ##r \rightarrow \infty##?

Thirdly, what does it mean to normalise ##R_{kl}(r)## as above?
As they say, this is a representation of a spherical wave, phase-shifted due to the interaction at r = 0. It is standard in scattering theory to normalize wave functions that way, in order to obtain stationary states, at the expense of wave function being no longer square integrable. You should find more details in a good book on quantum scattering. Sakurai's Modern Quantum Mechanics can be a good starting point.
 

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