Solve DE: m, h, E, Z, t, k, a (1-4)

3 replies · 2K views · last reply
OneByBane
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
I am currently trying to solve this differential equation:

r2/F(r) d2F(r)/dr2 + 2mr2/h2(E + Zt2/kr) - a2 = 0

Wher m, h, E, Z, t and k are other variables and 'a' can have values 1, 2, 3, 4... (Whole numbers)

I have come across this while solving a problem in physics and have no clue if this even has a solution.
Any help will be appreciated greatly.
 
If your equation is given by ( please please please learn to tex )
$$ \frac{r^2}{f(r)} \frac{d^2 f(r)}{dr^2} + \frac{2mr^2}{h^2}\left(E + \frac{zt^2}{kr}\right) -a^2 = 0 $$
Then you can rewrite to
$$ \left( \frac{d^2}{dr^2} + \frac{2mE}{h^2} + \frac{2mzt^2}{h^2 kr} - \frac{a^2}{r^2} \right) f(r) = 0 $$
Which is pretty close to the Whittaker equation ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whittaker_function ).
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Ssnow
This is a second order differential equation, you can rewrite it as:

##\frac{d^2}{dr^2}F(r)+ \left[\frac{2m}{h^2}\left(E-\frac{h^2a^2}{2mr^2} + \frac{Zt^2}{kr}\right)\right]F(r) =0##

calling ##a(r)=\frac{2m}{h^2}\left(E-\frac{h^2a^2}{2mr^2} + \frac{Zt^2}{kr}\right)## we have that

##\frac{d^2}{dr^2}F(r)+ a(r)\cdot F(r) =0##

to solve this DE you must find a particular solution in order to find the general ...
 
The solutions to this equation are called Coulomb wave functions. You can also write the solution in terms of confluent hypergeometric functions.