# The associated Laguerre equation.

## Homework Statement

Hello, I need to show that the radial part of the hydrogen wave function has the form
$$\rho^{l+1} e^{-\rho} L_{n-l-1}^{2l+1} (2\rho)$$

More specifically, I'm having trouble showing the $$L_{n-l-1}^{2l+1} (2\rho)$$ part because what I get is $$L_{n+1}^{2l+1} (2\rho)$$. The derivation is relatively easy and it makes me furious that I'm unable to find the mistake.

## Homework Equations

$$L_{\alpha} (x) = e^x \frac{d^{\alpha}}{dx^{\alpha}} (e^{-x}x^\alpha)$$

$$L_{\alpha}^\beta (x) = \frac{d^{\beta}}{dx^{\beta}} L_{\alpha} (x) = \frac{d^{\beta}}{dx^{\beta}} (e^x \frac{d^{\alpha}}{dx^{\alpha}} (e^{-x}x^\alpha))$$

## The Attempt at a Solution

This equation should be correct:
$$\rho \frac{d^2}{d \rho^2} f(\rho) + 2(l+1-\rho) \frac{d}{d \rho} f(\rho) + (2n-2(l+1)) f(\rho) = 0$$

Next I introduce the following parameters
$$\alpha = n+1$$

$$\beta = 2l+1$$

Then the last equation becomes
$$(2\rho) \frac{d^2}{d (2\rho)^2} f(2\rho) + (\beta+1-(2\rho)) \frac{d}{d (2\rho)} f(2\rho) + (\alpha-\beta) f(2\rho) = 0$$

First I deal with the case $$\beta=0$$

$$(2\rho) \frac{d^2}{d (2\rho)^2} f(2\rho) + (1-(2\rho)) \frac{d}{d (2\rho)} f(2\rho) + \alpha f(2\rho) = 0$$

I can show that the solution to this is $$f(2\rho) = L_\alpha (2\rho)$$

Next I take the $$\beta$$'th derivative of the last equation and get

$$(2\rho) \frac{d^\beta}{d (2\rho)^\beta} (\frac{d^2}{d (2\rho)^2} L_\alpha (2\rho)) + (\beta + 1-(2\rho)) \frac{d^\beta}{d (2\rho)^\beta} \frac{d}{d (2\rho)} L_\alpha (2\rho) + (\alpha - \beta) \frac{d^\beta}{d (2\rho)^\beta} L_\alpha (2\rho) = 0$$

Now by writing
$$f(2\rho) \equiv \frac{d^\beta}{d (2\rho)^\beta} L_\alpha (2\rho)) \equiv L_\alpha^\beta (2\rho)$$
I arrive at
$$(2\rho) \frac{d^2}{d (2\rho)^2} f(2\rho) + (\beta+1-(2\rho)) \frac{d}{d (2\rho)} f(2\rho) + (\alpha-\beta) f(2\rho) = 0$$

which clearly has the solution $$L_\alpha^\beta (2\rho) = L_{n+1}^{2l+1} (2\rho)$$

If you need me to show more thoroughly some of the steps then I can do this. I just didn't want to bother with too many details.

Of course, there's always the chance that I've made a typo somewhere, because the derivations of special functions are quite cumbersome. So far, I've been unable to find anything.

If anyone could take 2 minutes to analyze this I'd really appreciate it.

## Answers and Replies

Related Calculus and Beyond Homework Help News on Phys.org
Actually, I only need to know what kind of Laguerre functions are used with the hydrogen atom. Sometimes they are defined differently.