Variational Principle of 3D symmetric harmonic oscillator

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on using the trial wave function \(\Psi=e^{-(\alpha)r}\) to estimate the ground state energy of a 3D symmetric harmonic oscillator with the potential \(V(r)=(\frac{1}{2})m(\omega^{2})r^{2}\). The normalization constant \(A\) is derived as \(A=\sqrt{\frac{\alpha^{3}}{\pi}}\). The participant encounters issues calculating the potential energy \(\langle V \rangle\), which results in a value \(\frac{1}{8\pi}m\omega^{2}\) that lacks proper energy units. The error is attributed to not including the differential volume element \(dV\) in the integration process.

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  • Knowledge of normalization of wave functions
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Homework Statement


Use the following trial function:
\Psi=e^{-(\alpha)r}
to estimate the ground state energy of the central potential:
V(r)=(\frac{1}{2})m(\omega^{2})r^{2}

The Attempt at a Solution



Normalizing the trial wave function (separating the radial and spherical part):
\int(A^{2})e^{-2(\alpha)r}r^{2}=1
where the integral is from 0 to infinity and A is the normalization constant.
Knowing that the spherical normalization will give 4(pi), then the normalization constant is:
A=\sqrt{\frac{\alpha^{3}}{\pi}}
Now finding the hamiltonian:
<H>=<V>+<T>
I will start with <V>, since this is where I find my issue:
&lt;V&gt;=\int(A)e^{-(\alpha)r}(\frac{1}{2}m\omega^{2}r^{2})Ae^{-(\alpha)r}
where the integral is from 0 to infinity.
What I obtain for <V> is:
&lt;V&gt;=\frac{1}{8\pi}m\omega^{2}
which of course doesn't have units of energy...
Can someone point out where I went wrong please?
 
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<E>=∫ψ*Hψ dv/∫ψ*ψ dv,is the usual way of getting it.why is it bothering you it clearly has the units of energy.
Edit: I have not checked your calculation.
 
<V> does not have units of energy...
But thank you for showing me the integration, I did not use dV, which will cause many problems... thanks!
 

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