Table of Contents

1. Schrödinger Equation

  • The quantum equivalent of Euler-Lagrange equation.

1.1. Basis Independent Equation

  • \[ \hat{H}|\psi\rangle =\hat{E}|\psi\rangle \]

1.2. Position Basis Equation

  • \[ \hat{H}\psi=\hat{E}\psi \]
    • Where:
      • \(\hat{H}\) is Hamiltonian operator \[ \hat{H}=\hat{T}+\hat{V} \] \[ \hat{T}=\frac{\hat{p}^2}{2m}=-\frac{\hbar^2}{2m}\nabla^2 \] \[ \hat{p} = -i\hbar\nabla \]
        • The potential operator \(\hat{V}\) is expressed in terms of the position operator \(\hat{x}\), as \(V(\hat{x})\).
      • \(\hat{E}\) is energy operator. \[ \hat{E}= i\hbar\frac{\partial}{\partial t} \]

1.2.1. Time-Independent

  • When \(\psi\) is of a form \(\psi(\mathbf{x})e^{-iEt/\hbar}\) , we have \[ \hat{H}\psi = E\psi \]
    • Where \(\psi(\mathbf{x})e^{-iEt/\hbar}\) is called the energy eigenstate, since it can construct further wave functions.

1.3. For Hydrogen Atom

1.3.1. Why the electron doesn't fall to the nucleus?

  • Quantum particles cannot be localized, because of quantum fuzziness.
  • By uncertainty principle, if a particle happens to be localized, then it would have very high momentum for the particle to fly away.
  • It takes energy to localize a particle.

1.3.2. Potential Energy Operator

  • \[ \hat{V} = -\frac{e^2}{4\pi\varepsilon_0\hat{r}} \]

1.3.3. Solution

  • \[ \psi=R_{n,l}(r)Y_l^m(\theta, \phi)e^{-iEt/\hbar} \]
    • Where,
      • \(R_{n,l}(r)\) is radial function.
      • \(Y_l^m(\theta, \phi)\) is sperical harmonics.
1.3.3.1. Radial Function
  • Starts positive at \(r=0\) , flips sign \(n-l-1\) times.
  • flattens as \(n\) gets large.
1.3.3.2. Sperical Harmonics
  • basis function for all sperical functions.
  • smooth at every points.
  • it is the orbitals in chemistry when the real part of the function is taken.
  • it flips its phase \(l-|m|\) times, when going from north pole to the south.
  • it rotates in phase \(m\) times, as circling along the azimuthal plane.

2. References

Created: 2025-05-06 Tue 23:33