Problem with Schrodinger equation

[cresol]

I can derive the equation, i know its main features for the electron in an atom. but i dnt know the physical meaning of the wave function of an atom and i cnt distinguish between the angular and radial probability function.....please help

[EdEarl]

Your topic, "Problem with Schrodinger equation" made me think that you challenged Schrodinger as being incorrect, instead of your having a "Question about the Schrodinger equation."

[cresol]

i cant challenge him........ he is more than i am...but thanks anyway.

 

 

Your topic, "Problem with Schrodinger equation" made me think that you challenged Schrodinger as being incorrect, instead of your having a "Question about the Schrodinger equation."

 

 

I can derive the equation, i know its main features for the electron in an atom. but i dnt know the physical meaning of the wave function of an atom and i cnt distinguish between the angular and radial probability function.....please help

 

pls can you help?°

[ajb]

...but i dnt know the physical meaning of the wave function of an atom and i cnt distinguish between the angular and radial probability function.....please help

 

The physical meaning is as a probability distribution; [math]|\psi|^{2}[/math] is the probability density of finding a particle in a given place at a given time. All the physical information about the partice is "hidden" in the wave function.

 

As for the second part, you mean you want to write the wave function as a radial part times a spherical harmonic? This will be well spelled out in any quantum mechanics book.

[studiot]

If you can derive the equation you will know that it follows the Hamiltonian approach to mechanics, but introducing the quantum interpretation of momentum.

 

This leads to a differential equation in the variation of a quantity we call [math]\Psi [/math] in space and time.

 

Now, [math]\Psi [/math] is a complex quantity it is not real so has no physical reality.

 

To obtain significance in the real world we multiply [math]\Psi [/math] by its complex conjugate and take the square root. This leads to a real number.

 

If we normalise this by equating the integral over the entire space to 1 we obtain ajb's quantity such that we can interpret it as the probability of finding a particle between x and (x+dx) in one dimension.

 

 

note

 

[math]|\Psi | = \sqrt {\Psi {\Psi ^*}} [/math]

[cresol]

thanks alot Studiot

[Enthalpy]

... is a complex quantity it is not real so has no physical reality...

When a complex number represents the amplitude and phase of a sine wave, it has a strong reality and is concrete to many people, electronicians for instance.

[studiot]

When a complex number represents the amplitude

 

And how do you obtain the amplitude from this complex number?