2. Analytical Solutions to Differntial Equations 933
wavelength (
), and wave velocity (c). The introduction of Plank’s constant (h =
6.62559
× 10
-34
J·s) in 1901 allowed the introduction of particle properties such
as energy (E = h
), momentum (M = E/c=h
), and relativistic mass (m = W/c
2
= h
/c
2
) into the description of the electromagnetic waves. Hence, a photon
would have a wavelength given by Mh
/=
λ
.
In 1924, De Broglie extended this definition of wavelength to other particles.
Hence, such particles as electron, proton, neutron, or any other subatomic particle
having momentum M, would have a “De Broglie wavelength” given by
Mh
/=
λ
. Equation VIIb.1.32 gives the general time-dependent form of the
Shroedinger wave equation. This equation predicts the behavior of the probability
amplitude (
) of a particle having a mass of m and potential energy V as a func-
tion of position and time. We now solve Equation VIIb.1.32 for the spherical
waves. Such waves represent, for example, a scattered particle by a nucleus or the
emission of an
ray from the parent nucleus. The differential equation to solve
is given by Equation VIIb.1.32, repeated here:
t
tr
itrrVtr
m ∂
∂
=+∇−
),(
),()(),(
2
2
2
K
=
K
G
K
=
ψ
ψψ
VIIb.1.32
where ʄ = h/2
π
. This equation, therefore, describes the wave behavior of a parti-
cle having mass m in a field that induces potential energy V(r). Since we consider
the potential energy to be only a function of location, we are able to separate vari-
ables and obtain a set of spatial and temporal functions by defining
as:
)()(),( trtr
KK
=
VIIb.2.28
so that time is expressed as a separate factor, then the phase of
at any instant is
the same throughout the entire wave. Such waves are called standing waves.
Substituting for
in Equation VIIb.1.32, we get:
t
t
rirtrVrt
m
∂
∂
=+∇−
)(
)()()()()()(
2
2
2
ξ
ϕϕξϕξ
K
=
K
G
K
=
If we divide both sides of this equation by that given by Equation VIIb.2.28, we
get:
E
t
t
t
irVr
rm
=
∂
∂
=+∇−
)(
)(
1
)()(
)(
1
2
2
2
ξ
ξ
ϕ
ϕ
=
G
K
K
=
where E is the total energy of the state. The time-independent Shroedinger equa-
tion is then obtained as:
0)()]([
2
)(
2
2
=−+∇ rrVE
m
r
=
ϕϕ
VIIb.2.29
The simplest case to investigate is the atom of hydrogen where an electron is
orbiting the nucleus at a distance r, having an electrostatic potential energy of –
e
2
/r. In the solution below, we leave the potential energy in its general form of