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while solving schrodinger wave equation why it is convinient to use spherical coordinates

while solving schrodinger wave equation why it is convinient to use spherical coordinates

Grade:11

2 Answers

Aarti Gupta
askIITians Faculty 300 Points
10 years ago

The solution of the Schrodinger equation for the hydrogen atom is a mathematical problem, but is of fundamental importance and it is managed by separating the variables so that the wave function is represented by the product:

The separation of variables leads to three equations for the three spatial variables, and their solutions give rise to three quantum numbers associated with the hydrogen energy levels.

The electron in the hydrogen atom sees a spherically symmetric potential, so it is logical to use spherical polar coordinates to develop the Schrodinger equation.Thus when Schrodeinger equation is expressed in spherical coordinates ,the equation can be separated in different independant equations and solution of every independant equation give rise to different quantum numbers.

Thanks & Regards

Aarti Gupta

askiitians Faculty
Rinkoo Gupta
askIITians Faculty 81 Points
10 years ago

Due to the spherical symmetry of the potential, this equation is best solved in spherical polar coordinates.

Thanks & Regards

Rinkoo Gupta

AskIITians Faculty

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