Jia-Ming Liou (Frank)

Department of Mathematics, University of California, Davis.

E-mail: frankliou@math.ucdavis.edu
Website: http://www.math.ucdavis.edu/∼frankliou/

November 14, 2008

9.3.5 An atomic particle is confined insider a rectangular box of sides a, b, c. The particle is described by a
wave function ψ that satisfies the Schrodinger wave equation
~2 2
− ∇ ψ = Eψ.
2m
The wave function is required to vanish at each surface of the box. This condition imposes constraints
on the separation constraints and therefore on the Energy E. What is the smallest value of E for which
a solution can be obtained.
Solution. Let L = ∇2 and then the equation becomes
2mE
Lψ = − ψ.
~2
Thus if E is the energy, − 2mE
~2 will be the eigenvalue of L. We know the eigenvalues of L equal to
 2
n2 k2

m
λmnk = −π 2 + + .
a2 b2 c2
The largest eigenvalue of L will be
 
2 1 1 1
λ111 = −π 2
+ 2+ 2 .
a b c
Thus the smallest energy E will be
π 2 ~2
 
1 1 1
E= 2
+ 2+ 2 .
2m a b c

9.3.6 For a homogeneous spherical solid with constant thermal diffusivity K and no heat sources, the heat
conduction becomes
∂T
= K∇2 T (r, t).
∂r
Assume a solution of the form
T = R(r)T (r)
and separate variables. Show that the radial equation may take on the standard form:
d2 R dR
r2 + 2r + [α2 r2 − n(n + 1)]R = 0.
dr2 dr
The solutions of this equation are called spherical Bessel functions.
Solution. In terms of spherical coordinates, the Laplace operator is of the form:
1 ∂2
     
1 ∂ 2 ∂ ∂ ∂
sin θ r + sin θ + .
r2 sin θ ∂r ∂r ∂θ ∂θ sin θ ∂ϕ2
From the equation, we see that
 
0 1 d 2 dR
R(t)T (t) = K 2 r T (t).
r dr dr

1
 Thus for some constant λ,
T 0 (t)
 
1 d 2 dR
= 2 r = λ.
KT (t) r R(r) dr dr
Hence we obtain  
d 2 dR
r = λr2 R(r).
dr dr
From the spectral theory for Laplace operator, we know λ = −α2 for some real α and thus
d2 R dR
r2 2
+ 2r + α2 r2 R = 0.
dr dr
We find
d2 R dR
r2 + 2r + (α2 r2 − n(n + 1))R = 0
dr2 dr
when n = 0 or n = −1.
9.3.9 The one-dimensional Schrodinger wave equation for a particle in q potential field V = 12 kx2 is

~2 d2 ψ 1 2
− + kx ψ = Eψ.
2m dx2 2
(a) Using ξ = ax and a constant λ, we have
 1/4
mk 2E  m 1/2
a= , λ= ;
~2 ~ k
show that
d2 ψ
+ (λ − ξ 2 )ψ(ξ) = 0.
dξ 2
Solution. Let ϕ(ξ) = ψ(ξ/a), then
dϕ dψ 1 d2 ϕ d2 ψ 1
= , 2
= .
dξ dx a d ξ dx2 a2
This shows that
d2 ψ mk 2mE
− 2 4 ξ 2 ϕ = − 2 2 ϕ.
dξ 2 ~ a h a
mk 2mE
Since mk = ~2 a4 , then ~2 a4 = 1 and thus h2 a2 = λ. We see that

d2 ϕ
+ (λ − ξ 2 )ϕ(ξ) = 0.
dξ 2
(b) Substituting
2
ψ(ξ) = y(ξ)e−ξ /2
.
Show that y(ξ) satisfies the Hermite differential equation.

Proof.
2
ψ 0 (ξ) = y 0 (ξ)e−ξ /2
− ξψ(ξ)
and 2 2 2
ψ 00 (ξ) = y 00 (ξ)e−ξ /2
− ξy 0 (ξ)e−ξ /2
− ψ(ξ) − ξ(y 0 (ξ)e−ξ /2
− ξψ(ξ)).
Therefore the equation becomes
2 2 2
ψ 00 (ξ) = y 00 (ξ)e−ξ /2
− ξy 0 (ξ)e−ξ /2
− ψ(ξ) − ξ(y 0 (ξ)e−ξ /2
− ξψ(ξ)) + (λ − ξ 2 )ϕ(ξ) = 0.
Hence we find that 2
e−ξ /2
(y 00 (ξ) − 2ξy 0 (ξ) + (λ − 1)y(ξ)) = 0,
or
y 00 (ξ) − 2ξy 0 (ξ) + (λ − 1)y(ξ) = 0.

2
 9.5.7 Laguerre’s ODE is
xL00n (x) + (1 − x)L0n (x) + nLn (x) = 0.
Develop a series solution selecting the parameter n to make your series a polynomial.
P∞
Proof. Suppose L(x) = m=0 am xm+k . Then
∞
X ∞
X
L0 (x) = am (m + k)xm+k−1 , L00 (x) = am (m + k)(m + k − 1)xm+k−2 .
m=0 m=0

Hence we obtain:
∞
X
xL00 = k(k − 1)a0 xk−1 + (k + m + 1)(k + m)am+1 xk+m
m=0
∞
X
(1 − x)L0 = ka0 xk−1 + ((k + m + 1)am+1 − (k + m)am )xk+m
m=0
∞
X
nL = nam xk+m .
m=0

Hence we see that xL00 + (1 − x)L + nL = 0 implies k = 0. On the other hand,

m(m + 1)am+1 + (m + 1)am+1 − mam + nam = 0

or
(m + 1)2 am+1 + (n − m)am = 0.
If n is not a natural number, n − m never zero. We will not have a polynomial when n is not a positive
integer. If n is a positive integer, then
n−m
am+1 = am , m < n.
(m + 1)2

If m = n, we find am+1 = 0. By induction, we see that am = 0 for any n > m + 1.

9.5.14 To a good approximation, the iteraction of two nucleons maybe described by a mesonic potential

Ae−ax
V = ,
x
attractive for A negative. Develop a series solution of the resultant Schrodinger wave equation

~2 d2 ψ
+ (E − V )ψ = 0
2m dx2
through the first three nonvanishing coefficients.
1 1 1
ψ = a0 {x + A0 x2 + [ A02 − E 0 − aA0 ]x3 + · · · },
2 6 2
where the prime indicates multiplication by 2m/~2 .

Proof. Define a new function y(t) = ψ(t/b), then

y 0 (t) = ψ 0 (t/b)/b, y 00 (t) = ψ 00 (t/b)/b2 .

Then we find
Be−ct
 
00
y (t) + E − y(t) = 0.
t

3
 Here we denote bA = B and a/b = c and choose b = (2m/~2 )1/2 . Suppose
∞
X
y(t) = yn tn+k .
n=0

Then we have
∞
X
y 00 (t) = yn (n + k)(n + k − 1)tn+k−2 .
n=0

On the other hand,

Be−ct B Bc2 t Bc3 t2
= − Bc + − + ···
t t 2 3
Therefore
Be−ct Bc2
y(t) = By0 tk−1 + (By1 − Bcy0 )tk + (By2 − Bcy1 + y0 )tk+1 + · · ·
t 2
Thus we see that
Be−ct
 
y 00 (t) + E − y(t) = k(k − 1)y0 tk−2 + (k(k + 1)y1 − By0 )tk−1 + ((k + 2)(k + 1)y2 + Ey0 − By1 − Bcy0 )tk
t
Bc2
+ ((k + 3)(k + 2)y3 + Ey1 − By2 − Bcy1 − y0 ) + · · ·
2
= 0.

We find k = 0 or k = 1. If k = 0, we can see that there will be no solution.( look at coefficient of tk ).

Thus k = 1. In this case, we see that
 2 
y0 1 1 Bc
y1 = B, y2 = (Bcy0 − E − By1 ) , y3 = y0 − Bcy1 − By2 − Ey1 .
1·2 2·3 3·4 2
Now we substitute B = aA, we will see that
1 02 1 1 2
y1 = A y2 = [ A − E 0 − aA0 ], · · · .
2 6 2

9.5.17 The modified Bessel function I0 (x) satisfies the differential equation

d2 d
x2 2
I0 (x) + x I0 (x) − x2 I0 (x) = 0.
dx dx
From exercise 7.3.4, the leading term in an asymptotic expansion is found to be
ex
I0 (x) ∼ √ .
2πx
Assume a series of the form
ex
I0 (x) ∼ √ [1 + b1 x−1 + b2 x−2 + · · · ].
2πx
Determine the coefficients b1 and b2 . √
Solution. Let us define a function f by f (x) = ex / 2πx, then
   
0 1 00 1 3
f (x) = f (x) 1 − , f (x) = f (x) 1 − + 2 .
2x x 4x
P∞
Let g(x) = 1 + k=1 bk x−k , then
∞
X ∞
X
g 0 (x) = − kbk x−k−1 , g 00 (x) = k(k + 1)bk x−k−2 .
k=1 k=1

4
We know that I0 (x) = f (x)g(x), we see that

I00 (x) = f 0 (x)g(x) + f (x)g(x)

 
1
= f (x) 1 − g(x) + f (x)g 0 (x)
2x

and that

I000 (x) = f 00 (x)g(x) + 2f 0 (x)g 0 (x) + f (x)g 00 (x)

   
1 3 0 1
= f (x)g(x) 1 − + 2 + 2f (x)g (x) 1 − + f (x)g 00 (x).
x 4x 2x

Thus x2 I000 (x) + xI00 − x2 I0 = 0 implies (since f (x) 6= 0)

     
1 3 1 1
x2 g(x) 1 − + 2 + 2x2 g 0 (x) 1 − + x2 g 00 (x) + xg(x) 1 − + xg 0 (x) − x2 g(x) = 0.
x 4x 2x 2x

Then
1
x2 g 00 (x) + 2x2 g 0 (x) + g(x) = 0.
4
Since
∞
X
x2 g 00 (x) = k(k + 1)bk x−k .
k=1
∞
X
2x2 g 0 (x) = −2b1 − 2 (k + 1)bk+1 x−k
k=1
∞
1 1 X bk
g(x) = + x−k .
4 4 4
k=1

we see that
1 4k 2 + 4k + 1
−2b1 + = 0, bk+1 = bk .
4 8(k + 1)
Thus
1 9
b1 = , b2 = .
8 128