TransWikia.com

Number of bound solutions of electronic Schrödinger equation

Physics Asked on January 9, 2021

How can I tell how many solutions I will have for an electronic Schrödinger equation ?
For example, solving it for the hydrogen atom we get infinitely many solutions begin{equation}
H_e(mathbf{R})Psi_i(mathbf{R},mathbf{r}) = E_i(mathbf{R}) Psi_i(mathbf{R},mathbf{r}), qquad i = 1, 2, …, infty
end{equation}

They all are bound in the potential.

But for a different potential, e.g. Morse potential it gives a finite number.Wikipedia claims that “This failure [to match the real anharmonicity] is due to the finite number of bound levels in the Morse potential”.

I am looking at molecules and wondered if there would be an infinite number of molecular orbitals in general.

One Answer

Sticking my head out with guesswork, if the potential has infinite range, or is infinitely deep but with finite range, the number of bound states is infinite. For an atom or a molecule the number of bound states is definitely infinite. The energy separation of the bound states goes to zero when the onset of unbound states is approached.

Answered by my2cts on January 9, 2021

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question

Get help from others!

© 2024 TransWikia.com. All rights reserved. Sites we Love: PCI Database, UKBizDB, Menu Kuliner, Sharing RPP