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What is the probability of finding an electron in a hydrogen atom in an infinitesimal space $dV$?

Physics Asked by majyno on January 13, 2021

I have been asked to find the most probable position of electron in infinitesimal space $dV$ orbiting a Hydrogen atom. I know that probability $P$ of finding the electron in a volume $dV$ is given by
$$
P = |psi(vec r,t)|^2 dV
$$

where $psi(vec r,t) = A e^{-r/a_0}e^{-iE_1t/bar{h}}$.

The time dependence is irrelevant and this gives me
begin{align}
P &= |A|^2e^{-2r/a_0}dV
&= |A|^2e^{-2r/a_0}d^3r
&= |A|^2e^{-2r/a_0}[r^2 sin(theta)dr, dtheta, dphi]
end{align}

My question is what do I do next? When I differentiate it by $dr$ it will give me $a_0$, but that represents the spherical shell where the probability is highest. Not infinitesimal space with the highest probability.

One Answer

You're done already when you get to $$ P = |A|^2e^{-2r/a_0}dV. $$ Trying to break down $dV$ into its constituent differentials in spherical coordinates will only serve to confuse you.

On the other hand, if you want to give a correct probability, it is essential that you normalize correctly, i.e., that you get an explicit value of $|A|^2$ so that the total probability over all of space is unity.

Correct answer by Emilio Pisanty on January 13, 2021

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