It is proved that when solving Schrödinger equations for radially symmetric potentials the effect of higher dimensions on the radial wave function is equivalent to the effect of higher angular momenta in lower-dimensional cases. This result is applied to giving solutions for several radially symmetric potentials in N dimensions.
Relation between Dimension and Angular Momentum for Radially Symmetric Potential in N-dimensional Space
Synopsis: Direct product spaces are encountered in the generalization to higher dimensions, and the connection to wave function separability is discussed. The spherical coordinate basis is introduced in preparation for discussing spherically symmetric potentials. Angular momentum operators and properties are examined, and a complete set of compatible observables is determined. The angular momentum eigenvalues and eigenstates are determined using ladder operators, and the connection to spherical harmonics is made. The stage is set for understanding the Schrödinger radial equation.
Abstract We study the behavior of reduced radial wave function at the origin for multidimensional Schrodinger equation, where the angular variables are separated by using a hyperspherical formalism and the overall potential is chosen symmetric under rotations in full Euclidean space. It is shown that the rigorous restriction at the origin—Dirichlet boundary condition follows only in three-dimensional space, whereas in other dimensions (more than three) some physical reasonings are necessary in addition. According to our previous investigation the most appropriate is the Hermiticity of Hamiltonian or, equivalently, the conservation of particle number. In this case the preferable is a Dirichlet condition again for regular potentials, but for singular potentials (not soft) other conditions are also allowed together with it. In this meaning the three dimensions is a peculiar one.