Module 2 : Atomic Physics & Atomic Structure
Lecture 9 : Interpretation of Wavefunction and Modification for Alkali atoms
 

In the following Figure - 9.4, we plot the radial functions , the reduced radial functions , and the radial probability densities for different states of hydrogen atom. We will also see the plot for different orbitals of hydrogen atom.

The first orbit n = 1, l = 0 and = 0, the K shell

  • In this plot we can see the effect of the factor r in  . Here, goes to 2 (Bohr radius) at r = 0, while goes to zero. The factor of r in also introduces a peak at 1.
  • There is no node for 1s state.
  • The probability density  goes to zero at r = 0, it means that the probability of finding the electron at the nucleus is zero. shows also a peak at 1 which is the same as Bohr radius and the peak value is 0.54.
  • Conceptually, peaks in are radii near which an electron in a state is most likely to be found.
  • Because of the gradual decay of on the large-r side of this peak, the calculated mean radial position turns out to be larger than the location of the peak.

Figure - 9.4

Following figure is the 1s orbital:

Figure - 9.5