Details

To find the solution of a simplified Schrödinger equation for (), we can simply determine numerical eigenvalue solutions to

.

is defined as:

, where the potential is the interaction potential. It can be approximated [1] by

,

where is the charge, spherically symmetrical and assuming it acts as a Gaussian surface:

.

Establishing a transformation matrix that would represent the Hamiltonian, using three-point first- and second-order numerical derivatives for the Laplacian and solving iteratively for eigenvalues and eigenvectors generates the approximate solutions for radial density functions.

With "radial orbitals" selected, you can choose to view the calculated normalized radial orbital probability distribution functions for hydrogen or lithium atoms.

With orbital "1s" or "2s" selected, you can also view the calculated numerical value for the associated energies by mousing over the curve.

Reference

[1] C. J. Foot, Atomic Physics, New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.