Hydrogen Atom Wave Mechanics

The hydrogen atom is one of a few nontrivial mechanical systems for which exact mathematical solutions exist. The solutions come in the form of wave mechanics and serve as the foundation for modern quantum mechanics. This book provides a detailed, step -by-step account of these exact solutions. The work begins with preliminary definitions and properties of mathematical waves, spherical coordinates, Legendre functions and Laguerre polynomials, and then leads the reader through the derivation, solution and normalization of the Schrodinger equation in the context of the hydrogen atom. The reader is assumed to have a working knowledge of calculus, but knowledge of differential equations is not required. The book is not intended as a textbook and is suitable for someone pursuing an understanding of the hydrogen atom as a hobby outside the classroom.