The third term of Eq. (6.6) is a function of azimuth angle only, whereas the other
terms are functions of rand only.
Let us rearrange Eq. (6.6) to readr
2
 sin E (6.7)
This equation can be correct only if both sides of it are equal to the same constant,since they
are functions of differentvariables. As we shall see, it is convenient to call this constant
ml^2. The differential equation for the function is thereforem
2
l (6.8)Next we substitute ml^2 for the right-hand side of Eq. (6.7), divide the entire equa-
tion by sin^2 , and rearrange the various terms, which yieldsr
2
  E sin  (6.9)Again we have an equation in which different variables appear on each side, requiring
that both sides be equal to the same constant. This constant is called l(l1), once
more for reasons that will be apparent later. The equations for the functions and R
are thereforesin l(l1) (6.10)
r
2
  El(l1) (6.11)Equations (6.8), (6.10), and (6.11) are usually writtenEquation for  ml^2  0 (6.12)sin l(l1) ^ ^0 (6.13)
r
2
 E R^0 (6.14)Each of these is an ordinary differential equation for a single function of a single vari-
able. Only the equation for Rdepends on the potential energy U(r).l(l  1)
r^2e^2
4  0 r2 m
^2dR
drd
dr1
r^2Equation
for Rml^2
sin^2 d
dd
d1
sinEquation
for d^2
d^2e^2
4  0 r2 mr^2
^2dR
drd
dr1
Rd
dd
d1
sinm^2 l
sin^2 d
dd
d1
sinm^2 l
sin^2 e^2
4  0 r2 mr^2
^2dR
drd
dr1
Rd^2
d^21
d^2
d^21
e^2
4  0 r2 mr^2 sin^2 
^2d
dd
dsin
dR
drd
drsin^2 
R204 Chapter Six
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