 Solution

The stationary Schrödinger equation isThe Laplacian represents the kinetic-energy operator. For a spherically symmetric function, $\Delta \psi ={\psi }^{\prime \prime }+2{\psi }^{\prime }/r$. The attractive Coulomb potential of the nucleus is $V=-q^2/(4\pi {ϵ}_{0}r)$; $E$ is the energy eigenvalue. Multiplication by $-2m/{\hslash }^2$ produces the displayed radial equation with Bohr radiusFor a normalizable bound state, write ${\kappa }^2=-2mE/{\hslash }^2$ and take $\lambda >0$. Substitution of $\psi =(A+Br)e^{-\lambda r}$ ingives, after division by the exponential, the coefficientsIf $B=0$ and $A\ne 0$, these force $\lambda =1/a$ and $\kappa =\lambda$. If $B\ne 0$, the first coefficient gives ${\kappa }^2={\lambda }^2$, the second gives $\lambda =1/(2a)$, and the third gives $B=-A/(2a)$. Up to nonzero scalar factors, the two radial bound states and their energies are consequentlyThey are linearly independent as functions and correspond to different energy eigenvalues. Strictly, they are not two solutions of one fixed-energy differential equation: each is a solution at its own energy.

For the higher-energy state, the spherical Born rule includes the radial factor $4\pi r^2$. Its normalization constant and the angular factor cancel in the ratioThe given integral formula makes the denominator $8a^5$ and the numerator $8a^5-21a^5/e$. Thus