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For $w(x)=x^a{e}^{-x}$ on $[0,\infty )$, $a>-1$, the monic Generalized Laguerre polynomials have squared norms $h_j=j!\Gamma (j+a+1)$. The corresponding orthogonal polynomial projection kernel is $(xy{)}^{a/2}{e}^{-(x+y)/2}{\sum }_{j=0}^{m-1}j!L_j^{(a)}(x)L_j^{(a)}(y)/\Gamma (j+a+1)$ for nonnegative $x,y$, and zero otherwise.

There is a normalization conflict in the source: the printed Rodrigues' formula gives the standard Generalized Laguerre polynomial $P_n=L_n^{(m)}$ with $P_n(0)=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{n+m}{n}\right)$, which is generally not one. The norm requested here corresponds to that Rodrigues normalization. A solution normalized to one at zero is ${\hat{P}}_n=P_n/\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{n+m}{n}\right)$.

Set $w=x^m{e}^{-x}$ and $p=x^{m+1}{e}^{-x}$. The equation becomes $(p{P}_n^{\prime }{)}^{\prime }+nw{P}_n=0$. Multiply the equations for $P_n,P_k$ by the opposite polynomial, subtract and integrate. The boundary term $p(P_n^{\prime }{P}_k-P_k^{\prime }{P}_n)$ vanishes at zero and infinity, soThis proves orthogonality for $k\ne n$ under either normalization.

For the squared norm, use the printed Rodrigues' formula and integrate by parts $n$ times:All boundary terms vanish: the required derivatives have a positive power of $x$ at zero and exponential decay at infinity. The leading coefficient is $(-1{)}^n/n!$, so $P_n^{(n)}=(-1{)}^n$. The Gamma function integral givesFor the source's alternative unit-at-zero normalization the correct answer instead isBoth cannot equal the printed norm when $m,n>0$. This distinction is the normalization of generalized Laguerre polynomials.

Choose real monic orthogonal polynomials $p_j$ of degree $j$, $j=0,1,\dots$, for $w(x)=x^a{e}^{-x}$ on $[0,\infty )$, and letExtend each ${\varphi }_j$ by zero to negative $x$. The resulting functions form an orthonormal set in $L^2(\mathbb{R},dx)$. Define the orthogonal polynomial projection kernelThe formula on the right is for nonnegative arguments; the kernel is zero when either argument is negative. With ${\Phi }_{ij}={\varphi }_{j-1}(x_i)$, the kernel evaluation matrix is $\Phi {\Phi }^T$. By the determinant multiplication identity and the preceding monic basis change,Thus initially ${\hat{c}}_m=c_m{\prod }_j{h}_j$.

Use the symmetric labelled joint probability density on the full orthant. Expanding the two copies of $\det \Phi$ into permutations and integrating all variables, orthonormality makes a term vanish unless the two permutations agree. Each of the $m!$ surviving terms integrates to $1$. HenceIf the eigenvalues are instead listed in increasing order on a single ordered chamber, that chamber's density is $m!$ times this symmetric density. We keep the full-orthant convention throughout.

An explicit choice is $p_j(x)=(-1{)}^{j}j!L_j^{(a)}(x)$ in terms of the Generalized Laguerre polynomials. To verify the normalization independently, their Rodrigues' formula givesIntegrating by parts $j$ times proves orthogonality to every lower-degree polynomial. The boundary terms vanish at zero and infinity for $a\ge 0$. Taking the other factor to be $p_j$ and using $p_j^{(j)}=j!$ gives $h_j=j!\Gamma (a+j+1)$, where $\Gamma$ is the Gamma function. The Laguerre projection kernel is thereforefor $x,y\ge 0$.

By the Leibniz rule,After multiplication by $(-1{)}^n{x}^{-1/2}{e}^x$, the term $j=0$ is $x^n$, and every other term has lower degree. Thus $p_n$ is a monic polynomial of degree $n$. Direct calculation givesThese are the monic normalization of the generalized Laguerre polynomials with parameter $1/2$.

Put $\kappa =e^2/(4\pi {ϵ}_0)$. Substitution of $\psi =R(r)\Phi (\varphi )$ into the time-independent Schrödinger equation, followed by division by $R\Phi$ and multiplication by $r^2$, separates the angular dependence:Thus $\Phi =e^{im\varphi }/\sqrt{2\pi }$ andThe single-valued wavefunction condition, $\Phi (\varphi +2\pi )=\Phi (\varphi )$, requires $m\in \mathbb{Z}$. The regular boundary condition at the origin selects $R\sim r^{|m|}$. Accordingly use $s=|m|$ in the radial ansatz; the printed $x^m$ notation describes the $m\ge 0$ representatives.

For the two-dimensional Coulomb bound state, substitution of $R=x^s{e}^{-x/2}G$ with the stipulated radial and energy scales givesThe coefficient of $x^n$ in the power series isThe regular solution otherwise has an exponentially growing contribution at large $x$, incompatible with being normalizable. Termination at degree $n_r\ge 0$ therefore requiresThe resulting $G$ is proportional to a Generalized Laguerre polynomial.

Define $R_{\mathrm{y}}=\mu {\kappa }^2/(2{\hslash }^2)$, the hydrogenic Rydberg energy for the stipulated mass. The first three distinct two-dimensional energies are $-4R_{\mathrm{y}},-4R_{\mathrm{y}}/9,-4R_{\mathrm{y}}/25$, whereas in three dimensions they are $-R_{\mathrm{y}},-R_{\mathrm{y}}/4,-R_{\mathrm{y}}/9$. Both series approach zero from below, but the planar ground state is four times more tightly bound. Without spin the respective quantum degeneracies are $1,3,5$ and $1,4,9$; if individual degenerate states are counted, the second and third planar states already share the first excited energy. This comparison retains the supplied $1/r$ interaction; it does not replace it by the logarithmic electrostatic potential of a genuinely two-dimensional electromagnetic theory.

For the nonrelativistic Coulomb Hamiltonian with reduced electron-proton mass $\mu$, separation in Spherical coordinate system gives ${\psi }_{n\ell m}(r,\theta ,\varphi )=R_{n\ell }(r)Y_{\ell m}(\theta ,\varphi )$. The quantum numbers obey $n\ge 1$, $0\le \ell \le n-1$ and $-\ell \le m\le \ell$. These are joint eigenstates of energy, $L^2$ and $L_z$, with the latter two eigenvalues $\ell (\ell +1){\hslash }^2$ and $m\hslash$.

The Coulomb bound-state energies and characteristic length areFor example, ${\psi }_{100}=(\pi a_{\mu }^3{)}^{-1/2}{e}^{-r/a_{\mu }}$ is spherically symmetric and has no radial node. In general the radial part contains an exponential times a Generalized Laguerre polynomial, with $n-\ell -1$ radial nodes. The spherical harmonic specifies angular structure and azimuthal phase; real linear combinations of degenerate $m$ states give familiar directional orbitals.

The leading Coulomb energy depends on $n$ alone, giving $n^2$ spatial states for each principal shell, or $2n^2$ including electron spin. Fine structure, Lamb shift and Hyperfine structure lift parts of this ideal degeneracy. An atomic orbital is a probability amplitude, not a classical planetary path.^[ref]

A Rodrigues formula constructs an orthogonal polynomial by differentiating a weight multiplied by a power. The Rodrigues formula for Legendre polynomials uses a derivative of $(x^2-1{)}^l$. For Generalized Laguerre polynomials,

For motion confined to a plane but retaining potential energy $-\kappa /r$, separation in polar coordinates gives angular wavefunctions $e^{im\varphi }$ with integer $m$. The regular radial factor behaves as $r^{|m|}$ at the origin. Removing this power and the decaying exponential function leaves an Generalized Laguerre polynomial differential equation. polynomial termination requires $N=n_r+|m|+1/2$, yielding the displayed energy. At fixed $q=n_r+|m|$, the spinless quantum degeneracy is $2q+1$. This is not the logarithmic potential of electrostatics formulated entirely in two spatial dimensions.