Algebraic derivation of Kramers–Pasternack relations based on the Schrödinger factorization method

Abstract

Abstract The Kramers–Pasternack relations are used to compute the moments of r (both positive and negative) for all radial energy eigenfunctions of hydrogenic atoms. They consist of two algebraic recurrence relations, one for positive powers and one for negative. Most derivations employ the Feynman–Hellmann theorem or a brute-force integration to determine the second inverse moment, which is needed to complete the recurrence relations for negative moments. In this work, we show both how to derive the recurrence relations algebraically and how to determine the second inverse moment algebraically, which removes the pedagogical confusion associated with differentiating the Hamiltonian with respect to the angular momentum quantum number l, which is restricted to be an integer, in order to find the inverse second moment.