The wavefunction
for a given physical system contains the measurable information about
the system. To obtain specific values for physical parameters, for
example energy, you operate on the wavefunction with the quantum mechanical operator associated with that parameter. The operator associated with energy is the Hamiltonian, and the operation on the wavefunction is the Schrodinger equation. Solutions exist for the time independent Schrodinger equation only for certain values of energy, and these values are called "eigenvalues*" of energy.
Corresponding to each eigenvalue is an "eigenfunction*". The solution to the Schrodinger equation for a given energy
involves also finding the specific function 
which describes that energy state. The solution of the time independent Schrodinger equation takes the form
The eigenvalue concept is not limited to energy. When applied to a general operator Q, it can take the form
if the function
is an eigenfunction for that operator. The eigenvalues qi may be
discrete, and in such cases we can say that the physical variable is
"quantized" and that the index i plays the role of a "quantum number"
which characterizes that state.
*"Eigenvalue" comes from the German "Eigenwert" which means proper or
characteristic value. "Eigenfunction" is from "Eigenfunktion" meaning
"proper or characteristic function".
Corresponding to each eigenvalue is an "eigenfunction*". The solution to the Schrodinger equation for a given energy
involves also finding the specific function which describes that energy state. The solution of the time independent Schrodinger equation takes the form
is an eigenfunction for that operator. The eigenvalues qi may be
discrete, and in such cases we can say that the physical variable is
"quantized" and that the index i plays the role of a "quantum number"
which characterizes that state.| Energy eigenvalues |
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