The gaussian wave packet. A free particle has the initial wave function

Y(x,0)=Ae-ax2

whereAand are constants ( is real and positive).

(a) NormalizeY(x,0)

(b) Find Y(x,t). Hint: Integrals of the form

-+e-(ax2+bx)dx

Can be handled by “completing the square”: Lety=a[x+bl2a], and note that(ax2+bx)=y2-(b2l4a). Answer:

localid="1658297483210" Y(x,t)=(2aπ)1/4e-ex2l[1+(2ihatlm)]1+(2ihatlm)

(c) Find . Express your answer in terms of the quantity

localid="1658297497509" ω=a1+(2ihatlm)2

Sketchlocalid="1658124147567" |Y|2(as a function of x) at t=0, and again for some very large t. Qualitatively, what happens to |Y|2, as time goes on?

(d) Find <x>,<p>,<x2>,<p2>,σxand σP. Partial answer:localid="1658297458579" <p2>=ah2, but it may take some algebra to reduce it to this simple form.

(e) Does the uncertainty principle hold? At what time tdoes the system come

closest to the uncertainty limit?

Short Answer

Expert verified
  • The normalize wave function is A=2aP1/4.
  • The value ofY(x,t) is role="math" localid="1658125710951" 2aP1/4e-ax2l(1+2ħt/m)1+(2iħt/m).
  • The value of Y(x,t)2is 2ape-2ax2l(1+θ2)1+θ2.
  • The value of xis 0, pis 0, x2is 14w2p2is ħ2a, σxis 12w, and σpis ħa
  • The uncertainty principle holds and it is closest to the uncertainty limit at t=0, and at that time it is right at the uncertainty limit.

Step by step solution

01

Identification for the given data

The given data is listed below as follows,

The initial wave function for a free particle is,Y(x,0)=Ae-2x2

02

Definition of wave function

The characteristics of a particular wave form is given by a function known as wave function. Also, wave equation is satisfied by this wave function. It is denoted by ψ.

03

(a) Normalize the given wave function

Normalize the given wave function in the following way,

1-A2-e-2ax2dx1-A2p2aA-2ap1/4

Thus, the normalize wave function is A-2ap1/4.

04

(b) Determination of the value of Y(x,t)

Perform the integration.

-e-ax2-bx2dx=-e-y2+(b2/4a)1ady=1aeb2/4a-e-y2dy=paeb2/4a

Find the value of ϕ(k).

role="math" localid="1658128927318" ϕ(k)=12pA-e-ax2e-ikxdx=12p2aπ1/4pae-k2/4a=1(2pa)1/4e-k2/4a

Determine the value of .

Y(x,t)=12p1(2pa)1/4-e-k2/4aeikx-ħk2/2mdk=12p12pa1/4p14a+iħt2me-x2/4(14+iħt/2m)=2ap1/4e-ax2l1+2iħt/m1+2iħt/m

Thus, the value of Yx,tis 2ap1/4e-ax2/1+2iħ/m1+2iħt/m.

05

(c) Determination of the value of |Yx,t|2 and plot |Y|2 on the graph

Assume thatθ=2ħatm

Substitute θfor 2ħatmin Y(x)2ap1/4e-ax2/(1+2iħt/m)1+2iħt/m.

Yx,t=2ape-ax2/1+iθe-ax2/(1-iθ)1+iθ(1-iθ)

Simplify the exponent.

-ax21+iθ-ax2(1-iθ)=-ax21-iθ+1iθ1-iθ(1+θ)=-2ax21+θ2

Use the above value and find in Y(x,t)2.

Y(x,t)2=2ape-2ax2l(1+θ2)1+θ2

It is known that w=a1+θ2so, Y(x,t)2=2pwe-2w2x2. Now plot the graph for Yx,t2when t=0

It is known that as the value of tincreases, the graph of Y2flattens out and broadens. So, plot the graph for Y(x,t)2when t>0.

Thus, the value of Y(x,t)2is 2ape-2ax2/(1-e2)1+θ2.

06

(d) Determination of the value of <x>,<p>,<x2>,<p2>,σx  and σp

Determine the value of xin the following way,

x=-xY2dx

It is the odd integrand.

Determine the value of pin the following way,

p=mdxdt=0

Determine the value of x2in the following way,

x2=2pw-x2e-2w2x2dx=2pw14w2p2w2=14w2

Determine the value of p2in the following way,

p2=-ħ2-y=d2ydx2dx

Write the value of y.

y=Be-bx2

Here, B=2ap1/411+iθand b=21+iθ.

Double differentiate y=Be-bx2with respect to x.

d2ydx2=-2bB(1-2bx2)e-bx2

Multiply y*with the above expression.

y*d2ydx2=-2bB2(1-2bx2)e-(b-b*)x2

It is known that b+b*=2w2B2=2pw.

Substitute all the values in above expression.

y*d2ydx2=-2b2pw(1-2bx2)e-2w2x2

Substitute the above value in p2=-ħ2-y*d2ydx2dx.

p2=2bħ22pw-(1-2bx2)e-2w2x2dx=2bħ21-b2w2

It is known that 1-b2w2=a2b, so substitute it in above expression.

p2=ħ2a

Determine the value of σxin the following way,

σx=12w

Determine the value of σpin the following way

σp=ħa

Thus, the value of xis 0,p is 0, x2is 14w2p2is ħ2a, σxis ,12w and σpis ħa

07

(e) Identification of the fact that uncertainty principle holds or not and determination of the value of the system come closest to uncertainty limit

Find the condition that uncertainty principle holds or not.

σxσp=12wħa=ħ21+q2=ħ21+2ħat/m2ħ2

Thus, the uncertainty principle holds and it is closest to the uncertainty limit at t=0, and at that time it is right at the uncertainty limit.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A particle is in the ground state of the harmonic oscillator with classical frequency ω, when suddenly the spring constant quadruples, so ω'=2ω, without initially changing the wave function (of course, Ψwill now evolve differently, because the Hamiltonian has changed). What is the probability that a measurement of the energy would still return the value ω2? What is the probability of getting ω?

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(b) FindΨ(x,t) and|Ψ(x,t)|2 . Express the latter as a sinusoidal function of time. To simplify the result, letωπ22ma2

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(b) I drew the figure so as to make you think of a car approaching a cliff, but obviously the probability of “bouncing back” from the edge of a cliff is far smaller than what you got in (a)—unless you’re Bugs Bunny. Explain why this potential does not correctly represent a cliff. Hint: In Figure 2.20 the potential energy of the car drops discontinuously to −V0, as it passes x = 0; would this be true for a falling car?

(c) When a free neutron enters a nucleus, it experiences a sudden drop in potential energy, from V = 0 outside to around −12 MeV (million electron volts) inside. Suppose a neutron, emitted with kinetic energy 4 MeV by a fission event, strikes such a nucleus. What is the probability it will be absorbed, thereby initiating another fission? Hint: You calculated the probability of reflection in part (a); use T = 1 − R to get the probability of transmission through the surface.

For the wave function in Example 2.2, find the expectation value of H, at time t=0 ,the “old fashioned way:

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Compare the result obtained in Example 2.3. Note: BecauseH is independent of time, there is no loss of generality in usingt=0

Use the recursion formula (Equation 2.85) to work out H5(ξ) and H6(ξ) Invoke the convention that the coefficient of the highest power of role="math" localid="1657778520591" ξ is 2t to fix the overall constant.

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