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

In Problem 2.7 (d), you got the expectation value of the energy by summing the series in Equation 2.39, but 1 warned you (in footnote 15 not to try it the "old fashioned way,"<H>=Ψ(x,0)*HΨ(x,0)dx, because the discontinuous first derivative ofΨ(x.0)renders the second derivative problematic. Actually, you could have done it using integration by parts, but the Dirac delta function affords a much cleaner way to handle such anomalies.

(a) Calculate the first derivative of Ψ(x.0)(in Problem 2.7), and express the answer in terms of the step function, θ(x-c1/2)defined in Equation (Don't worry about the end points-just the interior region

(b) Exploit the result of Problem 2.24(b) to write the second derivative of Ψ(x,0)in terms of the delta function.

(c) Evaluate the integral Ψ(x,0)*HΨ(x,0)dxand check that you get the same answer as before.

Find the transmission coefficient for the potential in problem 2.27

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.

Consider the potential V(x)=-h2a2msech2(ax)where a is a positive constant, and "sech" stands for the hyperbolic secant

(a) Graph this potential.

(b) Check that this potential has the ground state

ψ0(x)and find its energy. Normalize and sketch its graph.

(C)Show that the function ψ2(x)=A(ik-atanhaxik+a)ekx

(Where k=2mEihas usual) solves the Schrödinger equation for any (positive) energy E. Sincetanhz-1asas This represents, then, a wave coming in from the left with no accompanying reflected wave (i.e., no term . What is the asymptotic formψk(x) of at large positive x? What are R and T, for this potential? Comment: This is a famous example of a reflectionless potential-every incident particle, regardless of its energy, passes right through.

The transfer matrix. The S- matrix (Problem 2.52) tells you the outgoing amplitudes (B and F)in terms of the incoming amplitudes (A and G) -Equation 2.175For some purposes it is more convenient to work with the transfer matrix, M, which gives you the amplitudes to the right of the potential (F and G)in terms of those to the left (A and b):

(FG)=(M11M12M21M22)(AB)[2.178]

(a) Find the four elements of the M-matrix, in terms of the elements of theS-matrix, and vice versa. ExpressRI,TI,RrandTr(Equations 2.176and 2.177) in terms of elements of the M-matrix.,

(b) Suppose you have a potential consisting of two isolated pieces (Figure 2.23 ). Show that the M-matrix for the combination is the product of the twoM-matrices for each section separately: M=M2M1[2.179]

(This obviously generalizes to any number of pieces, and accounts for the usefulness of the M-matrix.)

FIGURE : A potential consisting of two isolated pieces (Problem 2.53 ).

(c) Construct the -matrix for scattering from a single delta-function potential at point V(x)=-αδ(x-a) :

(d) By the method of part , find the M-matrix for scattering from the double delta functionV(x)=-α[δ(x+a)+δ(X-a)] .What is the transmission coefficient for this potential?

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