Check the uncertainty principle for the wave function in the equation? Equation 2.129.

Short Answer

Expert verified

Uncertainty of the wave equation p2=mαh2

Step by step solution

01

Define the Schrodinger equation

A differential equation that describes matter in quantum mechanics in terms of the wave-like properties of particles in a field. Its answer is related to a particle's probability density in space and time.

02

Determine the uncertainty principle

Ψ(x)=hemαxh2when x0

Ψ(x)=hemαxh2 whenx0

x=2dx=0

x2=x2Ψ2dx=2h20x2e2h2dx

x=h42m2α2

σx=h22

dx=h2emαxh2 for x0

dx=h2emαxh2 for x0

dx=h3θ(x)emαxh2+θ(x)emαxh2

d2Ψdx2=h3δ(x)emαxh2+h2θ(x)emαxh2δ(x)emαxh2+h2θ(x)emαxh2

Here,

δ(x)=δ(x),

f(x)δ(x)=f(0)δ(x)

θ(x)+θ(x)=1

d2Ψdx2=h32δ(x)+h2emαxh2

p=0

p2=h2Ψd2Ψdx2dx

p2=h2mαh3emαxh22δ(x)+mαhemαxh2dx

p2=mαh222mαh20e2mαh2dx

p2=mαh21mαh2h22mα       =mαh2

p2=mαh2

σp=mαh

σxσp=h22mαmαh            =2h2>h2

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A free particle has the initial wave function
ψ(x,0)=Ae-a|x|,

where A and a are positive real constants.

(a)Normalizeψ(x,0).

(b) Findϕ(k).

(c) Construct ψ(x,t),in the form of an integral.

(d) Discuss the limiting cases very large, and a very small.

Find x,p,x2,p2,T, for the nth stationary state of the harmonic oscillator, using the method of Example 2.5. Check that the uncertainty principle is satisfied.

This problem is designed to guide you through a “proof” of Plancherel’s theorem, by starting with the theory of ordinary Fourier series on a finite interval, and allowing that interval to expand to infinity.

(a) Dirichlet’s theorem says that “any” function f(x) on the interval [-a,+a]can be expanded as a Fourier series:

f(x)=n=0[ansinnπxa+bncosnπxa]

Show that this can be written equivalently as

f(x)=n=-cneinπx/a.

What is cn, in terms of anand bn?

(b) Show (by appropriate modification of Fourier’s trick) that

cn=12a-a+af(x)e-inπx/adx

(c) Eliminate n and cnin favor of the new variables k=(nττ/a)andF(k)=2/πacn. Show that (a) and (b) now become

f(x)=12πn=-F(k)eikxk;F(k)=12π-a+af(x).eikxdx.

where kis the increment in k from one n to the next.

(d) Take the limit ato obtain Plancherel’s theorem. Comment: In view of their quite different origins, it is surprising (and delightful) that the two formulas—one for F(k) in terms of f(x), the other for f(x) terms of F(k) —have such a similar structure in the limit a.

Show that there is no acceptable solution to the Schrodinger equation for the infinite square well with E=0orE<0(This is a special case of the general theorem in Problem 2.2, but this time do it by explicitly solving the Schrodinger equation, and showing that you cannot meet the boundary conditions.)

A particle in the infinite square well has as its initial wave function an even mixture of the first two stationary states:

Ψ(x,0)=A[ψ1(x)+ψ2(x)]

You can look up the series

116+136+156+=π6960

and

114+134+154+=π496

in math tables. under "Sums of Reciprocal Powers" or "Riemann Zeta Function."

(a) Normalize Ψ(x,0). (That is, find A. This is very easy, if you exploit the orthonormality of ψ1 and ψ2. Recall that, having ψnormalized at , t=0 , you can rest assured that is stays normalized—if you doubt this, check it explicitly after doing part(b).

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

(c)Compute x . Notice that it oscillates in time. What is the angular frequency of the oscillation? What is the amplitude of the oscillation?(If your amplitude is greater than a2, go directly to jail.

(d) Compute p.

(e) If you measured the energy of this particle, what values might you get, and what is the probability of getting each of them? Find the expectation value ofH . How does it compare with E1 and E2

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