Show that the quite general wave group given in equation (6-21) is a solution of the free-particle Schrödinger equation, provided that each plane wave's w does satisfy the matter-wave dispersion relation given in (6-23).

Short Answer

Expert verified

Given general wave equation Ψx,t=-+Akeikx-ωtdkis a solution of the free-particle Schrödinger equation -h22m2Ψx,tx2=ihΨx,tt, provided, each plane wave’sω satisfiesωk=hk22m.

Step by step solution

01

Formula used:

wave function of a quantum-mechanical system.

Schrödinger equation is given by,

-h22m2Ψ(x,t)x2=ihΨ(x,t)t ….. (1)

Where, h is Plank’s constant, m is the mass of the object, x is the position of the object, t is the time, andΨis the Wave function

Wave Group (6-21) is,

Ψ(x,t)=-+A(k)ei(kx-ωt)dk ….. (2)

Where, k is the wave number, A is the amplitude of the wave, and ωis theangular frequency.

Matter Wave dispersion relation (6-23) is,

ω(k)=hk22m ….. (3)

02

Substituting wave group equation into Schrödinger equation:

-h22m2x2-+Ake-ikx-ωtdk=iht-+Ake-ikx-ωtdk-h22m-+-k2Ake-ikx-ωtdk=ih-+-Ake-ikx-ωtdk

Substituting hk22mfor ω(k) in above Equation, and you have

-h22m-+-k2Ake-ikx-ωtdk=ih-+-ihk22mAke-ikx-ωtdk-h22m-+-k2Ake-ikx-ωtdk=-h22m-+-k2Ake-ikx-ωtdk

03

Conclusion:

You can see in the above equation, LHS = RHS.

Hence, the given general wave equation (6-21) is a solution of the free-particle Schrödinger equation.

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