PHYS 3313 Section 001

Lecture #12
Monday, Oct. 15, 2012
Dr. Jaehoon Yu

The Schrdinger Wave Equation

Time-Independent Schrdinger Wave Equation
Probability Density
Wave Function Normalization
Expectation Values
Operators Position, Momentum and Energy

Monday, Oct. 15, 2012 PHYS 3313-001, Fall 2012 1

Dr. Jaehoon Yu
 Announcements
Reminder Homework #4
End of chapter problems on CH5: 8, 10, 16, 24, 26, 36
and 47
Due: This Wednesday, Oct. 17
Reading assignments
CH6.1 6.7 + the special topic
Colloquium this week
4pm, Wednesday, Oct. 17, SH101
Drs. Musielak and Fry of UTA

Monday, Oct. 15, 2012 PHYS 3313-001, Fall 2012 2

Dr. Jaehoon Yu
Monday, Oct. 15, 2012 PHYS 3313-001, Fall 2012 3
Dr. Jaehoon Yu
 Special project #5
Prove that the wave function =A[sin(kx-
t)+icos(kx- t)] is a good solution for the time-
dependent Schrdinger wave equation. Do NOT
use the exponential expression of the wave
function. (10 points)
Determine whether or not the wave function =Ae-
|x| satisfy the time-dependent Schrdinger wave

equation. (10 points)

Due for this special project is Monday, Oct. 22.
You MUST have your own answers!
Monday, Oct. 15, 2012 PHYS 3313-001, Fall 2012 4
Dr. Jaehoon Yu
 The Schrdinger Wave Equation
The Schrdinger wave equation in its time-dependent
form for a particle of energy E moving in a potential V in
one dimension is
x,t h2 2 x,t
ih V x,t
t 2m x 2

The extension into three dimensions is

h2 2 2 2
ih 2 2 V x, y, z,t
t 2m x 2
y z

where is an imaginary number

Monday, Oct. 15, 2012 PHYS 3313-001, Fall 2012 5

Dr. Jaehoon Yu
 Ex 6.1: Wave equation and Superposition
The wave equation must be linear so that we can use the superposition principle to. Prove
that the wave function in Schrodinger equation is linear by showing that it is satisfied for
the wave equation x,t1 x,t2 x,t where a and b are constants and 1
x,t and 2 x,t describe two waves each satisfying the Schrodinger Eq.
1 h2 2 1 2 h2 2 2
a1 b 2 ih V1 ih V 2
t 2m x 2
t 2m x 2

2
a1 b 2 a 1 b
t t t t
1 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 2
a1 b 2 a b a b a 2 b
x x x x x 2 x x x x x 2
h2 2 h2 2 h2 2
ih V Rearrange terms ih V ih
t 2m x 2 V 0
t 2m x 2
t 2m x 2

1 2 h2 2 1 2 2
ih ih a b a b V a1 b 2
t t t 2m x 2 x 2

1 h2 2 1 2 h2 2 2
a ih V 1 b ih V 2 0
t 2m x 2 t 2m x 2
Monday, Oct. 15, 2012 PHYS 3313-001, Fall 2012 6
Dr. Jaehoon Yu
 General Solution of the Schrdinger Wave
Equation
The general form of the solution of the Schrdinger wave
equation is given by:

x,t Aei kx t A cos kx t i sin kx t

which also describes a wave propergating in the x direction. In
general the amplitude may also be complex. This is called the
wave function of the particle.
The wave function is also not restricted to being real. Only the
physically measurable quantities (or observables) must be
real. These include the probability, momentum and energy.

Monday, Oct. 15, 2012 PHYS 3313-001, Fall 2012 7

Dr. Jaehoon Yu
 Ex 6.2: Solution for wave equation
Show that Aei(kx- t) satisfies the time-dependent Schrodinger wave Eq.

Aei kx t t

t

Aei kx t iA ei kx t i

x x

Aei kx t iAkei kx t ik

2
x 2

x
ik ik
x
ik iAke
i kx t

Ak 2 i kx t
e k 2

h2 k 2
0

2
h V
ih ihi h k 2 V 2m
t 2m
p2
The Energy: E hf h h E V 0
2 2m
2 2 2 p p
The wave number: k The momentum: p hk
h p h h
p2 p2
From the energy conservation: E K V V E V 0
2m 2m
So Aei(kx- t) is a good solution and satisfies Schrodinger Eq.
Monday, Oct. 15, 2012 PHYS 3313-001, Fall 2012 8
Dr. Jaehoon Yu
 Ex 6.3: Bad solution for wave equation
Determine x,tAsin(kx- t) is an acceptable solution for the time-
dependent Schrodinger wave Eq.
Asin kx t
Asin kx t A cos kx t
t t

Asin kx t kA cos kx t
x x
2
x 2

x
kA cos kx t k 2
Asin kx t k 2

ih cos kx t
h2
2m

k 2 sin kx t V sin kx t
h2 k 2
ih cos kx t V sin kx t
2m
p2
iE cos kx t V sin kx t
2m
This is not true in all x and t. So (x,t)=Asin(kx- t) is not an acceptable
solution for Schrodinger Eq.
Monday, Oct. 15, 2012 PHYS 3313-001, Fall 2012 9
Dr. Jaehoon Yu
 Normalization and Probability
The probability P(x) dx of a particle being between x
and X + dx was given in the equation
P x dx * x,t x,t dx
Here * denotes the complex conjugate of
The probability of the particle being between x1 and x2
is given by x
P dx
* 2

x1

The wave function must also be normalized so that the

probability of the particle being somewhere on the x
axis is 1.
x,t x,t dx 1
*

Monday, Oct. 15, 2012 PHYS 3313-001, Fall 2012 10

Dr. Jaehoon Yu
 Ex 6.4: Normalization
Consider a wave packet formed by using the wave function that Ae- x,
where A is a constant to be determined by normalization. Normalize this
wave function and find the probabilities of the particle being between 0 and
1/ , and between 1/ and 2/ .

Ae x

Ae Ae dx A e Ae dx
*
dx
Probabilit * x x * x x
y density

2
2A 2 x A2
A2 e2 x dx 2 2 2 x
Ae dx e 0 1
0 2 0

A Normalized Wave Function

e x

Monday, Oct. 15, 2012 PHYS 3313-001, Fall 2012 11

Dr. Jaehoon Yu
 Ex 6.4: Normalization, contd
Using the wave function, we can compute the probability for a particle to be
with 0 to 1/ and 1/ to 2/ .

e x

For 0 to 1/ :
1
2 x

1 1 1 2
P dx
*
e dx
2 x
e e 1 0.432
0 0 2 0
2

For 1/ to 2/ :
2
2 x
P
1
2
dx e
*
2

1
2 x
dx
2
e
2
e e2 0.059
1 4
1

How about 2/ :to ?

Monday, Oct. 15, 2012 PHYS 3313-001, Fall 2012 12
Dr. Jaehoon Yu