The free particle solution in stationary state (with definite energy) to the Schrödinger equation is
ψ(x,t)=Aei(kx−ωt)+Be−i(kx+ωt)
Since the energy is definite, and hence the momentum is definite, the uncertainty in position must be infinite. How is this reflected by the probability distribution function:
Ψ=|ψ(x,t)ψ∗(x,t)|
The book that I am using just look at the first term of the solution, and derive that the probability distribution function is A2. However, I do not understand why we can do that?
Does it imply that if wave function is made up of n terms such that each individual term has a constant probability distribution function, the whole wave function also has a constant probability distribution function? If so, how can I prove it?
I know my question might be very vague but that is precisely the problem I am facing now, I don't even know how to ask about the things that I don't understand.
Answer
For any function of x and t that depends on the combination x±vt (for constant v represents a wave with a fixed shape that travels in the ∓x direction with speed v. That is to say, x±vt=constant
Using Equation (1) and multiplying by its complex conjugate, we get ψ∗ψ(x)=(Ae−i(kx−ωt))(Aei(kx−ωt))=A2
No comments:
Post a Comment