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1 Problem 6.2: 1.1 Solution
1 Problem 6.2: 1.1 Solution
2
A system is defined by the wavefunction:
2x L L
(x) = A cos for x
L 4 4
(a) Determine the normalization constant A.
(b) What is the probability that the particle will be found between x = 0
L
and x = ?
8
1.1 Solution
1.1.1 Part (a)
Z +
1= (x)(x)dx
L L
Z Z Z
4 4 2x
1= 0dx + A2 cos2 dx + 0dx+
L
4
L L
4
Z L
4 2x
1 = A2 cos2 dx
L
4
L
L
1 = A2
4
4
A2 =
L
1
2 Problem 6.5
A particle with zero energy has a wavefunction
x2
(x) = Axe L2
Find and sketch V(x).
2.1 Solution
Start with the Schrodinger Equation.
~2 d2 (x)
+ V (x)(x) = E(x)
2m dx2
Notice that the particle has zero energy.
~2 d2 (x)
= V (x)(x) (1)
2m dx2
Now to figure out the second derivative of the wavefunction. Make sure to
use the chain rule!
d(x) x2 2x x22
= A(1)e L2 + Ax e L
dx L2
2x2
d(x) x2
= A 1 2 e L2
dx L
d2 (x) 2x2
4x x22 2x x22
= A e L + A 1 e L
dx2 L2 L2 L2
d2 (x)
3
4x 6x x2
2
= A 4
2
e L2
dx L L
Now we can plug this and the original wavefunction back into Equation 1.
~2
3
4x 6x x2 x2
A 4
2
e L2 = V (x)Axe L2
2m L L
Now we can cancel a bunch of terms out to get
~2 4x2
6
V (x) =
2m L4 L2
This is an oscillators potential.
2
3 Problem 6.6
The wavefunction of a particle is given as
3.1 Solution
Start with the Schrodinger Equation.
~2 d2 (x)
+ V (x)(x) = E(x)
2m dx2
Theres no potential so
~2 d2 (x)
= E(x) (2)
2m dx2
Calculate the second derivative of the wavefunction
d(x)
= Ak sin(kx) + Bk cos(kx)
dx
d2 (x)
= k 2 (A cos(kx) + B sin(kx))
dx2
Plug this back into Equation 2
~2 k 2
[A cos(kx) + B sin(kx)] = E [A cos(kx) + B sin(kx)]
2m
So this is a solution to the Schrodinger Equation provided we have
~2 k 2 p2
E= =
2m 2m
Which is exactly what we would expect for a free particle.
4 Problem 6.11
L L
A particle is confined to a box from x
2 2
What are the wavefunctions and probability densities for the n = 1, 2, and
3 states? Sketch them.
3
4.1 Solution
The general solution for a particle in a box is still:
0 = A sin(kL/2) + B cos(kL/2)
The second of these tells us
0 = A sin(kL/2) + B cos(kL/2)
The difference in sign is due to cos(x) being symmetric and sin(x) being
antisymmetric. Equating the two gives
A sin(kL/2) = A sin(kL/2)
But this only makes sense if A = 0, so the wavefunction is
(x) = B cos(kx)
Returning to the boundary conditions we have
0 = B cos(kL/2)
This means that
kL 1
= (n + )
2 2
So
k= (2n + 1)
L
This makes the wavefunction
x
n (x) = A cos (2n + 1)
L
Normalizing will still yield
p
A= 2/L
So
p x
n (x) = 2/L cos (2n + 1)
L
4
This means the probability density will be
2 x
Pn (x) = cos2 (2n + 1)
L L
5 Problem 6.24
A solution of Schrodingers equation for an oscillator is
2
(x) = Cxex
(a) Express in terms of m and . What is the energy of this state?
(b) Normalize it.
5.1 Solution
5.1.1 Part (a)
As always, start with the Schrodinger equation:
~2 d2 (x) 1 2
+ kx (x) = E(x)
2m dx2 2
Notice that this wavefunction is essentially the same as the one from problem
6.5 except we replaced L12 with . This means its second derivative will be:
d2 (x) 2
= C 42 x3 6x ex
dx 2
~2 2 1 2 2
C 42 x3 6x ex + kx2 Cxex = ECxex
2m 2
This simplifies to
~2 1
42 x2 6 + kx2 = E (3)
2m 2
We can see that the x2 terms must cancel each other out, giving
~2 1
42 x2 = kx2
2m 2
Solving for alpha gives
r
km
=
4~2
Remember that
r
k
=
m
5
Plugging this in gives
m
=
2~
The other consequence of Equation 3 is
~2
(6) = E
2m
This simplifies to
3~2
E=
m
Plugging in alpha gives
3
E= ~
2
Notice that this is the energy of a quantum harmonic oscillator in the n=1
state!
6 Problem 6.29
An electron is bound to x > 0 with the wavefunction
(x) = Cex 1 ex
6
6.1 Solution
6.1.1 Part (a)
Again start with
Z +
1= (x)(x)dx
Z + 2
1= C 2 e2x 1 ex
0
1
1 = C2
12
C 2 = 12
0 = (2ex 1)(1 ex )
The term in the right parentheses is only 0 when x = 0, but that is outside
the allowed range. This means
0 = 2ex 1
Which has the solution
x = ln 2 0.69
7
6.3 Part (c)
To find the expectation value, we use
Z +
hAi = (x)A(x)dx
7 Problem 6.35
Which of the following are eigenfunctions of the momentum operator
d
p = i~
dx
(a) (x) = A sin(kx)
(b) (x) = A sin(kx) A cos(kx)
(c) (x) = A cos(kx) + iA sin(kx)
(d) (x) = Aeik(xa)
7.1 Solution
The generic eigenvalue problem for an operator A is
A = c
d
Where c is a constant and an eigenvalue of A. In our case A = p = i~
dx
8
7.3 Part (b)
d
i~ (A sin(kx)A cos(kx)) = i~k(A sin(kx)+A cos(kx)) 6= c(A sin(kx)A cos(kx))
dx
So it is NOT an eigenfunction.
c = ~k = p
c = ~k = p
8 Additional Problem
8.1 Solution
The wavefunction is:
1/2
2 m 3/2 2
(x) = xex
~
With
m
=
2~
2 m 3/2 3 2x2
Z
hxi = x e dx
~
hxi = 0
2
Since x3 is odd (antisymmetric) and e2x is even (symmetric), their prod-
uct is odd. Integrating an odd function over an eve interval will give zero
9
8.1.2 Part (b)
Z +
2
hx i = (x)x2 (x)dx
2 m 3/2 4 2x2
Z
2
hx i = x e dx
~
r
2 2 m 3/2 3 5/2
hx i =
~ 16 2
3 ~
hx2 i =
2 m
8.1.4 Part(d)
Z +
hpi = (x)p(x)dx
2 m 3/2 x2
Z
d 2
hpi = xe i~ xex dx
~ dx
3/2
Z
2 m
2 2
xex (i~) 1 2x2 ex dx
hpi =
~
These will both lead to odd functions being integrated over an even interval,
so we know it will go to zero.
hpi = 0
2~2 m 3/2 x2
Z
2
hp2 i = 42 x3 6x ex dx
xe
~
10
Z Z
2~2 m 3/2
2 2 4 2x2 2 2x2
hp i = 4 x e dx + (6) x e dx
~
2~2 m 3/2
r r
2 2 3 5/2 1 3/2
hp i = 4 6
~ 16 2 4 2
8.1.6 Part (f )
p p
p = hp2 i hpi2 = hp2 i
r
3
p = m~
2
11