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The Wavefunction
The Wavefunction
Observables
The state vector
Explaining two-slit experiment
Interference terms
xi 1
xi
xi 1 x3
xx̂2
a x1 b x2 ...
x̂1
State vector with infinitely many
components
Physics 201: Lecture 1, Pg 2
The Wavefunction
Let’s break space into N sections of length dx
Eigenvectors
a x1 b x2 ... p xi 1 q xi r xi 1 ...
Physics 201: Lecture 1, Pg 3
The Wavefunction
The general state vector will look like:
i 1
i
i 1
Inner product
i 1
i xi 0
1
0
i
i 1
Eigenvector
General State vector
1
3 x1 i x2 2e i 7 x4 5 x5
39
i 1
i
i 1
(a) m-2 i 1
(b) m-1
((c)) unitless
i
(d) m1 i 1
(e) m2
i xi
i 1
i
i 1
2
Pr( xi ) i xi
2
1 x1 2 x2 ... i 1 xi 1 i xi i 1 xi 1 ...
1
i 7
3 x1 i x2 2e x4 5 x5
39
( )
(a) 4e2i7/39
(b) 1/2
(c) 0
(d) 2/39
(e) 4/39
Theep
probability
obab ty
density P(x) is
analogous to the
li
linear mass d density
it
(x).
i
x
dx
Physics 201: Lecture 1, Pg 13
The Wavefunction
Pr xi xi dx
2
P x0 x xi x
2
Pr i d
dx
range
(x
Student: In order for a wave
( ) function
( xi ) to get a prob, the function
must
( x0 ) Have units 1/meter otherwise
taking
an integral gives you a number
x0 xi x i meters.
in t
x1
Pr x0 x xi x dx
2
x0
Student: Why do we square psi?
Physics 201: Lecture 1, Pg 14
Normalization
If the
th detector
d t t were infinitely
i fi it l wide,
id the
th probability
b bilit th
thatt
the electron would arrive somewhere on the detector
would be 100%
100%.
A) 0
B) 2/5
C) 2/7
D) -2/5
E) None
N
| (x)|2
(x)
2
Continuous:
= probability density
x dx 1
2
(A) True
(B) False
p Ae
0
ip0 x /
p0 2 2 h
k
p0 p0
Quanton’s wavelength AgreesPhysics
with201:
DeLecture
Broglie
1, Pg 24
Clicker Question 5:
Is this wavefucntion normalizeable?
p Ae
0
ip0 x /
A. Yes
B No
B.
p x, t Ae
0
ip0 x / iEt /
e
This is an oscillating complex wave
Ae i kx
k t
A coskx t i Asin kx t
p0 2 E
k
A momentum eigenfunction is a complex travelling wave
Physics 201: Lecture 1, Pg 26
2-Slit Experiment
Adding two waves:
p r , t Ar e
0
i p0 r Et /
r1 , r2 , t Ar1 e i p0 r1 Et /
Ar2 e i p0 r2 Et /
(b) i p0 r1 p0 r2 /
e
(c) i p0 r1 p0 r2 /
e
(d) i p0 r1 p0 r2 2 Et /
e
( )
(e)
i p0 r1 p0 r2 /
e
Physics 201: Lecture 1, Pg 28
2-Slit Experiment
Adding two waves:
2
Ar e i p0 r1 Et / e i p0 r2 Et /
e i p0 r1 Et /
e i p0 r2 Et /
r1 , r2 , t Ar 2 e ip0 r1 r2 /
e ip0 r1 r2 /
2 2
p0 2
k r1 r2 d sin
d sin
r1 , r2 , t Ar 2 2 cos 2
2 2
Physics 201: Lecture 1, Pg 30
Quantum Mechanics
(1) If there are multiple ways an event can occur you must add
the probability amplitudes for each of these ways
d sin
r1 , r2 , t Ar 2 2 cos 2
2 2
(2) If we use a proximity detector there is only one way for the
event to occur
r1 , t Ar1 e
i p0 r1 Et /
r1 , t Ar1
2 2