QM 3 Homework

Sebastian Requena
Fall 2011

1 Cohen-Tannoudji LIII Exercise 1

In a one dimensional problem, consider a particle whose wavefucntion is given
by,
ipo x
e ~
φ(x) = N √ (1)
x2 + a2
a) Determine N so that φ(x) is normalized.

Using the normalization condition hφ(x)|φ(x)i = 1

Z +∞
1
N2 dx = 1 (2)
−∞ x2 + a2
pa
After evaluating the integral and solving for N, I find N = π. The normalized
wavefunction is,
r ipo x
a e ~
φ(x) = √ (3)
π x2 + a2

−a √a ?
b) What is the probability of finding the particle between √
3
and 3

Evaluating the below integral,

Z −a
√
a 3 1 1
dx = (4)
π − −a
√ x2 + a2 3
3

c) Calculate the mean value of the momentum of the particle.

I’ll use the operator P to extract the mean momentum.

Z · ¸
a ∞ e−ip0 x/~ ~ d eip0 x/~
hP i = hφ(x)|Px |φ(x)i = √ √ dx (5)
π −∞ x2 + a2 i dx x2 + a2

1
This integral is readily solved to show that
Z Z
ap0 ∞ dx a~ ∞ 2x
hP i = 2 2
− dx = p0 (6)
π −∞ x + a 2πi −∞ (x + a2 )2
2

2 Cohen-Tannoudji LIII Exercise 2

Consider in a one dimensional problem, a particle of mass m whose wavefunc-
tion at time t is φ(x, t) a)At time t, the distance d of this particle from the origin
is measured. Write, as a function of φ(x, t), the probability P (do ) of finding a
result greater than a given length do . What are the limits of P (do ) when do
approaches zero or infinity?

The probability of finding it beyond do is,

Z do
P (x > do ) = 1 − φ∗ (x, t)φ(x, t)dx (7)
−∞

As do approaches 0,
Z 0
P (x > do ) = 1 − φ∗ (x, t)φ(x, t)dx (8)
−∞

As do approaches infinity,
Z ∞
P (x > do ) = 1 − φ∗ (x, t)φ(x, t)dx = 0 (9)
−∞

b) One performs a velocity measurement at a time t. Express as a function

of φ(x, t), the probability of finding a result greater than a value vo .

This can easily be done by using a Fourier transform.

2
 Z ∞
1
ψ(p, t) = √ φ(x, t)eipx/~ dx (10)
2π~ −∞

The probability is then given by,

Z mvo
P (v > vo ) = 1 − ψ ∗ (p, t)ψ(p, t)dp (11)
−∞

3 Cohen-Tannoudji LIII Exercise 3

The wavefunction of a free particle in 1-D id given at time t = 0 by,
Z ∞
φ(x, 0) = N e−|k|/ko eikx dk (12)
−∞

Where ko and N are constants.

a) What is the probability P (p, 0) that a measurement of the momentum

performed at time t = 0, will yield a result between −p1 and +p1 ?

Using the relation p = ~k I can get into terms of momentum,

Z
N ∞ −| p |/ko ipx/~
φ(x, 0) = e ~ e dp (13)
~ −∞

The transform is obvious,

r
2π p
ψ(p, 0) = N e−| ~ |/ko (14)
~

We can then find the probability. Noting that the function is symmetric
about p = 0 allows simplification of the integral.
Z p1 Z
4π 2 p1 −2p −2p1
|ψ(p, 0)|2 dp = N e ~k dp = 2πN 2 ko (1 − e ~k ) (15)
−p1 ~ 0

3
 b) What happens to this probability if the measurement is performed at
time t?

The short answer is nothing, but I suppose I should do some math to con-
vince you. The time evolution requires that I simply add a global phase factor
to the function.
r
2π p
ψ(p, 0) = N e| ~ |/ko −iwt (16)
~

When I take the modulus of this function, the phase term will simply cancel
out with it’s conjugate and will get the same result as in part a.

c) What is the form of the wave packet at time t = 0? Calculate for this
time, the product δxδp: What is your conclusion? Describe the subsequent
evolution of the wave packet.

I’ll need to find the form of φ(x, 0)

Z ∞
2ko
φ(x, 0) = N e−|k|/ko eikx dk = N (17)
−∞ ko2 x2 + 1

Note that this function is symmetric about x = 0 and it exponentially decays

as it moves from x = 0. To find the uncertainty relation I will need to calculate
2
∆x and ∆p. Since both ψ(p, 0) and φ(x, 0) are symmetric then both hpi and
2 2 2
hxi will be zero. So, I only need hp i and hx i.
Z ∞ µ ¶2
2ko
∆x2 = x2 N dx = 2πko N 2 (18)
−∞ ko2 x2 + 1

Z ∞ µ ¶2
N −| p |/ko
∆p2 = p2 e ~ dp = πN 2 ~2 ko3 (19)
−∞ ~

∆p2 ∆x2 = 2π 2 N 4 ko4 (20)

4
I can find N = √ 1 from the normalization condition. Substituting it in,
2πko

~
∆p∆x = (21)
2

~k2
As time passes, the center of the distribution will move along as: kx − 2m t