Engineering Physics

Course Code: BPHY101L; Course Type: Theory Only (TH)

Jitendra K. Behera (PhD)

Assistant Professor Gr-II
jitendra.behera@vit.ac.in
Office: #121-E, PRP
 Wave Function

Dr JB: BPHY101L School of Physics,VIT Vellore

 Properties of Wave Function

Dr JB: BPHY101L School of Physics,VIT Vellore

 Properties of Wave Function

In 3-Dimensional

2 2
|ψ| dxdydz = |ψ| dV is the probability of finding the body in a box
of volume dV at time t

Dr JB: BPHY101L School of Physics,VIT Vellore

 Properties of Wave Function

Dr JB: BPHY101L School of Physics,VIT Vellore

 Normalisation of Wave Function ψ
∞ ∞

∫−∞ ∫−∞
ψ * ψ dV = | ψ |2 dV = 1

∞ 1
If ∫ ψ * ψ dV = N ψ′ = ψ
−∞ N
∞ ∞

∫−∞ ∫−∞
2
ψ′ * ψ′ dV = | ψ′| dV = 1

Normalisation of a wave function

Dr JB: BPHY101L School of Physics,VIT Vellore

 Normalisation of Wave Function ψ
∞ 1 ∞ ∞

∫−∞ ∫−∞ ∫−∞

If ψ * ψ dV = N ψ′ = ψ ψ′ * ψ′ dV = | ψ′|2 dV = 1
N

Example:

Dr JB: BPHY101L School of Physics,VIT Vellore

 Time-dependent Schrödinger Wave Equation
Schrödinger Equation is a mathematical expression that describes the change of a physical
quantity over time in which the quantum effects like wave-particle duality are significant…
• In other words, we can say that …..It is a differential equation for the de Broglie
waves associated with particles and describes the motion of particles.
• The Schrodinger equation is the fundamental equation of wave mechanics in the
same sense as Newton’s second law of motion of classical mechanics

The Schrödinger Equation has two forms:

• Time-dependent Schrödinger Equation

• Time-independent Schrödinger Equation

∂ψ(r, t)
iℏ = Hψ(r, t)
∂t
ℏ2 ∂2 ∂2 ∂2 ∂2 ∂2 2
Where, H = − + V ≡ + + = ∇
2m ∂r2 ∂r2 ∂x2 ∂y2 ∂z2

V = time dependant Potential energy

Dr JB: BPHY101L School of Physics,VIT Vellore
Derivation: Time-dependent Schrödinger Wave Equation

Consider a particle of having mass m, moving in the x-direction; having

total energy E and momentum, p

Then, according to classical mechanics, the total energy associated with

the particle is:
E = KE + PE
p2
E= + V
2m

If the particle is associated with a matter wave, then it can be

represented as a wave function, ψ:
i(kx−ωt)
ψ(x, t) = Ae
k, is the propagation vector and ω, angular frequency
Dr JB: BPHY101L School of Physics,VIT Vellore
Derivation: Time-dependent Schrödinger Wave Equation

ψ(x, t) = Ae i(kx−ωt) on substituting the eq. “a & b” in wave function

ψ(x, t)
p
i( ℏ x−Eℏ t)
we know that, ψ(x, t) = Ae
i
E = hν = Ae ℏ (px−Et) . . . . . . . (1)
ω
Taking the partial derivative w.r.t. to position of the
wave function ψ(x, t):
E=h = ℏω
2π ∂ψ(x, t) ip
( )
i
(px−Et)
= = Ae ℏ
E ∂x ℏ
ω = . . . . . . . (a)
ℏ ∂2ψ(x, t) ip 2
( )
i
(px−Et)
= Ae ℏ
∂x 2 ℏ
Also, we know that,
h h 2π ∂2ψ(x, t) ip 2
λ= p= ; k= = ( ) ψ(x, t)
∂x2 ℏ
p λ λ
2
hk p 2 2 ∂ ψ(x, t)
p= = ℏk k = . . . . (b) p ψ(x, t) = −ℏ . . . . . (2)
2π ℏ ∂x2

Dr JB: BPHY101L School of Physics,VIT Vellore

Derivation: Time-dependent Schrödinger Wave Equation

ψ(x, t) = Ae i( ℏp x−Eℏ t) p2
i
(px−Et)
E= + V
= Ae ℏ . . . . . . . (1) 2m
Let’s take the partial derivative w.r.t. to time of the operating over the wave function ψ(x, t):
wave function ψ(x, t):
p2
∂ψ(x, t) −iE Eψ(x, t) = ψ(x, t) + Vψ(x, t)
( )
i
(px−Et)
= Ae ℏ 2m
∂t ℏ
using the equation 2 and 3,the above equation can
∂ψ(x, t) −iE be changes to
=( ) ψ(x, t)
∂t ℏ
∂ψ(x, t) ℏ2 ∂2ψ(x, t)
iℏ =− + Vψ(x, t)
ℏ ∂ψ(x, t) ∂t 2m ∂x2
Eψ(x, t) = ( )
−i ∂t
∂ψ(x, t)
Eψ(x, t) = iℏ . . . . . . (3)
∂t Time-dependent Schrödinger Wave Equation in 1D

Dr JB: BPHY101L School of Physics,VIT Vellore

Derivation: Time-dependent Schrödinger Wave Equation
∂ψ(x, t) ℏ2 ∂2ψ(x, t)
iℏ
∂t
=−
2m ∂x2
+ Vψ(x, t) 1D

∂ψ(x, y, z, t) ℏ2 ∂2ψ(x, y, z, t) ∂2ψ(x, y, z, t) ∂2ψ(x, y, z, t)

iℏ =− [ + + ]] + Vψ(x, y, z, t)
∂t 2m ∂x 2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2

2 2 3D
∂ψ(r, t) ℏ ∂ ψ(r, t)
iℏ =− + Vψ(r, t)
∂t 2m ∂r2
∂ψ(r, t) ℏ2 2
iℏ =− ∇ ψ(r, t) + Vψ(r, t)
∂t 2m

∂ψ(r, t) ℏ2 ∂ 2
iℏ = Hψ(r, t) H≡ − + V
∂t 2m ∂r2

Dr JB: BPHY101L School of Physics,VIT Vellore

Derivation: Time-dependent Schrödinger Wave Equation

∂ψ(r, t) ℏ2 ∂ 2
iℏ = Hψ(r, t) H≡ − + V
∂t 2m ∂r 2

Any condition imposed on the motion of a particle will affect the potential
energy U, which is a function of x & t. By knowing the exact form of U, the
equation may be solved for Ψ. The time-dependent Schrodinger equation is
used to explain non-stationary phenomena, such as the electronic transition
between two states of atom.

Dr JB: BPHY101L School of Physics,VIT Vellore

 Engineering Physics
Course Code: BPHY101L; Course Type: Theory Only (TH)

Jitendra K. Behera (PhD)

Assistant Professor Gr-II
jitendra.behera@vit.ac.in
Office: #121-E, PRP
 Time-dependent Schrödinger Wave Equation
The Schrödinger Equation has two forms:

• Time-dependent Schrödinger Equation

• Time-independent Schrödinger Equation

∂ψ(x, t) ℏ2 ∂2ψ(x, t)
iℏ =− + Vψ(x, t)
∂t 2m ∂x2

∂ψ(r, t)
iℏ = Hψ(r, t)
∂t

Dr JB: BPHY101L School of Physics,VIT Vellore

 Time-independent Schrödinger Wave Equation
In many atomic phenomena, the potential energy of the particle is independent of
time and depends only on the position of the particle. In such situations, the
differential equation for de-Broglie waves associated with particles is called the
time-independent (stationary/steady state) Schrodinger wave equation.

i(kx−ωt)
ψ(x, t) = Ae
i( ℏp x−Eℏ t)
ψ(x, t) = Ae
i( ℏp x) (−i Eℏ t) ( ∴ e m+ n = e m + e n)
= Ae e
= ψ(x) ϕ(t)

ψ(x, t) = ψ(x) ϕ(t) separation of variables

Dr JB: BPHY101L School of Physics,VIT Vellore

 Time-independent Schrödinger Wave Equation
we know that, the time dependent scrounger wave equation for particle moving in x
direction is
∂ψ(x, t) ℏ2 ∂2ψ(x, t)
iℏ =− + Vψ(x, t)
∂t 2m ∂x 2

ψ(x, t) = ψ(x) ϕ(t)

∂ψ(x)ϕ(t) ℏ2 ∂2ψ(x)ϕ(t)
iℏ =− + Vψ(x)ϕ(t)
∂t 2m ∂x 2

∂ϕ(t) ℏ2 ∂2ψ(x)
ψ(x) [iℏ ] = [− + Vψ(x)]ϕ(t)
∂t 2m ∂x 2

1 ∂ϕ(t) ℏ2 ∂2ψ(x) 1
[iℏ ] = [− + Vψ(x)]
ϕ(t) ∂t 2m ∂x 2 ψ(x)
Function of position
Function of time

Dr JB: BPHY101L School of Physics,VIT Vellore

 Time-independent Schrödinger Wave Equation
1 ∂ϕ(t) ℏ2 ∂2ψ(x) 1
[iℏ ] = [− + Vψ(x) ]
ϕ(t) ∂t 2m ∂x2 ψ(x)
ψ(x, t) = ψ(x) ϕ(t)
Function of position i( ℏp x)
Function of time ψ(x) = Ae
(−i Eℏ t)
LHS= RHS = S (Separation variable constant) ϕ(t) = e
Lets find that constant, by calculating the LHS, as we know that:
1 ∂ϕ(t) (−i Eℏ t)
LHS = [iℏ ] and ϕ(t) = e
ϕ(t) ∂t
upon substitution, we will have
1 ∂ (−i E t) 1 (−i Eℏ t) −iE
1 −iE
[iℏ e ℏ ] [iℏe ( )] [iℏ ϕ(t) ( )] E
ϕ(t) ∂t ϕ(t) ℏ ϕ(t) ℏ

LHS= RHS = E (total energy of the system)

Dr JB: BPHY101L School of Physics,VIT Vellore

 Time-independent Schrödinger Wave Equation
ℏ2 ∂2ψ(x) 1
E = [− + Vψ(x)]
2m ∂x 2 ψ(x)

1 ℏ2 ∂2ψ(x)
[− + Vψ(x)] = E
ψ(x) 2m ∂x 2

ℏ2 ∂2ψ(x) The is differential equation in position

− + Vψ(x) = Eψ(x) only and can be easily solved to get
2m ∂x2 energy of the system

ℏ2 ∂2
[− + V]ψ(x) = Eψ(x)
2m ∂x 2

Hψ(x) = Eψ(x)
where the above equation is Eigen value equation and H is the hamiltonian, and E is the solution

Dr JB: BPHY101L School of Physics,VIT Vellore

 Time-independent Schrödinger Wave Equation
ℏ2 ∂2ψ(x)
− + Vψ(x) = Eψ(x)
2m ∂x 2

we can also rearrange the above equation as:

ℏ2 ∂2ψ(x)
− + Vψ(x) − Eψ(x) = 0
2m ∂x2
∂2ψ(x) 2m
− 2 (V −E) ψ(x) = 0
∂x 2 ℏ

∂2ψ(x) 2m
+ ( E −V ) ψ(x) = 0
∂x2 ℏ2

Dr JB: BPHY101L School of Physics,VIT Vellore

 Free particle: Time-independent Schrödinger Wave Equation

For a free particle, V(x) =0

∂2ψ(x) 2m
+ 2 (E −V) ψ(x) = 0
∂x 2 ℏ
∂2ψ(x) 2mE
= − 2 ψ(x)
∂x 2 ℏ
∂2ψ(x) 2mE
= −k 2
ψ(x) ∴k=
∂x 2 ℏ2

So, The solution to time independent Schrodinger Equation is: ψ(x) = Ae ikx
(−i Eℏ t)
and we know that, ϕ(t) = e

−i(kx−Eℏ t)
So, The final solution is: ψ(x, t) = ψ(x) ϕ(t) = Ae
Dr JB: BPHY101L School of Physics,VIT Vellore