Problem set - 1

Quantum Physics (Spring 2023)

[Expectation value, Uncertainty principle, Infinite square-well potential ]

1. Show that Z ∞ 
d
Ψ∗1 Ψ2 =0
dt −∞

for any two normalizable solutions (Ψ1 and Ψ2 ) of the Schrödinger equation, with the same
V (x).

2. Consider a particle of mass m in an infinite square well potential from x = 0 to x = a. Let

ψ1 and ψ2 be the wave functions (stationary states) corresponding to the lowest two values
of energy (corresponding to n = 1 and n = 2 respectively). Here both ψ1 and ψ2 solve the
full time-dependent Schrödinger equation.

(a) Normalize and write down the explicit form of ψ1 and ψ2 .

(b) Schematically plot the probability density of finding the particle at any point within
the square-well for both the wave functions.
(c) For both the wave functions find the point(s) where the particle is most likely to be
found.
(d) For both the wave functions find the probability of finding the particle within the
interval (a) x ∈ [0, a/2] and (b) x ∈ [0, a/4].
(e) Now consider a state which is a linear superposition of both these wave functions

ψ = A(ψ1 + ψ2 ).

(i) Find A.
(ii) If we make a measurement of energy in the state ψ, what are the possible values
of energy that we can get? Specify the corresponding probabilities.
(iii) For the wave function ψ what is the probability of finding the particle within the
interval (a) x ∈ [0, a/2] and (b) x ∈ [0, a/4]. Clearly workout the time dependence
of your answers.
(f) Estimate the force exerted by the quantum particle on the walls of the potential well,
when it is in the state ψ1 and ψ2 (separately).

3. Consider an electron trapped in an infinite square well with width 4a, (the potential inside
is V (x) = 0). In this situation if the electron makes a transition from a stationary state with
higher value of E to one with a lower value of E a photon would be emitted. If the electron
make a transition from the third excited state (n = 3) to the ground state (n = 1), then the
wavelength of the emitted photon is 6 × 10−8 m. With this information estimate the value
of a? (mass of electron is 9.1 × 10−31 kg)

4. A particle of mass m has the wave function

mx2
  
Ψ(x, t) = A exp −α + it
~

Page 1
 (a) Find A
(b) For what potential V (x) is this a solution to the Schrödinger equation.
(c) Find the variance in position and momentum ∆x and ∆p for this wave function and
verify whether their product is consistent with the uncertainty principle.

5. The wave function of a free particle is given by

Z ∞
1
Ψ(x, t) = √ g(k) exp (i (kx − ωt)) dk.
2π −∞

If the wave function at time t = 0 took the form

Ψ(x, t = 0) = A exp −αx2 ,

where A is an appropriate normalization which you can calculate. Find the exact form
(without any integral) of Ψ(x, t) at all times. Remember to use the appropriate expression
for ω in terms of k.

Page 2