B.Sc. Sem.

– V Paper- Quantum Mechanics, Atomic & Molecular

(Physics) II Spectroscopy and Nuclear Physics

Institute for Excellence in Higher

Education (IEHE), Bhopal

Wave Packet, Phase & Group

Velocity – L5
Dr. Amit Jain,
Associate Professor of Physics
IEHE, Bhopal, (M.P.), INDIA
jainamit38@gmail.com
+91-9407255901
 Learning Objectives

Concept of wave packet

What is Phase Velocity

What is group Velocity

Relation between phase and group velocity

 Matter Wave Velocity
From matter wave concept we have a relation between the
momentum of particle and its wavelength
ℎ ℎ
𝜆= = -------- (1)
𝑝 𝑚𝑣

ℎ
Also 𝐸 = ℎ𝜐 = 2𝜋𝜐 = ℏ𝜔 ----------(2)
2𝜋

𝐸 𝑚𝑐 2
𝜐= = --------(3)
ℎ ℎ

𝑚𝑐 2 ℎ 𝒄𝟐
Velocity of de-Broglie wave 𝑢 = 𝜐𝜆 = . =
ℎ 𝑚𝑣 𝒗

The above equation implies that

Velocity of de-Broglie wave 𝒖>𝒄 (𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭)
 Concept of Wave Packet
But according to Einstein theory of relativity no material
particle can have velocity grater than speed of light.

This is impossible. Also if the speed of de-Broglie wave (𝑢) is

grater than the speed of associated particle (𝜐), the particle
will be left behind.

From this we can conclude that, only one wave is not

associated with the material particle.

Schrödinger assumed that a moving material particle is

equivalent to a wave packet instead of single wave.
 Concept of Wave Packet

A wave packet is a group of several waves of slightly

different velocities and different wavelengths.

The amplitude and phase of the component waves are such

that they interfere constructively in the limited region
where the particle is found and outside the region, they
interfere destructively.

Outside the region where the particle is not found, resultant

amplitude abruptly falls to zero.
 Definition of Group and Phase Velocity
When several progressive waves of slightly different
wavelengths travel along a straight line in one direction, the
resultant wave obtained due to their superposition travel
in form of group waves which is called the wave packet.

The velocity of the component waves of a wave packet is

called the wave velocity or the phase velocity, and is
denoted by 𝒗𝒑 .

The velocity of the wave packet (or the point of

reinforcement) is called the group velocity, and denoted by
𝒗𝒈
Formation of Wave Packet

Progressive wave 1
𝜔 = 1.0
𝑦 = sin(1.0 × 𝑡 − 2)

Progressive wave 2
𝜔 = 1.1
𝑦 = sin(1.1 × 𝑡 − 2)
Q

P R Resultant wave
𝑦
= sin 1.0 × 𝑡 − 2
+ sin(1.1 × 𝑡 − 2)
S
Wave Packet
 Definition of Group and Phase Velocity
𝜔 = 1.0 𝜔 = 1.1 𝑦 = sin 1.0 × 𝑡 − 2 + sin(1.1 × 𝑡 − 2)

Constructive
Interference Wave Packet or
inside the packet Q Envelope

P R

𝑥1 S 𝑥2
Length of wave packet
∆𝑥 = 𝑥2 − 𝑥1
 Wave Packets with various combinations of
Phase and Group Velocity
The group velocity is the speed of the wave packet and the phase
velocity is the speed of the individual waves.

http://resource.isvr.soton.ac.uk/spcg/tutorial/tutorial/Tutorial_files/Web-further-dispersive.htm
 Various conditions of Phase and Group Velocity

Phase velocity = Group Velocity

• The entire waveform, the component waves and their envelope, moves as one. This is an
example of a non-dispersive wave.
Phase velocity = -Group Velocity
• The envelope moves in the opposite direction of the component waves.

Phase velocity > Group Velocity

• The component waves move more quickly than the envelope.

Phase velocity < Group Velocity

• The component waves move more slowly than the envelope.

Group Velocity = 0
• The envelope is stationary while the component waves move through it.

Phase velocity = 0
• Now only the envelope moves over stationary component waves.
 Derivation for Phase Velocity
Suppose a plane harmonic wave of frequency 𝜐 (or angular
frequency 𝜔 = 2𝜋𝜐) and wavelength 𝜆 (of propagation constant
𝑘 = 2𝜋Τ𝜆) travelling in X-direction be represented as:
y = 𝑒 𝑖 𝑘𝑥−𝜔𝑡
The speed of propagation of this wave will be the speed
associated with a point for which the phase 𝑘𝑥 − 𝜔𝑡 is
constant, i.e.
𝑘𝑥 − 𝜔𝑡 = constant
𝜔𝑡
𝑜𝑟, 𝑥 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 +
𝑘
𝑑𝑥 𝝎 2𝜋𝜐
𝑾𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝑽𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒗𝒑 = = = = 𝝊𝝀
Τ
𝑑𝑡 𝒌 2𝜋 𝜆
ℎ
𝐸 = ℎ𝜈 = 2𝜋𝜈 = ℏ𝝎
2𝜋
𝝎 ℏ𝝎 𝑬
ℎ ℎ 2𝜋 𝒗𝒑 = = =
𝑝= = = ℏ𝒌 𝒌 ℏ𝒌 𝒑
𝜆 2𝜋 𝜆
 Derivation for Group Velocity
Suppose there are two plane harmonic waves
Wave-1: 𝜔1 = 2𝜋𝜐1 and 𝑘1 = 2𝜋Τ𝜆1
Wave-2: : 𝜔2 = 2𝜋𝜐2 and 𝑘2 = 2𝜋Τ𝜆2
Their wave equation are given by:
y1 = a 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜔1 𝑡 − 𝑘1 𝑥 and y2 = a 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔2 𝑡 − 𝑘2 𝑥)
𝑦 = y1 + y2 = a 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜔1 𝑡 − 𝑘1 𝑥 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔2 𝑡 − 𝑘2 𝑥)
𝜔1 + 𝜔2 𝑘1 + 𝑘2 𝜔1 − 𝜔2 𝑘1 − 𝑘2
𝑦 = 2𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑡− 𝑥 . 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑡− 𝑥
2 2 2 2
𝜔1 − 𝜔2 𝑘1 − 𝑘2 𝜔1 + 𝜔2 𝑘1 + 𝑘2
𝑦 = 2𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑡− 𝑥 . 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑡− 𝑥
2 2 2 2
𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑝𝑢𝑡,
𝜔1 + 𝜔2 𝑘1 + 𝑘2
𝜔1 − 𝜔2 = ∆𝜔, 𝑘1 −𝑘2 = ∆𝑘, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 = 𝜔, =𝑘
2 2
 ∆𝜔 ∆𝑘
𝑦 = 2𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑡− 𝑥 . 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑥)
2 2

∆𝜔 ∆𝑘
𝐴𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑃𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡 𝐴 = 2𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑡− 𝑥
2 2
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑠 (𝝎𝒕 − 𝒌𝒙)

𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝝎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝒌 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔

𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑠.

𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝝎𝒕 − 𝒌𝒙 = 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕

𝑑𝑥 𝝎
∴ 𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝒗𝒑 = =
𝑑𝑡 𝒌
 𝑵𝒐𝒘, 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕

∆𝜔 ∆𝑘
𝑡− 𝑥 = 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕
2 2

𝐻𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑝 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑠

𝑑𝑥 ∆𝝎Τ𝟐 ∆𝝎
𝑣𝑔 = = =
𝑑𝑡 ∆𝒌Τ𝟐 ∆𝒌

∆𝝎 𝒅𝝎
𝑣𝑔 = lim =
𝜔1 →𝜔2 ∆𝒌 𝒅𝒌
 Length of Wave Packet
From figure, it is clear that the Q
amplitude of wave packet is zero at
points P and R. P R
∆𝜔 ∆𝑘
For point P 2𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑡− 𝑥 =0
2 2 1
1 𝜋
𝑜𝑟 ∆𝜔𝑡 − ∆𝑘𝑥1 = 2𝑛 + 1 … . . (1) S
2 2 Length of
∆𝜔 ∆𝑘 𝑥1 wave packet 𝑥2
For point R 2𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑡 − 𝑥 =0 ∆𝑥 = 𝑥2 − 𝑥1
2 2 2
1 𝜋
𝑜𝑟 ∆𝜔𝑡 − ∆𝑘𝑥2 = 2𝑛 − 1 … . . (2)
2 2
1
On subtracting eqn. (1) from eqn. (2), we get, 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 ∆𝑘 = 𝜋
2
𝟐𝝅 𝟐𝝅 𝟏 −𝝀𝟐
𝑳𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒕 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 = = = =
Τ
∆𝒌 ∆ 𝟐𝝅 𝝀 Τ
∆ 𝟏 𝝀 ∆𝝀
Relationship between 𝒗𝒑 and 𝒗𝒈
𝝎
𝒗𝒑 = 𝒐𝒓 𝝎 = 𝒌𝒗𝒑
𝒌

𝒅𝝎 𝒅 𝒌𝒗𝒑 𝒅𝒗𝒑
𝒗𝒈 = = = 𝒗𝒑 + 𝒌
𝒅𝒌 𝒅𝒌 𝒅𝒌

𝟐𝝅 𝒅𝒗𝒑
𝒗𝒈 = 𝒗𝒑 + .
𝝀 𝒅 𝟐𝝅Τ𝝀
𝟐𝝅 𝒅𝒗𝒑
= 𝒗𝒑 + .
𝝀 𝟐𝝅 − 𝟏Τ𝝀𝟐 𝒅𝝀

𝒅𝒗𝒑
𝒗𝒈 = 𝒗𝒑 − 𝝀
𝒅𝝀
 Relationship between 𝒗𝒑 and 𝒗𝒈
𝒅𝒗𝒑
𝒗𝒈 = 𝒗𝒑 − 𝝀
𝒅𝝀

Non-dispersive medium
𝒅𝒗𝒑 Τ𝒅𝝀 = 𝟎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒐
𝒗𝒈 = 𝒗𝒑
Dispersive medium
𝒊𝒇 𝒅𝒗𝒑 Τ𝒅𝝀 = +𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏
𝒗𝒈 < 𝒗𝒑
Example EMW in dielectric substance

𝒊𝒇 𝒅𝒗𝒑 Τ𝒅𝝀 = −𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏

𝒗𝒈 > 𝒗𝒑
Example in electrical conductor
Phase Velocity and Group Velocity of the de-Broglie
Wave Associated with a Non-relativistic Free Particle
Consider a particle of mass m moving with velocity v. If E be its
kinetic energy and p be its momentum, then kinetic energy:
𝑝2 ℎ
𝐸= and 𝑝 = = ℏ𝑘
2𝑚 𝜆
ℏ𝑘 2 ℏ2 𝑘 2
𝐸= =
2𝑚 2𝑚
𝐸 ℏ2 𝑘 2 ℏ𝑘 2
𝐸 = ℏ𝜔 𝑜𝑟 𝜔 = = =
ℏ 2𝑚ℏ 2𝑚
𝜔 ℏ𝑘 2 ℏ𝑘 𝑝 𝑚𝑣 𝑣
𝑣𝑝 = = = = = =
𝑘 2𝑚𝑘 2𝑚 2𝑚 2𝑚 2
𝑑𝜔 𝑑 ℏ𝑘 2 2ℏ𝑘 𝑝 𝑚𝑣
𝑣𝑔 = = = = = =𝑣
𝑑𝑘 𝑑𝑘 2𝑚 2𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒑 𝑽𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒗𝒈 = 𝒗 (𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲)

Thus we conclude that a moving particle is equivalent to a wave packet.

 Recap
Concept of wave packet

Phase Velocity

Group Velocity

Relation between phase and group velocity

Group velocity in Dispersive and Non-dispersive

medium
References & Extended Learning

http://resource.isvr.soton.ac.uk/spcg/tutorial/tutorial/Tutorial_files/Web-
further-dispersive.htm

http://www.physics.ucc.ie/apeer/PY3102/Waves.pdf

http://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/ast123/lectures/lec06.html
 Assignment
What do you understand by wave-packet?

What is phase velocity and group velocity?

Can group velocity be grater than phase velocity?

What is the relation between the phase and group velocity?

What do you mean by dispersive medium?

Draw the varying frequency waves and their super-position plot

using wave equations using Excel/SciLab /C/C++.