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reflected transmitted
2 2
i x, t x, t V x, t x, t En n 12
t 2m x 2
Heisenberg’s Matrix Mechanics
1924: de Broglie suggests particles are waves
Mid-1925: Werner Heisenberg introduces Matrix Mechanics
•Semi-philosophical, it only considers observable quantities
•It used matrices, which were not that familiar at the time
•It refused to discuss what happens between measurements
•In 1927 he derives uncertainty principles
Late 1925: Erwin Schrödinger proposes wave mechanics
•Used waves, more familiar to scientists at the time
•Initially, Heisenberg’s and Schrödinger’s formulations were competing
•Eventually, Schrödinger showed they were equivalent; different descriptions which
produced the same predictions
Both formulations are used today, but Schrödinger is easier to understand
The Free Schrödinger Equation
1925: Erwin Schrödinger proposes wave mechanics
•Peter Debye suggested to him he needed to find a wave equation
for quantum mechanics 2
•He hit on the idea of using complex waves p
E
•The rest is history x, t 2m
•Starting point: Energy/Momentum relationship 2
p
•Multiply by the wave function on the right E x, t x, t
•Use de Broglie relations to rewrite 2m 2
2
E p k x, t k x, t
2m
•Use relationships for complex waves to rewrite with derivatives
ik k
1 x, t exp ikx it
x i x
2 2
i i i x, t x, t
t t t 2m x 2
Sample Problem with Free Schrödinger
Show that the following expression satisfies the free 1 Aix
2
1 iAx 2 2 2 Ai 4 A2i 2 x 2
i 3/2 2 2 Multiply by 2mt5/2/
2t t t 2m t t t t
The Schrödinger Equation
The General Prescription for Classical Quantum:
1. Write a formula for the energy in terms of momentum and position
2. Transform Energy and momentum using the following prescription:
E i p k
t
3. Rewrite it as a wave equation
i x
What if we have forces?
•Need to add potential energy V(x,t) on top of kinetic energy term
p 2 2 2
E V x, t i V x, t
2m t 2m x 2
2 2
i x, t x, t V x , t x, t
t 2m x 2
2 2
i V
t 2m x 2
Comments on Schrödinger Equation
1. This equation is inherently 2 2
complex i x, t x , t V x , t x, t
•You MUST use complex t 2m x 2
x, t x, t x, t 12 2 x, t
2
t t 2
x, t x, t
Initial conditions: t
Quantum physics
2 2
(x,t = 0) x, t x, t V x, t x , t
i 2m x 2
The Superposition Principle
2 2
3. This equation is linear i x, t x , t V x , t x, t
•The wave function t 2m x 2
V x , t x, t Q.E.D
2m x 2
Time Independent problems
2
2
•Often [usually] the i x, t x , t V x x, t
potential does not t 2m x 2
•Divide by the i x t
t 2 x V x t x
t 2m x
original wave function
•Note that left side is independent of x, and right side is independent of t.
•Both sides must be independent of both x and t
•Both sides must be equal to a constant, called E (the energy)
i d t 2 d 2 x
E V x
t dt 2m x dx 2
Solving the time equation x, t t x
i d t d x2 2
E V x
t dt 2m x dx 2
x, t e x e * x x
2 iEt iEt 2
The Time Independent Schrödinger Eqn
2
d 2
x d 2
x
2
E V x E x V x x
2m x dx 2
2m dx 2