[Q]Question about harmonic oscilator

[good_phy]

Hi, Finally! I reached harmonic oscilator! Congratulation!

Most of all QM text book introduced this formula :

Time independent energy eigenstate equation is

( - \frac{\hbar^2}{2m} \frac{\partial}{\partial x) + \frac{Kx^2}{2} )\varphi = E\varphi

(1) \varphi_{xx} = -k^2 \varphi

\frac{\hbar^2k^2(x)}{2m} = E - \frac{K}{2}x^2 > 0

We focused classically forbidden domain x^2 > x_{o}^2, E < \frac{Kx^2}{2}

In this case, kinetic energy is negative, so \varphi_{xx} = k'^2 \varphi \frac{\hbar^2k'^2}{2m} = \frac{K}{2}x^2 - E > 0

For asymptotic domain, Kx^2/2 >> E

(2) \varphi_{xx} = \frac{mK}{\hbar^2}\varphi = \beta^4x^2\varphi where subscript means 2nd differential, \beta^2 = \frac{mw_{o}}{\hbar}

We let (3) \epsilon = \beta x

(2) appears as (4) \varphi_{\epsilon\epsilon} = \epsilon^2 \varphi

If \epsilon >>1 then (2) is approximated to

(5) \varphi \approx Aexp(\pm\frac{\epsilon^2}{2}) = Aexp(\pm\frac{(\beta x)^2}{2})

I have a question. Liboff said (2) become (4) by introducing (3). But If (3) is right, I thought (4) should be \varphi_{\epsilon\epsilon} = \beta^2\epsilon^2\varphi . Is it right?

And I don't know how to derive (5) from (4). Please lead me.

[malawi_glenn]

(2) \varphi_{xx} = \frac{mK}{\hbar^2}\varphi = \beta^4x^2\varphi where subscript means 2nd differential, \beta^2 = \frac{mw_{o}}{\hbar}

We let (3) \epsilon = \beta x

(2) appears as (4) \varphi_{\epsilon\epsilon} = \epsilon^2 \varphi

If \epsilon >>1 then (2) is approximated to

(5) \varphi \approx Aexp(\pm\frac{\epsilon^2}{2}) = Aexp(\pm\frac{(\beta x)^2}{2})

I have a question. Liboff said (2) become (4) by introducing (3). But If (3) is right, I thought (4) should be \varphi_{\epsilon\epsilon} = \beta^2\epsilon^2\varphi . Is it right?

And I don't know how to derive (5) from (4). Please lead me.

I don't have Liboff, but since you make substitution of variables from x to beta*epsilon, the second derivative on phi w.r.t to x will change..

\frac{d^2\phi}{dx^2} \rightarrow \beta ^2 \frac{d^2\phi}{d\epsilon^2} (chain rule of calculus)

so it should be: \phi_{\epsilon\epsilon} = \epsilon^2 \phi

[good_phy]

Thank you for your help! I'm very pleased with you. But Could you tell me how to apply chain rule of calculus on that formula? I just subsitute x = \beta\epsilon into the x of dominator to get your formula. is it right procedure?

What is more, Can you give me a answer of second question?

[malawi_glenn]

\frac{d\phi}{dx} = \frac{d\phi}{d\epsilon}\frac{d\epsilon}{dx}

what the second question is about is that that "far" away from the potential, (classical allowed region) wave function must go down as an exponential.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:HarmOsziFunktionen.jpg