- #1
broegger
- 257
- 0
One solution to the time-independent Schrödinger equation for a free particle (moving in 1 dimension) is:
[tex] \psi(x) = Ae^{ikx} [/tex]
This has a definite momentum p = h-bar*k, but it can't be normalized since:
[tex] \int_{-\infty}^{\infty}\lvert\psi(x)\rvert^2dx = \int_{-\infty}^{\infty}|A|^2dx = \infty [/tex]
Does this mean that we cannot have a free particle like this?
[tex] \psi(x) = Ae^{ikx} [/tex]
This has a definite momentum p = h-bar*k, but it can't be normalized since:
[tex] \int_{-\infty}^{\infty}\lvert\psi(x)\rvert^2dx = \int_{-\infty}^{\infty}|A|^2dx = \infty [/tex]
Does this mean that we cannot have a free particle like this?