Solving Wavefunction of Particle in Square Well Potential

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a homework problem related to quantum mechanics, specifically the wavefunction of a particle in an infinite one-dimensional square well potential. The original poster presents a wavefunction at time t=0 and seeks to express it for any time t>0.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to understand how to derive the time-dependent wavefunction from the given initial condition. Some participants suggest using the time-dependent Schrödinger equation and separation of variables to express the wavefunction over time.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring the relationship between the time-independent and time-dependent forms of the wavefunction. Some guidance has been offered regarding the application of the exponential term to each component of the wavefunction, but there is no explicit consensus on the complete solution yet.

Contextual Notes

The original poster expresses uncertainty about their understanding and the notation used in the problem, indicating a potential barrier to their progress. There is also mention of the dependency of the rest of the question on the first part, highlighting its importance.

Petrucci Rocks
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Hi, I hope this is the right place to ask this... it's problem I have with a homework question but I think it's just me being stupid. There must be something I'm missing.
Also I apologise this isn't typed up in proper maths font or anything like I've seen some people doing on this forum... how the hell do you do that?

It says this:

At time t=0, the wavefunction of a particle of mass m in an infinite one-dimensional square well potential between x=-L/2 and x=+L/2 is
psi(x, t=0) = sqrt(2/3)phi1(x) + sqrt(1/3)phi2(x)

where phi1(x) and phi2(x) are the normalized energy eigenfunctions of the ground and first excited states.

then the first part of the question is to write down the wave function psi(x,t) at any time t>0. How do I go about finding this? since it says "write down the wavefunction" I assume it must be something really simple that I should be able to write without actually doing any working but I have no idea how to find the wavefunction for all time having only been given it for one given time. I'm one of those rubbish people who can't figure something out if I haven't been taught how to do it first. The rest of the question is dependent on this first part so it seems quite necessary...
 
Last edited:
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You'll need to solve the 1D time dependent Schrödinger equation using the given wave function as the initial condition.
 
For potentials that don't depend on t we can use
separation of variables to show:
[tex]\psi = \sum_n c_n \phi_n(x) e^{ -i \frac{E_n}{\hbar} t }[/tex]
The initial conditions give you the cn.
i couldn't see if the latex generated correctly, so here it is in
plane text:
psi = SUM cn phin(x) exp(-i En t / h-bar )
 
oh.. so you just stick exp(-iEnt/h-bar) after each term and that makes it time dependent?
 

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