1. ### I Discreteness of bound vs unbound states

I observe that all bound states have discrete energy levels, eg. particle in a box, hydrogen atoms. But unbound states always have a continuous energy spectrum. For example, for the case of a finite potential well, when ##E<V_0##, we have discrete energy for the bound states. When ##E>V_0##, the...
2. ### A strange wave function of the Hydrogen atom

I am trying to solve the following exercise. In a H atom the electron is in the state described by the wave function in spherical coordinates: \psi (r, \theta, \phi) = e^{i \phi}e^{-(r/a)^2(1- \mu\ cos^2\ \theta)} With a and \mu positive real parameters. Tell what are the possible values...
3. ### Exponential Wavefunction for Infinite Potential Well Problem

Using the boundary conditions where psi is 0, I found that k = n*pi/a, since sin(x) is zero when k*a = 0. I set up my normalization integral as follows: A^2 * integral from 0 to a of (((exp(ikx) - exp(-ikx))*(exp(-ikx) - exp(ikx)) dx) = 1 After simplifying, and accounting for the fact that...

20. ### B How to determine the wavefunction of photons?

Hi, I'm sorry if this question has already been answered somewhere and I'm just too incompetent to find it, buuut: As the title already says, I really do not get that part of quantum physics (if you can even say I'm getting ANY part at all...). As I searched all Google for an answer I just...
21. ### Finding Stationary Wavefunction with a Line Potential

Homework Statement A particle of mass m in one dimension has a potential: $$V(x) = \begin{cases} V_0 & x > 0 \\ 0 & x \leq 0 \end{cases}$$ Find ##\psi(x)## for energies ##0 < E < V_0##, with parameters $$k^2 = \frac{2mE}{\hbar^2}$$ and $$\kappa^2 = \frac{2m(V_0 - E)}{\hbar^2}$$...
22. ### Expectation value <p> of the ground state of hydrogen

Homework Statement How should I calculate the expectation value of momentum of an electron in the ground state in hydrogen atom. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I am trying to apply the p operator i.e. ##-ihd/dx## over ##\psi##. and integrating it from 0 to infinity. The answer I...
23. ### I Why do you need infinite size matrix which commute...

...to give a number? https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-04-quantum-physics-i-spring-2016/lecture-notes/MIT8_04S16_LecNotes5.pdf On page 6, it says, " Matrix mechanics, was worked out in 1925 by Werner Heisenberg and clarified by Max Born and Pascual Jordan. Note that, if we were to write xˆ...
24. ### A Size of nuclei wave function in a crystal

I need to know what is the typical extention of the (spatial) wavefunction of an atomic nucleus in a crystal, in particular I am interested to the case of a Germanium cristal. Please together with the actual number of the size of the nuclei wavefunctions, let me know the references (articles or...
25. ### Quantum mechanics: potential steps

Homework Statement The Attempt at a Solution [/B] Hi All, I'm having trouble answering part (f) of the above question. I have managed parts (d) and (e) fine but am not sure how to proceed with part (f). I am pretty sure that the amplitude of the reflected wave in region 1 will be zero...
26. ### I What's the significance of HUP if Ψ collapses?

If I understand it correctly, a particle doesn't have a definite momentum and a definite position, but is in a superposition of multiple positions and momenta. And when we measure either of the two quantities, say, position, the wavefunction collapses to tell us where the particle is. Now when...
27. ### I Qualitative plots of harmonic oscillator wave function

For the harmonic oscillator, I'm trying to study qualitative plots of the wave function from the one-dimensional time independent schrodinger equation: \frac{d^2 \psi(x)}{dx^2} = [V(x) - E] \psi(x) If you look at the attached image, you'll find a plot of the first energy eigenfunction for...
28. ### A How to recover wavefunction at all K points? (ab initio calculations for periodic systems)

In ab initio calculations for periodic systems, only an irreducible K grid is used for calculation, and consequently only those K points have their wavefunction calculated. My question is, how to recover wavefunction at other K points not included in the irreducible K grid? Similar questions to...
29. ### I State Vectors vs. Wavefunctions

Hi physicsforums, I am an undergrad currently taking an upper-division course in Quantum Mechanics and we have begun studying L^2 space, state vectors, bra-ket notation, and operators, etc. I have a few questions about the relationship between L^2, the space of square-integrable complex-valued...
30. ### A Models in QM

Hi, are there any models known in QM where the wavefunctions do not have to be infinitely differentiable, and thus can exist in other spaces than the Hilbert space? I assume Banach spaces allow elements that are not infinitely differentiable as subsets. Can therefore certain phenomena in QM be...