Wavefunctions Definition and 139 Threads

I suppose that when carried out a Poisson spot with photons one at a time should have to be observed. I tried to find such experiment but i got 0 result. it seems that nobody cared about that. But i think such experiment would be very important as it will show that the wavefunction can have...

Absolutely no clue on how to even begin this question due to the exceptionally poor quality of our lectures, who has also flatly refused to give out any solutions, which I could have used to understand what is going on. I assume the energy has to be obtained by using the eigenfunction equation...

Hello! I am trying to use the wavefunctions of a Morse potential as defined in the link provided. They define a parameter ##z## and the wavefunctions are in terms of z. In my particular case, given their definitions, I have ##\lambda = 132.19377##, ##a=1.318 A^{-1}## and ##R_e = 2.235 A##. I am...

Hi As far as i am aware taking the inner product of a bra and a ket results in a (complex) number or scalar. So why does < x | ψ > give ψ ( x ) , the wavefunction in position space ? Surely < x | ψ > should give a number not a function ? Thanks

Hello, I hope you are well. I have been doing a lot of readings on the wavefunction and have a question I did not see asked anywhere else in these forums. I was wondering if someone could shed some light on this for me? I know the wavefunction is in 3N coordinate space and could be used to...

Inner product is a generalization of the dot product on spaces other than Euclidean and for vectors it is defined in the same way as the dot product. If we have two vectors $v$ and $w$, than their inner product is: $$\langle v|w\rangle = v_1w_1 + v_2w_2 + ...+v_nw_n $$ where $v_1,w_1...

If I have a wavefunction ##\Psi(X)## that is invariant under the group ##Z_2##, what specifically does that mean? There can be several operators that are representations of the group ##Z_2##, for example the operators $$\mathbb{Z}_2=\{ \mathbb{I}, -\mathbb{I} \},$$ or $$\mathbb{Z}_2=\{...

Can anyone tell me how to mathematically represent 2 phased electrons mathematically? Thank you in advance.

I understand that the solutions to the time-independent Schrodinger equation are complete, so a linear combination of the wavefunctions can describe any function (i.e. ##f(x) = \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}c_n\psi_n(x) = \sqrt{\frac{2}{a}} \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} c_n\sin\left(\frac{n\pi}{a}x\right)## for...

Hello, I've a fundamental question that seems to keep myself confused about the mathematics of quantum mechanics. For simplicity sake I'll approach this in the discrete fashion. Consider the countable set of functions of Hilbert space, labeled by i\in \mathbb{N} . This set \left...

Homework Statement Hi, I was reading Griffiths and stumble upon some questions. This is from 5.1.2 Exchange Forces. The section is trying to work out the square of the separation distance between two particles, $$\langle (x_1 - x_2)^2 \rangle = \langle x_1^2 \rangle + \langle x_2^2 \rangle -...

The position wavefunction makes a spatial probability amplitude wave right? And it is the combination of different frequencies My question is that if these frequencies are the spatial frequencies in the debrogile relations

Very often in standard QM books, certain states, like exponentially growing ones are rejected on the basis that they are not in L^2 space. On the other hand, scattered states are also not in L^2 spaces. This dichotomy can be repelled by using Rigged Hilbert spaces, and allowing tempered...

Could anyone explain what a quantum field configuration is, and any relation this concept may have to the idea of a wavefunction? Perhaps for a scalar, quantum field?

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...

I was wondering if anyone has worked with non-Hermitian wavefunctions, and know of an approach to derive real and trivial values for their observables using numerical calculations? Cheers

Can the wave function in four dimensions be expressed as e^i(kx+ky+kz-wt)?

Given a wave function $$\Psi(r,\theta,\phi)=f(r)\sin^2(\theta)(2\cos^2(\phi)-1-2i*\sin(\phi)\cos(\phi))$$ we are trying to find what a measurement of angular momentum of a particle in such wave function would yield. Attempts were made using the integral formula for the Expectation Value over a...

Homework Statement At ##t = 0##, a particle of mass m in the harmonic oscillator potential, ##V(x) = \frac1 2 mw^2x^2## has the wave function:$$\psi(x,0)=A(1-2\sqrt\frac{mw} {\hbar} x)^2e^{\frac{-mw}{2\hbar}x^2}$$ where A is a constant If we make a measurement of the energy, what possible...

Homework Statement I've been asked as a part of some school project to find the Fourier transform, and time evolution of the following initial wavefunctions: 1. ##\Psi(x,0) = Ae^{\frac{-x^2}{2\sigma ^2}}## 2. ##\Psi(x,0) = Be^{\frac{-x^2}{2\sigma ^2}}e^{\frac{ipx}{\hbar}}## What physical...

In a dark energy dominated universe, it seems that all the particles get away from each other and that the final state will be one with one or zero particles per horizon. This sounds very intuitive, but it is based on classical physics and GR. Particles have wavefunctions and this is whar...

\bf{Setup} Hi! I am trying to derive the wavefunctions of the zero energy solutions of the Schrodinger equation in a 1D p-wave superconductor (Kitaev model). I am starting with the Hamiltonian $$ \begin{equation} H = \left[\begin{array}{cc} \epsilon_k & \Delta^{\ast}_k\\ \Delta_k & -\epsilon_k...

Homework Statement I am working on this problem: The formula I am given in my notes is: I found a website which explains this problem, and they give this formula: But then, their answer is: And I don't see how they went from sqrt(8) to 2 on the numerator. I am confused which formula to use...

This post is a result of reading RKaster's links and I am wondering if there is some evidence that supports measurement being a two stage process. In the Stern Gerlach experiment the particles are in superposition until measured. But is the superposition ended once they enter the magnetic field...

Hi. I have read many times that the Schrodinger equation is a linear equation and so if Ψ1 and Ψ2 are both solutions to the equation then so is Ψ1 + Ψ2. Is this use of the word linear the same as generally used for differential equations ? As the Schrodinger equation is also an eigenvalue...

I am currently confused about anti-symmetrization of wavefunctions. In a thread "Still confused about super position and mixed state", kith responded that anti-symmetrization was not done thus the none of the bras and kets shows any properties of a possible state of a molecule I have mentioned...

Hi all! I'm currently watching MIT 8.04 (Quantum Physics I) on MIT open courseware. I have just finished lecture 5. In the past 2 lectures, they introduced opperators, specifically momentum, energy and position. To prove/derive (I'm not sure what the correct term is) the momentum and energy...

Matter has a wavefunction associated to it. But what about light? Does it have both a electromagnetic wave described by Maxwell's equation and a wavefunction described by Schroedinger's equation? Or is the electromagnetic wave considered to be the wavefunction of the photon? I read somewhere...

Homework Statement Normalise the wavefunction in the diagram which is given by: psi(x) = A {x} < a {x} is supposed to be mod x.Homework Equations None specifically The Attempt at a Solution I know that the square integral of the wavefunction needs to be set equal to 1. I am unsure exactly...

This is a question regarding the intrinsic angular momentum S of a particle of spin 1. Assuming S = s(s+1)I = 2I and I is the identity operator. In our case s = 1. Let |z> be a ket of norm 1 such that Sz |z> = 0, and let |x> and |y> be the ket vectors obtained from it by rotations of + 1/2 Pi...

Homework Statement Show that ∫ ψ1(x)*ψ2(x) dx = ∫φ1(k)*φ2(k) dk (Where the integrations are going from -∞ to ∞) Homework Equations 1. Plancherel Theorem: ψ(x) = 1/√2π∫φ(k)eikx dk ⇔ φ(k) = 1/√2π∫ψ(x)e-ikx dx The Attempt at a Solution It is clear that Plancherel's theorem must be used to...

ψ = Ae-kx2 ; A = normalisation constant For normalising, -inf∫inf A2ψ°ψ dx = A2M (say) = 1 so we put A = 1/√M My question is why we need 'A' ?? The thing is either we find a particle or we do not and if we think of a simple waveform...'A' gives the amplitude part...so can we put it in this...

Homework Statement I am struggling to understand all the steps in a derivation involving a normalisation of a particular wavefunction. I get most of the steps. I have attached the derivation and put a star next to the steps I don't fully understand. Homework Equations Listed on attachment...

If we have a system of two electrons, addition of angular momentum tells us that the spin states of the composite system can be decomposed into those of the two electrons as follows |1,1>=|+>|+> |1,0>=(|+>|-> + |->|+>)√2 |1,-1>=|->|-> |0,0>=(|+>|-> - |->|+>)√2 where the states are |s,ms> for the...

Do photons have quantum mechanical wave functions like other particles do? If so, would I use some alternate version of Schrodinger's equation when deriving said wave function? I ask this because as we know, the Schrodinger equation is as follows: (-ħ2/2m)∇2 + v(x,y,z)Ψ = EΨ Photons however...

Homework Statement 2. Homework Equations [/B] Uploaded as a picture as it's pretty hard to type out The Attempt at a Solution So to normalise a wavefunction it has to equal 1 when squared. A is the normalisation factor so we have: A.x2e-x/2a0.x2e-x/2a0 = 1 ∫ψ*ψdx = A2∫x4e-axdx = 1 Then I've...

If there exists some normalized wavefunction ##\psi## that is not a solution to the Schrödinger equation (1D), what does this mean? You can still presumably use the square of the wave function to ascertain the probability it exists at some interval in space, but does it provide any other useful...

Homework Statement The two-particle wavefunctions are given: Where |V> is the spin down state and |Λ> is the spin down state ½(Ψ3p(r1)Ψ1s(r2) + Ψ1s(r1)Ψ3p(r2))(|V>|Λ> - |V>|Λ>) ½(Ψ3p(r1)Ψ1s(r2) - Ψ1s(r1)Ψ3p(r2))(|V>|Λ> + |V>|Λ>) 1/√2 (Ψ3p(r1)Ψ1s(r2) - Ψ1s(r1)Ψ3p(r2))(|Λ>|Λ>) 1/√2...

I have the proton wavefunctions of mixed symmetry: |MA> = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} ( u_1 d_2 u_3 - d_1 u_2 u_3 ) and |MS> = \frac{1}{\sqrt{6}} (2u_1 u_2 d_3 - u_1 d_2 u_3 - d_1u_2u_3 ) If the charge defined as: qu =\frac{2}{3} u and qd= -\frac{1}{3} d , I need to show what are the...

We have been covering the annhilation and creation operators in class. You can use the annihilation operator to find the groundstate wavefunction, and then use the hamiltonian in terms of annhiliation and creation operators to find the energy eigen value of that state. (or you could put the...

I just found out about this via Twitter: http://phys.org/news/2014-10-function-electron.html I'm too tired to have got my head around all the details, but it looks as if there's a fascinating new experimental perspective on what a "measurement" in QM actually is. DOI for the original journal...

Hi, I'm relatively new to QM so just a basic explanation of my problem would be amazing! I'm doing some internet research on superfluidity over my summer holiday, and was looking specifically at 3He, and the way it forms Cooper pairs. Having read a classical analogy to why the relative angular...

Hi. I am confused about the following problems. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks 1. I don't understand what ψ (r)= <r|ψ> means. What is the difference between the wavefunction ψ and the ket |ψ> ? 2. A similar equation is ψ (p) = <p|ψ>. Is this ket |ψ> the same as the one above or is...

I understand the meaning of normalising wavefunctions, but what instance would a wavefunction NOT need to be normalised?

Hi I have been working my way through some past papers and then checking the solutions but I am confused about the following. One question asked for the normalisation constant for the following wavefunction ψ( r, θ , ø ) = Aexp(-r/R) where R is a constant. The solution requires a triple volume...

Hi Everyone I am wondering about something. As everyone here knows, electromagnetic waves obviously possesses an electrical component and a magnetic component. Firstly, can electromagnetic waves be considered to be a sort of complex wavefunction? If yes then do the two components of...

Hi Everyone I am a bit confused about something. I have been taught that wavefunctions are basicaly the square root of probability functions. I have also read that some wavefunctions are complex which means that they involve the value i which is the square root of minus one. These two things...

Why do wavefunctions in quantum mechanics need to be complex? What are the drawbacks of using real valued wavefunctions like: Asin(kx+ωt+ø) etc...or a standing wave equation: Asin(kx)cos(ωt)? I'm an undergraduate student and recently passed 12th grade...So any answer of my level would be...

Maybe someone here can explain me something I never understood in QM: The wave function lives in the Hilbert space spanned by the measurement operator. Is there any mathematical relation of those spaces with each other?

Homework Statement Find the eigenfunctions and the eigenvalues of the following Hamiltonian \hat{H} = \frac{1}{2m} \left ( \frac{ \hbar}{i} \vec{\nabla}-\frac{q}{c}(0, B_z x,0) \right ) ^2 = \frac{1}{2m} \left ( - \hbar^2 \vec{\nabla}^2-\frac{\hbar q}{ic}(\vec{\nabla}·(0, B_z\hat{x},0) +...