I (Baby QM) Analytic Solution to the Infinite Square Well Problem

obstinatus
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Hi,

I think I'm having a bit of a brain fart...I'm messing with this numerical code trying to understand the 1-D time-independent Schrodinger's equation infinite square well problem (V(x) infinite at the boundaries, 0 everywhere else). If normalized Phi squared is the probability of finding the particle in that location, what the heck is the analytical solution I should plot against it to see how close it is? The normalized wavefunction given by Hyperphysics is much too large. Any and all suggestions appreciated.
Infinite Square Well.png
 
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obstinatus said:
Hi,

I think I'm having a bit of a brain fart...I'm messing with this numerical code trying to understand the 1-D time-independent Schrodinger's equation infinite square well problem (V(x) infinite at the boundaries, 0 everywhere else). If normalized Phi squared is the probability of finding the particle in that location, what the heck is the analytical solution I should plot against it to see how close it is? The normalized wavefunction given by Hyperphysics is much too large. Any and all suggestions appreciated.
View attachment 260814
What do you mean their wavefunction is too large? What specific wavefunction were you looking at?
 
That probability density function looks like it has to be multiplied with a constant greater than 50 to become normalized. Then you can compare it to the exact solution.

You can also find the correct multiplier by making a nonlinear curve fit to this data with function

##P (x) = C\sin^2 (2\pi x)##

and setting ##C## as the fitting parameter. This can be done in Origin Pro or some free program like Grace.
 
Insights auto threads is broken atm, so I'm manually creating these for new Insight articles. Towards the end of the first lecture for the Qiskit Global Summer School 2025, Foundations of Quantum Mechanics, Olivia Lanes (Global Lead, Content and Education IBM) stated... Source: https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/quantum-entanglement-is-a-kinematic-fact-not-a-dynamical-effect/ by @RUTA
If we release an electron around a positively charged sphere, the initial state of electron is a linear combination of Hydrogen-like states. According to quantum mechanics, evolution of time would not change this initial state because the potential is time independent. However, classically we expect the electron to collide with the sphere. So, it seems that the quantum and classics predict different behaviours!
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