Basic wave equation question

1. Jul 30, 2008

Marthius

This is a fairly simple question, but the first such question I have done. Inorder to check my work I was hoping somone could show me how to normalize the following.

$$\Psi(x,t) = Ae^{-a[(mx^{2}/\hbar)+it]$$
where m is the particles mass

And also that the expectation values of x and x2 would be.

Don't wory, this is not for a class, I am studying this on my own

2. Jul 30, 2008

clem

Psi^2 leads to a Gaussian integral, which is done by completing the square in the exponent.
<x> is zero bly symmetry.
<x^2>is found by integrating by parts.

3. Jul 31, 2008

Marthius

After playing with this I found

$$A = \sqrt[4]{\frac{2am}{\hbar\pi}}*e^{ait}$$

making

$$\Psi = \sqrt[4]{\frac{2am}{\hbar\pi}}*e^{-amx^{2}/\hbar}$$

Can annyone confirm this for me because I am realy uncomfortable with my answer.

4. Jul 31, 2008

tshafer

that looks alright, but have you lost your time component along the way? when calculating $$\left|A\right|^{2}$$ the time-dependence drops off, but you need to be sure to attach your value for $$A$$ to the full wavefunction. i think it should look like this? $$\Psi\left(x,t\right)=\left(2ma/\pi\hbar\right)^{1/4}e^{-amx^{2}/\hbar}e^{-iat}$$

5. Jul 31, 2008

Marthius

the only think was that $$e^{iat}$$ from the second part of A canceld with $$e^{-iat}$$ from the wave function, or is that wrong.

6. Jul 31, 2008

tshafer

You would be correct, but technically you're $$A$$ is wrong. The $$e^{-iat}$$ term cancels with its conjugate in the process of calculating $$A$$ through normalization. $$A$$ should be just $$\left(2ma/\pi\hbar\right)^{1/4}$$

7. Jul 31, 2008

Marthius

Looking back my mistake was simply squaring the wave function without taking the modulus first

8. Aug 7, 2008

Marthius

I was working with this a little more, and came up with a corisponding potential energy function of:

V(x) = $$2a^{2}mx^{2}$$

Could anyone run it and verify that I have this right (My text has no answer key)?

Here is the wave function again.
$$\Psi(x,t) = Ae^{-a[(mx^{2}/\hbar)+it]$$
where m is the particles mass