Dosen't energy eigenvalue depend on x?

  • Thread starter Thread starter rar0308
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Eigenvalue Energy
rar0308
Messages
55
Reaction score
0
there is potential V(x).
If at some point x=a wavefunction have some energy eigenvalue,
then Is it guaranteed that It has same energy throughout whole region?
Where can I find explanation about this?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
rar0308 said:
there is potential V(x).
If at some point x=a wavefunction have some energy eigenvalue,
then Is it guaranteed that It has same energy throughout whole region?
Where can I find explanation about this?

You can't talk about the energy at a point. You get the energy as an expectation value (not eigenvalue, unless you are in an eigenstate of the Hamiltonian). So, if you want to know the total energy of the system described by the wave function ##\psi(x)##, you calculate
$$
E = \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \psi^*(x) \hat{H} \psi(x) dx.
$$
If you want only the potential energy, you use instead
$$
E_\mathrm{pot} = \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \psi^*(x) V(x) \psi(x) dx.
$$
(I'm assuming that the wave function is normalized.)
 
Let quantum state be given as one of energy eigenfunctions.
V(x) is unknown except some point x=a.
Calculated energy eigenvalue using Hamiltonian operator at x=a.
Is it guaranteed that energy eigenvalue is the same throughout whole region other than x=a?
 
Yes, otherwise the state wouldn't be an energy eigenfunction would it?
 
dauto is Right. How can i delete this thread?
 
I am not sure if this falls under classical physics or quantum physics or somewhere else (so feel free to put it in the right section), but is there any micro state of the universe one can think of which if evolved under the current laws of nature, inevitably results in outcomes such as a table levitating? That example is just a random one I decided to choose but I'm really asking about any event that would seem like a "miracle" to the ordinary person (i.e. any event that doesn't seem to...
Back
Top