Doubt on Morse potential and harmonic oscillator

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the confusion surrounding the application of Morse potential and harmonic oscillators in quantum mechanics, particularly regarding the vibrational ground state of diatomic molecules. The original poster (OP) incorrectly conflates classical mechanics with quantum mechanics, leading to misunderstandings about energy states. It is clarified that in quantum mechanics, the kinetic and potential energies do not commute, and thus their relationship cannot be treated as in classical mechanics. The concept of coherent states is introduced, which differs from the ground state and is constructed from a sum of energy eigenstates.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Morse potential in molecular vibrations
  • Knowledge of quantum harmonic oscillator (QHO) principles
  • Familiarity with Hamiltonian mechanics
  • Basic concepts of wavefunctions in quantum mechanics
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the implications of Morse potential on diatomic molecular vibrations
  • Learn about the quantum harmonic oscillator and its energy eigenvalues
  • Explore the concept of wavefunctions and their role in quantum mechanics
  • Investigate coherent states and their differences from ground states in quantum systems
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in physics, particularly those focusing on quantum mechanics, molecular dynamics, and anyone seeking to clarify the distinctions between classical and quantum energy states.

Salmone
Messages
101
Reaction score
13
I have a little doubt about Morse potential used for vibration levels of diatomic molecules. With regard to the image below, if the diatomic molecule is in the vibrational ground state, when the oscillation reaches the maximum amplitude for that state the velocity of the molecule must be zero so that the kinetic energy will be zero and the Hamiltonian will be equal to the potential energy for that particular state. Now, since in quantum harmonic oscillator the eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian are equal to ##E=\hbar\omega(n+\frac{1}{2})##, for the ground state we have ##E=\frac{\hbar\omega}{2}##, so the total energy (kinetic + potential) must be always equal to that value in the G.S., for what I've wrote before then must be that the potential energy corresponding to the orizontal line of the vibrational ground state that is, the potential energy when the maximum amplitude is reached, is equal to ##E=\frac{\hbar\omega}{2}##, is it right?
649px-Morse-potential.png
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Can you write a shorter question? I have some difficulties understanding what you are really wondering about
 
I think one issue here is that the OP is mixing quantum and classical mechanics.

Salmone, I agree with the first half of your post as a description of the underlying classical mechanics of a simple harmonic oscillator (I'll ignore the Morse potential, as I think it is irrelevant to the question). However, when you move to quantum mechanics, which you do when you start your discussion of the ground state energy, you have to switch to studying wavefunctions. The danger of combining quantum and classical observations as you have done is that discussion of the kinetic energy and potential energy fails to work in quantum mechanics. In the quantum mechanics of a SHO, the kinetic energy and potential energy do not commute and care has to be taken when you discuss them separately. There are classical-looking states called coherent states, but they are not the ground state, instead they are constructed from a particular sum of all the energy eigenstates.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: vanhees71

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K