Equation calculating the amplitude of a particle

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    Amplitude Particle
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the equation for calculating the amplitude of a particle's movement between two positions, r_{1} and r_{2}. Participants explore the components of the equation, its implications, and how to derive numerical values from it, touching on concepts from quantum mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents an equation for the amplitude of a particle's movement and questions how to substitute vectors to obtain a numerical value.
  • Another participant notes the need for the particle's momentum and the distance between the two points, suggesting that the displacement vector is also necessary for the calculation.
  • A different participant identifies the expression as resembling the Green's function for the free Schrödinger equation, indicating that the product in the exponent involves scalars.
  • There is a repeated emphasis on the need to clarify the distinction between vectors and scalars in the context of the equation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty regarding the equation's components and their relationships, with no consensus reached on how to interpret or apply the equation effectively.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in understanding the assumptions behind the equation, particularly regarding the definitions of vectors and scalars, as well as the mathematical steps required to substitute values.

Crazy Tosser
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If I am right, it's supposed to be this:

When a particle moves from [tex]r_{1}[/tex] to [tex]r_{2}[/tex], the amplitude of the move can be written as:

[tex]\langle r_{2} | r_{1} \rangle = \frac{e^{ipr_{12}/\hbar}}{r_{12}}[/tex]

where [tex]r_{1}[/tex] and [tex]r_{2}[/tex] are vectors of particle's position (I think?).
and [tex]r_{12} = r_{2}-r_{1}[/tex] and is the scalar( I think again?)

So my question is.. how can you substitute vectors to get a numerical value for the equation above?
 
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Anyone? =[
 
I'm not familiar with this equation, but it looks like you'd have to know:
The particle's momentum, p
The distance between the two points, r_12

Then just plug the numbers in.

Edit added:
In the exponent, that looks like the dot product of 2 vectors, so you need not only the distance r_12, you actually need the displacement vector r2-r1. Likewise, you need to know the direction of the momentum.

I think it's a scalar, |r_12|, in the denominator of your expression.
 
Last edited:
I didn't actually recognize the expression up to now. It seems the Green's function for the free Schrödinger equation. See:

http://www.physics.thetangentbundle.net/wiki/Quantum_mechanics/Lippmann-Schwinger_equation

In this case the Green's function is actually isotropic, and so the product in the exponent is the product of a scalar and another scalar.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Redbelly98 said:
I'm not familiar with this equation, but it looks like you'd have to know:
The particle's momentum, p
The distance between the two points, r_12

Then just plug the numbers in.

Edit added:
In the exponent, that looks like the dot product of 2 vectors, so you need not only the distance r_12, you actually need the displacement vector r2-r1. Likewise, you need to know the direction of the momentum.

I think it's a scalar, |r_12|, in the denominator of your expression.

Yes, I just realized that, it was hard to see the bold in that equation (it's very small)
 

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