Find the probability of measuring a particle's energy E

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To find the probability of measuring a particle's energy in the ground state E0, the overlap integral equation is used, which involves the normalized wave functions. The user has correctly set up the integral but is struggling to simplify it further. They have identified the need to apply standard integrals but are unsure how to proceed from their current expression. Clarification on the use of the standard integrals and the handling of the exponential terms is requested for further progress. The discussion emphasizes the importance of recognizing the properties of the wave functions involved.
Leechie
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Homework Statement


I need to use the overlap rule to find the probability that a measurement of a particle's energy at time t=0 will give the ground state E0

The normalized wave functions I have are:

$$Ψ(x,0)=\left(\frac{2a}{\pi}\right)^{1/4}e^{-ikx-ax^2}$$$$ψ_0(x)=\left(\frac{2a}{\pi}\right)^{1/4}e^{-ax^2}$$

Homework Equations


The overlap integral equation I am trying to use is:
$$p_x=\left|\int_{-\infty}^{\infty}ψ^*_0\left(x\right)Ψ\left(x,0\right)dx\right|^2$$
I've also got the standard integrals which may help:
$$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty}e^{-x^2}dx=\sqrt{\pi}$$$$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty}e^{-x^2}e^{-ikx}dx=\sqrt{\pi}e^{-\frac {k^2}{4}}$$

The Attempt at a Solution


So far, I've gone through the following steps:
$$p_x=\left|\int_{-\infty}^{\infty}\left(\frac{2a}{\pi}\right)^{1/4}e^{+ax^2}\left(\frac{2a}{\pi}\right)^{1/4}e^{-ikx-ax^2}dx\right|^2$$$$p_x=\left|\frac {\sqrt{2a}}{\sqrt{\pi}} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty}e^{+ax^2}e^{-ikx-ax^2}dx\right|^2$$$$p_x=\left|\frac {\sqrt{2a}}{\sqrt{\pi}} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty}e^{-ikx}dx\right|^2$$
But that's as far as I seem to be able to get. I've either done something wrong to get to here or I'm missing something from here on. My thoughts are I need to use one of the standard integrals but I can't seem to figure out how to. Can anyone offer any advice on how to proceed with this? Thanks
 
Last edited:
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##\psi_0## is real, so ##\psi_0^* = \psi_0##.
 
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Likes Leechie
Thank you so much! I can't believe I didn't spot that.
 

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