Help in showing that this inner product is zero

user1139
Messages
71
Reaction score
8
Homework Statement
I want to show that the inner product between the plane wave solution and its conjugate is zero.
Relevant Equations
The inner product is defined as ##(u_{\vec{k}},u_{\vec{k}'})=-i\int u_{\vec{k}}\partial_{t}u^{*}_{\vec{k}'}-u^{*}_{\vec{k}'}\partial_{t} u_{\vec{k}}\,\mathrm{d}^3 x##
The unormalised plane wave solution is given as ##u_{\vec{k}}=e^{i\vec{k}\cdot\vec{x}-i\omega t}##. I want to show that ##(u_{\vec{k}},u^{*}_{\vec{k}'})=0##. However, I don't seem to be able to get the answer through direct calculation. Any hints on how to obtain the answer?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Show your work please.
 
Your question is also not well posed. Which Hilbert space are we supposed to work in? Is it ##\mathrm{L}^2(\mathbb{R}^3)## or is it ##\mathrm{L}^2(D)## with some finite region ##D##?
 
It seems that the inner product is propotional to $$\int \exp [i(\vec{k}+\vec{k}')\cdot\vec{x}]\mathrm{d}^3 x.$$

Shouldn't it be a Dirac-delta function?
 
Thread 'Need help understanding this figure on energy levels'
This figure is from "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" by Griffiths (3rd edition). It is available to download. It is from page 142. I am hoping the usual people on this site will give me a hand understanding what is going on in the figure. After the equation (4.50) it says "It is customary to introduce the principal quantum number, ##n##, which simply orders the allowed energies, starting with 1 for the ground state. (see the figure)" I still don't understand the figure :( Here is...
Thread 'Understanding how to "tack on" the time wiggle factor'
The last problem I posted on QM made it into advanced homework help, that is why I am putting it here. I am sorry for any hassle imposed on the moderators by myself. Part (a) is quite easy. We get $$\sigma_1 = 2\lambda, \mathbf{v}_1 = \begin{pmatrix} 0 \\ 0 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix} \sigma_2 = \lambda, \mathbf{v}_2 = \begin{pmatrix} 1/\sqrt{2} \\ 1/\sqrt{2} \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} \sigma_3 = -\lambda, \mathbf{v}_3 = \begin{pmatrix} 1/\sqrt{2} \\ -1/\sqrt{2} \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} $$ There are two ways...
Back
Top