Infinite potential well energy question

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on a quantum mechanics problem involving a particle confined in an infinite potential well, specifically addressing the normalization of the wavefunction and the calculation of the ground state energy. The wavefunction is given as ψ(x,0) = Ax(a - x) for 0 ≤ x ≤ a, leading to the normalization constant A being determined as A = √(30/a^5). The ground state energy is calculated using the formula E = ħ²π² / 2ma², which is standard for infinite potential wells. The main inquiry revolves around determining the probability of measuring the ground state energy based on the provided wavefunction.

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Students and professionals in physics, particularly those specializing in quantum mechanics, as well as educators looking for examples of infinite potential well problems and their solutions.

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Homework Statement



A particle of mass m is confined (in one dimension) to the region 0 ≤ x ≤ a by a potential which is zero inside the region and infinitely large outside.

If the wavefunction at time t = 0 is of the form

ψ (x,0) = Ax(a - x) inside the region
ψ (x, 0) = 0 outside the region

(a) Find the value of A to normalise the wavefunction
(b) The probability of measuring the ground state energy of the particle.


Homework Equations



P = integral of ψ times its complex conjugate = 1


The Attempt at a Solution



So for (a), I used the formula above and integrating with respect to x from 0 to a, I got A = square root of 30/a5

(b) Since this is an infinite potential well, the energy values would be E = ħ2n2π2 / 2ma2 so the ground state energy would be ħ2π2 / 2ma2

So am I supposed to find the probability of getting the above ground state energy function?

I was thinking that this might have something to do with energy expectation values but then that has a dψ/dt under the integral so I would end up getting zero which wouldn't make any sense.
 
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Does anyone have an answer? :biggrin:
 
When thinking about the probability to get a certain energy level, another way to ask the question is what is the probability that the particle will be in the state corresponding to that energy level? In other words, you know the actual wavefunction at t = 0 and you want to know what the probability is that it will be found in the state with the wavefunction corresponding to the ground state energy level. What is the process for evaluating that likelihood?
 

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