# Momentum eigenstates particle in box

1. May 14, 2009

### clacker

Quantum mechanics says measurement of observable always produces result that is one of eigenvalues of that observable. Subsequent measurement yields same value. For a particle in a box with infinite potential barriers if measure momentum doesn't that put system in eigenstate of momentum insuring subsequent same value of momentum. Doesn't this then violate uncertainty since know particle's postion with certainty of width of box. I don't understand how this doesn't violate uncertainty, in any event you could always measure momentum and with the particle in box it seems you can always violate uncertainty.

2. May 15, 2009

Since momentum eigenstates are of the form $$\psi = C e^{i p x/\hbar}$$, it would seem that there are no momentum eigenstates that satisfy the boundary conditions - you can only have linear combinations of states of different momenta. Although that does bring up the question of what the state of a particle in a box actually is after you measure its momentum... maybe it's not actually the case that (theoretical infinitely fast) repeated measurements are guaranteed to give the same result? I think I should know this but it's escaping me at the moment :/