# Normalization of wave function and estimation of values

1. May 14, 2013

### Rorshach

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Hello, I have this problem with seemingly simple process, but there are things I either don't know, or make some stupid mistake on the way over and over. Here's the problem:

At a particular time given by the wave function ψ(x)=N*x*exp(-(x/a)2)
Determine N so that the wave function is normalized. Then determine xψ, pxψ, px2ψ and Hψ. For this case assume that V (x) = 1/2kx2. Calculate the <H>.

2. Relevant equations
px=±ihbarred(d/dx)

3. The attempt at a solution
I tried to normalize the function using wolframalpha, but the result came out with unknown to me error function(I don't know this function at all, this is my first time meeting it), hence my problem with normalizing the function. I do not know why they ask for the values in this form (px*ψ- why the *ψ?), but according to the textbook I can get px from the equation I gave above, just by differentiating the wave function on x values and include the i*hbarred, which I estimated to be (N*exp(-(x/a)2)*(a2-2x2))/a2. However in the answers I got totally different result:
-i*hbarred*N*(1-2x2/a2)*exp(-(x/a)2)

2. May 14, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

What exactly did you try to calculate?

They're just asking to apply the operator to the wave function.

Apart from the fact that you forgot the factor $-i \hbar$, I don't see the difference between the two results.

3. May 14, 2013

### Rorshach

Gosh, I must be blind:P Of course You are right, no idea how I missed that;)
I tried to calculate the infinite integral for square of wave function ψ(x)=N*x*exp(-(x/a)2) to get N, but then wolframalpha gave the result with error function.
As for the notation- I just haven't encountered this type of notation, and don't really understand its meaning- notation I've been familiar so far is the one with wave function symbol as the lower capital (in this case it could be a bit confusing, standing next to x).

4. May 15, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

Try this in WolframAlpha:

Integrate[(N x Exp[-(x/a)^2])^2, {x, -\[Infinity], \[Infinity]}]

Better get used to it! This is standard operator notation. If you see something like $p_x \psi(x)$, you replace the $p_x$ by its operator value, so you get
$$p_x \psi(x) = -i \hbar \frac{d}{dx} \psi(x)$$
$x$ is also an operator: if the wave function is expressed as a function of $x$, $\psi(x)$, then $x \psi(x)$ is the trivial operation "multiply by $x$". Note that you can also represent the wave function in momentum space, $\psi(p)$, in which case the $p$ operator is simple multiplication and $x$ becomes a differential operator.

I don't understand what you mean here.

5. May 15, 2013

### Rorshach

ψThanks for the wolframalpha formula, it explains a lot:) By the notation I have been familiar so far I mean this:
for example momentum operator of function ψ: p(x)ψ
I know it may look weird, but my teacher had this manner of writing it in this way.
In the case of x we are looking for <x>, right?

6. May 15, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

These kinds of integrals are called "Gaussian integrals" and are very common in quantum mechanics. Many QM textbooks have little tables of them in the appendices at the end. Or there's good old Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaussian_integral

Usually you can make a substitution to get your integral into the form of one of the standard Gaussian integrals, and then do it by hand.

7. May 16, 2013

### Rorshach

Thanks:) I have to refresh some stuff with those integrals:P About xψ- I thought to calculate <x> according to formula ∫ψ*(x,t)xψ(x,t)dx

8. May 16, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

As stated, the problem asks for $x \psi$, not $\langle \psi | x | \psi \rangle$.

9. May 16, 2013

### Rorshach

Wouldn't it then be just multiplication? Or x represents some operator?

10. May 17, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

Yes and yes.

My guess is that this is the point of the exercise. It teaches you about how to think of operators, and that things like "just multiplication" by $x$ is actually an operation.

11. May 17, 2013

### Rorshach

so it is going to be xψ=N*x*exp(-(x/a)2)*x=Nx2exp(-(x/a)2)
right?

12. May 17, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

That's how I would answer it.

13. May 17, 2013

### Rorshach

Thank You;)

14. May 17, 2013

### Rorshach

One more thing: if I want to obtain <H>, the formula states <H>=<ψ|Hψ>, meaning integral of th conjugate of the wave function times H times wave function? I am not proficient in bra-ket notation.

15. May 17, 2013

Correct.