Orthogonality of momentum space wavefunctions

ehrenfest
Messages
2,001
Reaction score
1
Page 152 Robinett:

Consider the (non-normalized) even momentum space wavefunctions for the symmetric well:,

\phi_n^+(p) = 2sin(w-m)/(w-m)+sin(w+m)/(w+m) where
w = sin((n-1/2)pi) and
m = ap/hbar.

Show that

\int_{-\infty}^{\infty}\phi_n^+(p)^*\cdot \phi_n^+(p) dp = \delta_{n,m}

The hint is to use partial fractions to rewrite the product found in the denominators and then use an integral table.

So, there are there are terms in the expansion of that integrand. Do I need to rewrite all of them in terms of partial fractions?

The first is 2sin(w-m)sin(w+m)/(w-m)(w+m), which I am having trouble with partial fractions. I get A=B=0 for the numerators?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
ehrenfest said:
Page 152 Robinett:

Consider the (non-normalized) even momentum space wavefunctions for the symmetric well:,

\phi_n^+(p) = 2sin(w-m)/(w-m)+sin(w+m)/(w+m) where
w = sin((n-1/2)pi) and
m = ap/hbar.

Show that

\int_{-\infty}^{\infty}\phi_n^+(p)^*\cdot \phi_n^+(p) dp = \delta_{n,m}

The hint is to use partial fractions to rewrite the product found in the denominators and then use an integral table.

So, there are there are terms in the expansion of that integrand. Do I need to rewrite all of them in terms of partial fractions?

The first is 2sin(w-m)sin(w+m)/(w-m)(w+m)...

no, it's 2sin(w-m)(w+m)/(w-m)(w+m).
 
So the integrand is

\frac{a}{2\pi\hbar} \left(sin^2(w-m)/(w-m) + 2 sin (m-w) sin (w+m)/(w-m)(w+m) + sin^2(w+n)/w+m\right) dp

I think I can integrate the squared terms, but I am not sure how to do partial decomposition on the middle term to derive something useful from it.

When I try partial fraction decomposition on that term I get

2 sin(w-m) sin(w+m)/(2n- pi) (1/(w-m) +1/(w+m) )Sorry. The statement of the problem is wrong. (n-1/2)pi not the sine of that.
 
Last edited:
Sorry. The statement of the problem is wrong. (n-1/2)pi not the sine of that.
 
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