Partial Differentiation in free Schrodinger Equation

karkas
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Hello again! This time I have another calculus question for you, coming straight out of my study of the free Schrodinger equation, since I am not that experienced with that kind of derivative.

It all starts with a given wavefunction (which I think is 2-dimensional,correct me if wrong)
\psi(x,t)=e^{i(px-Et)}/\hbar (1)

My book says|: We derive 3.4 according to t and x so we have:
\frac{\partial \psi}{\partial t}=-\frac{iE}{\hbar} \psi
and \frac{\partial \psi}{\partial x}=\frac{ip}{\hbar}\psi.

What I don't understand is how this partial deriving works. What I can figure out is that given the (1) equation, you derive the i(px)/\hbar and i(-Et)/\hbar parts differently, one by one not together. Is that it? So you basically remove the e (2.71)(this must be the way to derive from exponential equations, I don't remember clearly though) and derive the power...partially?

Alas, I am confused.. Any understandable link or advice is appreciated!
 
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karkas said:
Hello again! This time I have another calculus question for you, coming straight out of my study of the free Schrodinger equation, since I am not that experienced with that kind of derivative.

It all starts with a given wavefunction (which I think is 2-dimensional,correct me if wrong)
\psi(x,t)=e^{i(px-Et)}/\hbar (1)

My book says|: We derive 3.4 according to t and x so we have:
\frac{\partial \psi}{\partial t}=-\frac{iE}{\hbar} \psi
and \frac{\partial \psi}{\partial x}=\frac{ip}{\hbar}\psi.

What I don't understand is how this partial deriving works. What I can figure out is that given the (1) equation, you derive the i(px)/\hbar and i(-Et)/\hbar parts differently, one by one not together. Is that it? So you basically remove the e (2.71)(this must be the way to derive from exponential equations, I don't remember clearly though) and derive the power...partially?

Alas, I am confused.. Any understandable link or advice is appreciated!

i have no idea what you said but

if

\psi(x,t)=e^\frac{i(px-Et)}{\hbar}

then you compute the partial derivatives by taking regular derivatives while considering the other variables as constants. hence what the second and third equation say is that

\frac{\partial}{\partial t}\psi(x,t) = \frac{-iE}{\hbar}e^\frac{i(px-Et)}{\hbar}=\frac{-iE}{\hbar}\psi(x,t)

this means \psi(x,t) is an eigenfunction of the \frac{\partial}{\partial t} operator with eigenvalue \frac{-iE}{\hbar}.
 
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