1. Nov 18, 2008

### good_phy

Hi, Finally! I reached harmonic oscilator! Congratulation!

Most of all QM text book introduced this formula :

Time independent energy eigenstate equation is

$$( - \frac{\hbar^2}{2m} \frac{\partial}{\partial x) + \frac{Kx^2}{2} )\varphi = E\varphi$$

(1)$\varphi_{xx} = -k^2 \varphi$

$\frac{\hbar^2k^2(x)}{2m} = E - \frac{K}{2}x^2 > 0$

We focused classically forbidden domain $x^2 > x_{o}^2, E < \frac{Kx^2}{2}$

In this case, kinetic energy is negative, so $\varphi_{xx} = k'^2 \varphi$ $\frac{\hbar^2k'^2}{2m} = \frac{K}{2}x^2 - E > 0$

For asymptotic domain, $Kx^2/2 >> E$

(2) $\varphi_{xx} = \frac{mK}{\hbar^2}\varphi = \beta^4x^2\varphi$ where subscript means 2nd differential, $\beta^2 = \frac{mw_{o}}{\hbar}$

We let (3) $\epsilon = \beta x$

(2) appears as (4) $\varphi_{\epsilon\epsilon} = \epsilon^2 \varphi$

If $\epsilon >>1$ then (2) is approximated to

(5) $\varphi \approx Aexp(\pm\frac{\epsilon^2}{2}) = Aexp(\pm\frac{(\beta x)^2}{2})$

I have a question. Liboff said (2) become (4) by introducing (3). But If (3) is right, I thought (4) should be $\varphi_{\epsilon\epsilon} = \beta^2\epsilon^2\varphi$. Is it right?

And I don't know how to derive (5) from (4). Please lead me.

2. Nov 18, 2008

### malawi_glenn

I don't have Liboff, but since you make substitution of variables from x to beta*epsilon, the second derivative on phi w.r.t to x will change..

$$\frac{d^2\phi}{dx^2} \rightarrow \beta ^2 \frac{d^2\phi}{d\epsilon^2}$$ (chain rule of calculus)

so it should be: $$\phi_{\epsilon\epsilon} = \epsilon^2 \phi$$

3. Nov 18, 2008

### good_phy

Thank you for your help! I'm very pleased with you. But Could you tell me how to apply chain rule of calculus on that formula? I just subsitute $x = \beta\epsilon$ into the x of dominator to get your formula. is it right procedure?

What is more, Can you give me a answer of second question?

4. Nov 18, 2008

### malawi_glenn

$$\frac{d\phi}{dx} = \frac{d\phi}{d\epsilon}\frac{d\epsilon}{dx}$$

what the second question is about is that that "far" away from the potential, (classical allowed region) wave function must go down as an exponential.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:HarmOsziFunktionen.jpg [Broken]

Last edited by a moderator: May 3, 2017