Regarding Kittel's solid state physics 167 page

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a concept from Kittel's 'Introduction to Solid State Physics', specifically regarding the normalization of wave functions at the Brillouin zone boundary. The original poster is seeking clarification on the meaning of "normalized over unit length of line" as stated in the text.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to understand the normalization condition by integrating the square of the wave function and questions the validity of their reasoning when the result does not equal one. Some participants question the nature of the variable ##a## and whether it is a fixed quantity or can be specified.

Discussion Status

The discussion is exploring the implications of the normalization condition and the role of the variable ##a##. Some participants are providing insights into the periodic nature of the sine function and its relation to the normalization condition, but there is no explicit consensus on the interpretation of the normalization requirement.

Contextual Notes

There is an ongoing examination of the assumptions regarding the variable ##a##, particularly whether it is a fixed parameter related to the unit cell size in a one-dimensional lattice.

benz994
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Homework Statement



In Kittel's 'Introduction to solid state physics' (8th ed.), on page 167, it says "The wave functions at the Brillouin zone boundary ##k=\pi/a## are ##\sqrt{2} cos (\pi x/a)## and ##\sqrt{2} sin(\pi x/a)##, normalized over unit length of line."
Here I cannot understand what is the meaning of "normalized over unit length of line".
Does that mean that, when I integrate the square of the wave function from 0 to 1, the result should be 1? But
$$ \int_0^1 2cos^2 \frac{\pi x}{a} dx = \int_0^1 (1+cos \frac{2\pi x}{a})dx $$
$$ = 1+\frac{a}{2\pi} sin\frac{2\pi}{a} \neq 1. $$
Please help me find out what is wrong in my reasoning.
Thanks.
 
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Is ##a## given, or is it something you can specify at will? In the latter case, can you find ##a## that would satisfy the requirement?
 
Thank you for the responce.
I think ##a## is a given quantity. ##a## is the size of the unit cell in one-dimensional lattice.
The above equation is satisfied only when ##a=1##.
 
benz994 said:
The above equation is satisfied only when ##a=1##.

No, not only. The sine is a periodic function.
 

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