Variational Derivation of Schrodinger Equation

1. Jul 4, 2013

bolbteppa

In reading Weinstock's Calculus of Variations, on pages 261 - 262 he explains how Schrodinger apparently first derived the Schrodinger equation from variational principles.

Unfortunately I don't think page 262 is showing so I'll explain the gist of it:

"In his initial paper" he considers the reduced Hamilton-Jacobi equation

$\frac{1}{2m}[(\frac{\partial S}{\partial x})^2 \ + \ (\frac{\partial S}{\partial y})^2 \ + \ (\frac{\partial S}{\partial z})^2] \ + \ V(x,y,z) \ - \ E \ = \ 0$

for a single particle of mass $m$ in an arbitrary force field described by a potential $V = V(x,y,z)$

& with a change of variables $S \ = \ K\log(\Psi)$, (where $K$ will turn out to be $\frac{h}{2\pi}$) it reduces to

$\frac{K^2}{2m}[(\frac{\partial \Psi}{\partial x})^2 \ + \ (\frac{\partial \Psi}{\partial y})^2 \ + \ (\frac{\partial \Psi}{\partial z})^2] \ + \ (V \ - \ E)\Psi^2 \ = 0$.

Now instead of solving this he, randomly from my point of view, choosed to integrate over space

$I \ = \ \int\int\int_\mathcal{V}(\frac{K^2}{2m}[(\frac{\partial \Psi}{\partial x})^2 \ + \ (\frac{\partial \Psi}{\partial y})^2 \ + \ (\frac{\partial \Psi}{\partial z})^2] \ + \ (V \ - \ E)\Psi^2)dxdydz$

& then extremizes this integral which gives us the Schrodinger equation.

Apparently as the book then claims on page 264 it is only after this derivation that he sought to connect his idea's to deBroglie's wave-particle duality.

Thus I have three questions,

1) What is the justification for Feynman's famous quote:

"Where did we get that [Schrödinger's equation] from? It's not possible to derive it from anything you know. It came out of the mind of Schrödinger"
The Feynman Lectures on Physics

in light of the above derivation. I note that all the derivations I've seen of the Schrodinger equation doing something like using operators such as $i\frac{h}{2\pi}\frac{\partial}{\partial t} \ = \ E$ to derive it always mention it's merely heuristic, yet what Schrodinger apparently originally did seems like a roundabout way of solving the Hamilton-Jacobi equation with no heuristic-ness in sight. What subtleties am I missing here? Why would I be a fool to arrogantly 'correct' someone who says Schrodinger is not derivable from anything you know?

2) Is the mathematical trick Schrodinger has used something you can use to solve problems?

3) Why can't you use this exact derivation in the relativistic case?

2. Jul 4, 2013

dextercioby

There's no subtlety, one has to take what Schroedinger wrote for granted. Likewise for all other articles in 1925-1926.

3. Jul 4, 2013

Avodyne

This is not the Schrodinger equation. The signs are wrong.

4. Jul 4, 2013

samalkhaiat

No, this does not give you the Schrodinger equation. You have to CHOOSE $K$ to be the pure IMAGINARY number $- i \hbar$.

Now Feynman would tell you that POSTULATING $K = - i \hbar$ is EQUIVALENT to postulating the Schrodinger equation $i \hbar \partial_{ t } \Psi = H \Psi$.

Do you mean the “variation methods”? We use them all over the places.

$$\left( \frac{ \partial S }{ \partial t } \right)^{ 2 }- \left( \frac{ \partial S }{ \partial x } \right)^{ 2 } = m^{ 2 }$$

Sam

5. Jul 4, 2013

bolbteppa

On page 276, 14 pages after he explains what I posted, & after he goes through how Schrodinger linked his work with DeBroglie's work, it is only then that Weinstock says:

Apparently Schrodinger was able to do what I have posted using real-valued functions & have $K$ as I have defined it, without $i$. If you're following what Weinstock is saying he shows how the hydrogen atom energy levels are explainable without complex numbers, i.e. he is able to derive a physical interpretation of the eigenvalues (discrete energy levels) of the Schrodinger equation that were in accord with experiment (see Section 11.3 Page 279 on). As far as I understand it it is in trying to find a physical interpretation of the eigenfunctions that one is forced into complex numbers, though apparently, according to the book, it can be shown to be necessary.

If you guys are telling me that all this is just 'postulated as definition' & the book says it isn't that it's all derivable then what can I do?

I meant the trick of taking one differential equation, doing a change of variables, randomly integrating the entire thing & then extremizing this result as a means to find a solution to your original differential equation? Seems like there are subtle assumptions involved, for example that the function you're seeking is originally postulated to be the minimum since you're working with the Hamilton-Jacobi equation thus justifying the extremization of the integral of the resulting differential equation. Would like to hear people's thoughts on it, what other assumptions they see built in & in general just a discussion on it's validity.

6. Sep 13, 2013

stevendaryl

Staff Emeritus
[Deleted]

Last edited: Sep 13, 2013
7. Sep 13, 2013

stevendaryl

Staff Emeritus
For bound particles, the radial time-independent wave function can always be taken to be real.