What are the Expectations for Momentum and Energy in Quantum Mechanics?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the expectation values for momentum and energy in quantum mechanics using the wave function \(\psi(x,t)\). The momentum operator \(\hat{p} = \frac{\hbar}{i} \frac{\partial }{\partial x}\) and the energy operator \(\hat{E} = i \hbar \frac{\partial }{\partial t}\) are utilized to derive the expectation values \(\langle p \rangle\), \(\langle E \rangle\), and \(\langle p^2 \rangle\). The formulas for these expectations are clearly defined, emphasizing the integration of the wave function and its derivatives over the entire space.

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Homework Statement


We have a particle of mass m and potential energy V(x), wavefn [tex]\psi(x,t)[/tex]
What are the expectations for the momentum [tex]p_x[/tex], [tex]p_x^2[/tex] and the energy.
 
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We have momentum and energy operators that we can use here. The momentum operator is [tex]\hat{p}[/tex] and the energy operator is [tex]\hat{E}[/tex] where
[tex]\hat{p} = \hbar / i \frac{\partial }{\partial x}[/tex]
and
[tex]\hat{E} = i \hbar \frac{\partial }{\partial t}[/tex]

For any function [tex]g(x)[/tex] we have the expectation value as:

[tex]\langle g(x) \rangle = \int^{\infty}_{-\infty} \psi^\star (x,t) g(x) \psi (x,t)\,dx[/tex]

Then we have

[tex]\langle p \rangle = \hbar / i \int^\infty_{-\infty} \psi^\star (x,t) \frac{\partial }{\partial x} \psi (x,t)\,dx[/tex]

and

[tex]\langle E \rangle = i \hbar \int^\infty_{-\infty} \psi^\star (x,t) \frac{\partial }{\partial t} \psi (x,t)\,dx[/tex]

and also

[tex]\langle p^2 \rangle = \hbar^2 \int^\infty_{-\infty} \psi^\star (x,t) \frac{\partial^2 }{\partial x^2} \psi (x,t)\,dx[/tex]
 

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