What is the relationship between wavepacket uncertainty and probability density?

  • #1
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Hi,

I'm puzzled by a couple of formulae in the answer sheet to a problem set I'm working on.

To calc. the new uncertainty in the position of a group of electrons, initially localised to [tex]\pm1\mum[/tex], after time t, it uses the factor:

[tex]\left(1+\frac{\hbar^{2}(\Delta k^{4}t^{2})}{4m^{2}}\right)^{1/2}[/tex]

The equation I would use for the probability density of this wave is

[tex]
\left|\Psi(z,t)\right|^{2} = \frac{\pi.(\Delta k^{2})}{\left(1+\frac{\hbar^{2}(\Delta k^{4}t^{2})}{4m^{2}}\right)^{1/2}}.exp\left(\frac{(\Delta k^{2})(z-vt)^{2}}{2\left(1+\frac{\hbar^{2}(\Delta k^{4}t^{2})}{4m^{2}}\right)}\right)
[/tex]

The denominator of the exp. component describes the increasing width of the wave packet (whereas [tex]\left(1+\frac{\hbar^{2}(\Delta k^{4}t^{2})}{4m^{2}}\right)^{1/2}[/tex] describes the decreasing peak height). I am puzzled by the square root sign they've introduced. Shouldn't they have simply applied it without?

Clearly, one needs to calc. [tex]\Delta k[/tex] to determine the new uncertainty in position, but I'm also puzzled by the claim that [tex]\Delta p\Delta z \approx \sqrt{2}[/tex] (nowhere justified). How do they figure that one?

Cheers!
 
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  • #2
The uncertainty of a gaussian is usually taken to be its std. dev. The denominator in the exponent is usually [tex]2\sigma^2[/tex] where sigma is the S.D.
 
  • #3
Thank you. :smile:
 
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