Why not describing the radiatation of atom spectrum by TDSE

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the modeling of atomic radiation, specifically the transition of electrons between energy levels and the emission of photons, using the time-dependent Schrödinger equation (TDSE) versus the time-independent Schrödinger equation (TISE). Participants explore the implications of these approaches, including the use of perturbation theory and the treatment of stimulated versus spontaneous emission.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that the radiation of an atom can be described using the TDSE, suggesting that the wavefunction evolves from an initial state to a final state upon photon emission.
  • Others argue that the formal approach to radiative transitions is through time-dependent perturbation theory, emphasizing that the TDSE is necessary when considering electromagnetic radiation.
  • A participant mentions that stimulated emission can be modeled with the nonrelativistic Schrödinger equation by adding an oscillating term, while spontaneous emission requires quantum electrodynamics.
  • There is a question about why the oscillating term is considered large far from the system and whether it would be more reasonable to modify it by dividing by distance.
  • Participants discuss the nature of the wavefunction after a transition, questioning why one would not simply choose the final wavefunction as the state of interest.
  • Concerns are raised about the concept of "collapse" of the wavefunction and how it relates to different representations (position vs. momentum) in quantum mechanics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the appropriate framework for describing atomic radiation, with some supporting the use of TDSE and others favoring time-dependent perturbation theory. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach and the implications of wavefunction collapse.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on the definitions of eigenstates and the assumptions made about the perturbation potentials. The discussion also highlights the complexity of spontaneous emission compared to stimulated emission.

zhouhao
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The radiation of an atom was interpreted by time-independent Schrödinger equation:electron was transformed from high energy level state to lower and emit a photon.Could we treat this process through a wavefunction ##{\psi}(t)##? Before emiting,the system's wavefunction is ##{\psi}(0)## and after emiting photon,it is ##{\psi}(t_0)##.
##{\psi}(t)## is constrained by time-dependent Schrödinger equation and contain all information of the system.Is there any papers incorporate photon emiting in wavefunction as well as the method to define ##{\psi}(t=0)##?
 
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zhouhao said:
The radiation of an atom was interpreted by time-independent Schrödinger equation:electron was transformed from high energy level state to lower and emit a photon.
You are definitely mistaken. The formal approach to describe radiative transitions in atoms is in fact through the use time-dependent perturbation theory. When one takes EM radiation into account in the Schroedinger equation, e.g. for the purpose of deriving the transition rate, the time-dependent Schroedinger equation is inevitable. Upon employing certain approximation it's possible to reduce this problem to a perturbation treatment.
zhouhao said:
the method to define ψ(t=0){\psi}(t=0)?
You determine it yourself, depending on where you want the electron to start from before the transition. However, it's usually assumed to be one of the energy eigenstates.
 
Stimulated emission can be modeled with the nonrelativistic Schrödinger equation by adding an oscillating term in the potential energy to represent the EM field, as in the equation

##i\hbar\frac{\partial \Psi}{\partial t} = -\frac{\hbar^2}{2\mu}\nabla^2 \Psi (x,y,z,t) - \frac{e^2}{4\pi \epsilon_0 r}\Psi (x,y,z,t) + C\sin (\omega t)x\Psi (x,y,z,t)##

but spontaneous emission must be handled with quantum electrodynamics (by using perturbation theory, too, but there it's more difficult than the nonrelativistic case).
 
blue_leaf77 said:
You are definitely mistaken. The formal approach to describe radiative transitions in atoms is in fact through the use time-dependent perturbation theory. When one takes EM radiation into account in the Schroedinger equation, e.g. for the purpose of deriving the transition rate, the time-dependent Schroedinger equation is inevitable. Upon employing certain approximation it's possible to reduce this problem to a perturbation treatment.

Thanks.I check my book and I am mistaken.But I am still confused.
As the book said,
##{\phi}_n## is the eigenstate of time-independent Schrödinger equation with eigenvalue ##E_n##.
Adding the time-dependent perturbation ##{\hat{H}}^{'}(t)##, wave function becomes ##\Psi=\sum\limits_{m=0}^{\infty}a_m(t){\phi}_m\exp{(-\frac{i}{\hbar}{E_m}t)}##,and the ##a_m(t)## was interpreted as the probability for the wave function transform from inital ##{\phi}_n\exp{(-\frac{i}{\hbar}E_nt)}## to final ##{\phi}_m\exp{(-\frac{i}{\hbar}E_mt)}##.The initial function and final function satisfied time-independent Schrödinger eqution.Why not just choose the ##\Psi## as the final function?
hilbert2 said:
Stimulated emission can be modeled with the nonrelativistic Schrödinger equation by adding an oscillating term in the potential energy to represent the EM field, as in the equation

##i\hbar\frac{\partial \Psi}{\partial t} = -\frac{\hbar^2}{2\mu}\nabla^2 \Psi (x,y,z,t) - \frac{e^2}{4\pi \epsilon_0 r}\Psi (x,y,z,t) + C\sin (\omega t)x\Psi (x,y,z,t)##

but spontaneous emission must be handled with quantum electrodynamics (by using perturbation theory, too, but there it's more difficult than the nonrelativistic case).

Why the oscillating term was very large far away from the system? Is it more reasonable to divide ##\sin(\omega t)## by ##x##?
With which kind of perturbation potential,we could distinguish adsorption or emission?
 
zhouhao said:
Why the oscillating term was very large far away from the system? Is it more reasonable to divide ##\sin(\omega t)## by ##x##? With which kind of perturbation potential,we could distinguish adsorption or emission?

A potential energy that grows in linear proportion to ##x## means that there's a constant force towards negative ##x##-direction everywhere. This is a reasonable approximation if the beam of light (which causes the transitions), as well as its wavelength, are much larger than a single atom.

In solving the spontaneous emission problem the whole system is different and can contain an undetermined number of photons besides the emitting/absorbing atom or molecule.
 
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zhouhao said:
Why not just choose the Ψ\Psi as the final function?
One usually is interested in finding out the probability of the atom being found in some other eigenstate different from the initial one after the transition because this is directly related to the transition rate between the initial state and the final one. The transition rate is a quantity that can be fairly easily measured in experiments.
 
blue_leaf77 said:
One usually is interested in finding out the probability of the atom being found in some other eigenstate different from the initial one after the transition because this is directly related to the transition rate between the initial state and the final one. The transition rate is a quantity that can be fairly easily measured in experiments.

Thanks!
I means with the perturbation added, the atom in ##{\phi}_n## with time evolving to be fould in ##\Psi=\sum\limits_{m=0}^{\infty}a_m(t){\phi}_m\exp{(-\frac{i}{\hbar}{E_m}t)}##,this is a mixture of many eigenstates.However,as the book said,the atom would be found at another eigenstate in the end.The mixture of many eigenstates seems "collapsing" to an eigenstate,I know this word--collapsing,but I think the "collapsing" must be a process control by time-dependent Schrödinger eqution.

This is my reason :
If we in momentum representation,atom state "collapsing" to an eigenstate function ,which may be a different function with the eigenstate function in position representation.The final wavefunction collapse to positon eigenstate or momentum eigenstate seems not right.
 
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