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Physics 320 Assignment 8: L. Traktman November 13, 2018

This document contains the solutions to several physics problems relating to quantum mechanics. It finds the momentum and kinetic energy of an electron and photon using the de Broglie wavelength formula. It also shows that the uncertainty principle can be written in terms of the wavelength for a free particle. It calculates the probability of finding a particle in different regions of a box based on its wave function and compares this to the classical probability. It verifies that a trial wave function satisfies the Schrodinger equation and finds the energy of the first excited state of the particle in a box model. Finally, it normalizes the wave function and compares the normalization of the ground and first excited states.

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52 views

Physics 320 Assignment 8: L. Traktman November 13, 2018

This document contains the solutions to several physics problems relating to quantum mechanics. It finds the momentum and kinetic energy of an electron and photon using the de Broglie wavelength formula. It also shows that the uncertainty principle can be written in terms of the wavelength for a free particle. It calculates the probability of finding a particle in different regions of a box based on its wave function and compares this to the classical probability. It verifies that a trial wave function satisfies the Schrodinger equation and finds the energy of the first excited state of the particle in a box model. Finally, it normalizes the wave function and compares the normalization of the ground and first excited states.

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wizbizphd
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Physics 320 Assignment 8

L. Traktman
November 13, 2018

3.19
a)
For the electron,

h h
λ= p
→p= λ

Assuming this is non-relativistic,

p2 h2 (hc)2 (12400eV −Å)2


K= 2m
= 2mλ2
= 2mc2 λ2
= (1.022M eV )(0.1)2

15.0keV

b)
Similarly for a photon:

hc 12400
K= λ
= .1
= 124000

124 keV

c)
It seems the electron microscope is more practical, as its energy use is less.

1
3.20
Q: Show that for a free particle the uncertainty relation can be written
λ2
∆λ∆x ≥ 4π

h h
For a free particle λ = p
→p= λ

dp
dt
= − λh2 dλ
dt

Reverse the limits that created the derivatives

∆t[ ∆p
∆t
= − λh2 ∆λ
∆t
]

h
∆p = λ2
∆λ

Throw that into the momentum-position uncertainty expression

( λh2 ∆λ)∆x ≥ h
4π

λ2
∆λ∆x ≥ 4π

5.7
a)
Q: Use the particle-in-a-box from EX 5-9,10 to find the probability that a
wave function-associated particle would be found a distance of a3 from the
right wall of a box of length a (i.e. the last third of the box)

From those examples:


−iπ 2 }
q
Ψ(x, t) = a2 cos( πx
a
)e 2ma2

For the last third of the box we begin at − a2 + 2a


3
= a
6
until the end.
R a2 2
R a2
P(x) = a Ψ? Ψdx = a a cos2 ( πx
a
)dx
6 6

2
1
R a2
a a (1 + cos( 2πx
a
))dx
6
a
[ xa + 1
4π
sin( 2πx
a
)]| a2
6

P (x) ≈ .196

b)
Q: What is that probability classically (EX 5-6)?

Classically the particle is equally likely to be anywhere in the box, so:

The likelihood of it being in a given third is 13 , ≈ .3333

5.9
Following EX 5-9, for the wave function Ψ(x, t) = Asin( 2πx
a
)e−iEt/}

a)
Q: Verify that the function satisfies the Schroedinger equation inside the
box (− a2 , a2 )

} ∂ Ψ 2 2
The function must satisfy − 2m ∂x2
= i} ∂Ψ
∂t

∂Ψ
∂x
= A 2π
a
cos( 2πx
a
)e−iEt/}

∂2Ψ 2 2
∂x2
= −A 4π
a2
sin( 2πx
a
)e−iEt/} = − 4π
a2
Ψ

∂Ψ
∂t
= − iE
}
Asin( 2πx
a
)e−iEt/} = − iE
}
Ψ

Throwing that into the Schroedinger equation...


2
} −4π 2
− 2m a2
= i} −iE
}

4π 2 }2
This satisfies the Schroedinger equation so long as E = 2ma2

3
b)
Q: Find the total energy of the first excited state and compare with the
ground state

2π 2 }2 π 2 }2
From part a), we have E = ma2
; from EX 5-9 we have E = ma2

E1st = 4Eground

c)
Q: Plot the space dependence, compare with the ground state and give a
qualitative argument relating the difference in wave functions to the differ-
ence in energies

Here is the plot taking a = 1

5.10
a)
Q: Normalize the wave function of problem 9 by adjusting A until the total
probability of finding the particle in a equals one

4
2π 2 }t
From problem nine we have Ψ(x, t) = Asin( 2πx
a
)e−i ma2
R∞
−∞
Ψ? Ψdx = 1

Our particle is known to be between − a2 , and a


2
R a2
− a2 A2 sin2 ( 2πx
a
)dx = 1
R a2
− a2 A2 (1 − cos( 4πx
a
))dx = 2
a
a
A2 (x − 4π
sin( 4πx
a
))|−2 a =2
2

A2 ( a2 − (− a2 )) = 2
q
2
A= a

b)
Q: Compare the value of A found in EX 5-10 by normalizing the ground
state wave function. Discuss the comparison.

The values of A to normalize the ground and first excited states are the same.
It seems this normalization has more to do with the boundaries than with
the particle itself.

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