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    Griffiths QMCH 1 P 14

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    The document discusses the probability current J(x,t), which describes the rate of change of the probability Pab(t) of finding a particle within a certain range of positions over time. It shows that the probability current is given by J(b,t) - J(a,t), and represents the net flow of probability into or out of the given position range. As an example, it calculates the probability current for a specific wave function from an earlier problem. The probability current has units of inverse time and represents the flow of probability density at a point in space and time.

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    Griffiths QMCH 1 P 14

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    abc xyz
    133 views2 pages
    The document discusses the probability current J(x,t), which describes the rate of change of the probability Pab(t) of finding a particle within a certain range of positions over time. It shows that the probability current is given by J(b,t) - J(a,t), and represents the net flow of probability into or out of the given position range. As an example, it calculates the probability current for a specific wave function from an earlier problem. The probability current has units of inverse time and represents the flow of probability density at a point in space and time.

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    zettili quantum mechanics solution chaper 1 the wave fuction

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    GriffithsQMCh1p14

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    The document discusses the probability current J(x,t), which describes the rate of change of the probability Pab(t) of finding a particle within a certain range of positions over time. It shows that the probability current is given by J(b,t) - J(a,t), and represents the net flow of probability into or out of the given position range. As an example, it calculates the probability current for a specific wave function from an earlier problem. The probability current has units of inverse time and represents the flow of probability density at a point in space and time.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    133 views2 pages

    Griffiths QMCH 1 P 14

    Uploaded by

    abc xyz
    The document discusses the probability current J(x,t), which describes the rate of change of the probability Pab(t) of finding a particle within a certain range of positions over time. It shows that the probability current is given by J(b,t) - J(a,t), and represents the net flow of probability into or out of the given position range. As an example, it calculates the probability current for a specific wave function from an earlier problem. The probability current has units of inverse time and represents the flow of probability density at a point in space and time.

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    You are on page 1of 2

    Griffiths Quantum Mechanics 3e: Problem 1.

    14 Page 1 of 2

    Problem 1.14
    Let Pab (t) be the probability of finding the particle in the range (a < x < b), at time t.
    (a) Show that
    dPab
    = J(a, t) − J(b, t),
    dt
    where
    ∂Ψ∗
     
    i~ ∗ ∂Ψ
    J(x, t) ≡ Ψ −Ψ .
    2m ∂x ∂x
    What are the units of J(x, t)? Comment: J is called the probability current, because it
    tells you the rate at which probability is “flowing” past the point x. If Pab (t) is increasing,
    then more probability is flowing into the region at one end than flows out at the other.
    (b) Find the probability current for the wave function in Problem 1.9. (This is not a very pithy
    example, I’m afraid; we’ll encounter more substantial ones in due course.)

    Solution

    According to Born’s interpretation, the probability of finding the particle in the interval
    a < x < b at time t is
    ˆ b
    Pab (t) = |Ψ(x, t)|2 dx
    a
    ˆ b
    = Ψ(x, t)Ψ∗ (x, t) dx.
    a

    Differentiate both sides with respect to t.


    ˆ
    dPab d b
    = Ψ(x, t)Ψ∗ (x, t) dx
    dt dt a
    ˆ b
    ∂
    = [Ψ(x, t)Ψ∗ (x, t)] dx
    a ∂t
    ˆ b
    ∂Ψ∗
    
    ∂Ψ ∗
    = Ψ +Ψ dx
    a ∂t ∂t
    The governing equation for the wave function Ψ(x, t) is Schrödinger’s equation.
    ∂Ψ i~ ∂ 2 Ψ i
    = 2
    − V (x, t)Ψ(x, t)
    ∂t 2m ∂x ~
    Take the complex conjugate of both sides to get the corresponding equation for Ψ∗ .
    ∂Ψ∗ i~ ∂ 2 Ψ∗ i
    =− 2
    + V (x, t)Ψ∗ (x, t)
    ∂t 2m ∂x ~
    Substitute these two formulas into the one for dPab /dt.
    ˆ b 
    i~ ∂ 2 Ψ i~ ∂ 2 Ψ∗
      
    dPab i ∗ i ∗
    = − VΨ Ψ +Ψ − + VΨ dx
    dt a 2m ∂x2 ~ 2m ∂x2 ~
    ˆ b
    i~ ∗ ∂ 2 Ψ i~ ∂ 2 Ψ∗
    
    i ∗ i ∗
    = Ψ − V Ψ Ψ − Ψ+ V Ψ Ψ dx
    a 2m ∂x2  ~ 2m ∂x2 ~
    

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    Griffiths Quantum Mechanics 3e: Problem 1.14 Page 2 of 2

    Factor i~/2m and then write the integrand as a derivative with respect to x.
    ˆ b 2 ∂ 2 Ψ∗
    
    dPab i~ ∗∂ Ψ
    = Ψ − Ψ dx
    dt 2m a ∂x2 ∂x2
    ˆ b  ∗   2 ∗
    2 ∂Ψ∗ ∂Ψ
    
    i~ ∂Ψ ∂Ψ ∗∂ Ψ ∂ Ψ
    = +Ψ − Ψ+ dx
    2m a ∂x ∂x ∂x2 ∂x2 ∂x ∂x
    ˆ b
    ∂ ∂Ψ∗
       
    i~ ∂ ∗ ∂Ψ
    = Ψ − Ψ dx
    2m a ∂x ∂x ∂x ∂x
    ˆ b
    ∂Ψ∗
     
    i~ ∂ ∗ ∂Ψ
    = Ψ − Ψ dx
    2m a ∂x ∂x ∂x
     b
    ∂Ψ∗
    
    i~ ∗ ∂Ψ

    = Ψ − Ψ
    2m ∂x ∂x a
    ∂Ψ∗ ∂Ψ∗
       
    i~ ∗ ∂Ψ i~ ∗ ∂Ψ
    = Ψ (b, t) (b, t) − (b, t)Ψ(b, t) − Ψ (a, t) (a, t) − (a, t)Ψ(a, t)
    2m ∂x ∂x 2m ∂x ∂x
    = J(b, t) − J(a, t)

    Each term in the equation,


    dPab
    = J(b, t) − J(a, t),
    dt
    has to have the same units. Since Pab is dimensionless, the SI units of J are inverse seconds (s−1 ).
    The normalized wave function in Problem 1.9 is
    r
    4 2am −a[(mx2 /~)+it]
    Ψ(x, t) = e ,
    π~
    which means the probability current is

    ∂Ψ∗
     
    i~ ∗ ∂Ψ
    J(x, t) = Ψ −Ψ
    2m ∂x ∂x
    " r ! r !
    i~ 4 2am −a[(mx2 /~)+it] ∂ 4 2am −a[(mx2 /~)−it]
    = e e
    2m π~ ∂x π~
    r ! r !#
    4 2am −a[(mx2 /~)−it] ∂ 4 2am −a[(mx2 /~)+it]
    − e e
    π~ ∂x π~
    " r ! r ! 
    i~ 4 2am −a[(mx2 /~)+it] 4 2am −a[(mx2 /~)−it] 2amx
    = e e −
    2m π~ π~ ~
    r ! r ! #
    4 2am −a[(mx2 /~)−it] 4 2am −a[(mx2 /~)+it] 2amx
    − e e −
    π~ π~ ~
    "r  
    i~ 2am −2amx2 /~ 2amx
    = e −
    2m π~ ~
    r  #
    2am −2amx2 /~ 2amx
    − e −
    π~ ~
    = 0.

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