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Wave Equation

This document presents the solution to the one-dimensional time-dependent Schrödinger wave equation using the technique of separation of variables. It represents the wave function Ψ(x,t) as the product of two functions, ψ(x) and φ(t), containing only the spatial and temporal variables respectively. Applying this representation, the Schrödinger equation separates into two ordinary differential equations with respect to the variables x and t. Solving these equations yields the general solution for the wave function as Ψn(x,t) = ψn(x)e-iEnt/ħ, where ψn(x) is a known spatial solution corresponding to an energy level En

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Suranga Kulathunga
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152 views2 pages

Wave Equation

This document presents the solution to the one-dimensional time-dependent Schrödinger wave equation using the technique of separation of variables. It represents the wave function Ψ(x,t) as the product of two functions, ψ(x) and φ(t), containing only the spatial and temporal variables respectively. Applying this representation, the Schrödinger equation separates into two ordinary differential equations with respect to the variables x and t. Solving these equations yields the general solution for the wave function as Ψn(x,t) = ψn(x)e-iEnt/ħ, where ψn(x) is a known spatial solution corresponding to an energy level En

Uploaded by

Suranga Kulathunga
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

THE SCHRDINGER WAVE EQUATION

h2 2 h + = 2m j t
where =
2

2 2 2 + 2 + 2 x 2 y z

This is the Scrdinger Wave Equation in three dimensions. The following concerns a onedimensional problem where the equation is a function of x and t. Refer to pp. 38,39 in Solid State Electronic Devices.

THE PROBLEM h 2 2 ( x, t ) h ( x, t ) + V ( x )( x, t ) = 2 2m x j t

THE APPROACH
We are going to solve the equation by breaking it into two equations using the technique of separation of variables.

THE SOLUTION Let ( x, t ) be represented by the product (x )(t ) :


Now divide the equation by (x )(t ) . Now the variable x appears only on the left and the variable t only on the right.

(t ) h 2 2 (x ) h (t ) + V ( x ) ( x )(t ) = ( x ) 2 j 2m x t h 2 1 2 ( x ) h 1 (t ) + V (x ) = 2 2m ( x ) x j (t ) t h 2 1 d 2(x ) + V (x ) = E 2m ( x ) dx 2 h 1 d(t ) =E j (t ) dt d 2 ( x ) 2 m 2m 2 V ( x )( x ) = 2 E( x ) 2 dx h h d(t ) j = E(t ) dt h d 2 ( x ) 2 m + 2 [E V ( x )] ( x ) = 0 dx 2 h d(t ) jE + (t ) = 0 dt h


[Eq. 3] [Eq. 4]

Since x and t are independent variables, this equation is valid only when each side equals a constant, says our instructor. We will call the constant E. We lose the partial derivative symbol too.

[Eq. 1] [Eq. 2]

Multiplying [Eq. 1] by and [Eq. 2] by

2m (x ) h2

j (t ) gives: h

Collecting terms on the left side:

Tom Penick

tomzap@eden.com

www.teicontrols.com/notes 05/08/99

THE SOLUTION OF [EQ. 4]


[Eq. 4] is a linear first order differential equation.

d(t ) jE + (t ) = 0 dt h
jE dt h

[Eq. 4]

We multiply the equation by the integrating factor e which is e jEt / h :

d(t ) jEt / h jE e + (t )e jEt / h = 0 h dt d(t ) jEt / h e =0 dt

Discard the center term; this happens somehow by integrating and taking the derivative. Integrate with respect to t.

d(t ) jEt / h e dt = 0 dt dt (t )e jEt / h = 0 (t ) = 0e jEt / h

On the right side we get a constant, or initial condition 0. Solve for (t) to get:

THE ANSWER
The instructor say that we put 0 into the total normalization constant and assume n(x) is known corresponding to a certain En, and the overall wave function is:

n ( x, t ) = n ( x )e jE n t / h

ABOUT THE VARIABLES


E = the separation constant; corresponds to the energy of the particle when particular solutions are obtained, such that a wave function n corresponds to a particle energy En. V(x) = potential, usually resulting from an electrostatic or magnetic field. [V]

h = Planck's constant divided by 2 [J s]


t = time [s] m = quantum number [integer] = the nabla, del, or grad operator; not a variable

Tom Penick

tomzap@eden.com

www.teicontrols.com/notes 05/08/99

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