3.3 the time-dependent schrödinger equation · the time-dependent schrödinger equation is linear...
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3.3 The time-dependent Schrödinger equation
Slides: Video 3.3.1 Introduction to the time-dependent Schrödinger equation
Text reference: Quantum Mechanics for Scientists and Engineers
Chapter 3 introduction
The time-dependent Schrödinger equation
David MillerQuantum mechanics for scientists and engineers
3.3 The time-dependent Schrödinger equation
Slides: Video 3.3.2 Rationalizing the time-dependent Schrödinger equation
Text reference: Quantum Mechanics for Scientists and Engineers
Sections 3.1 – 3.2
The time-dependent Schrödinger equation
Rationalizing the time-dependent Schrödinger equation
Quantum mechanics for scientists and engineers David Miller
Relation between energy and frequency
The relation between energy
and frequency
for photons
is E h
Relation between energy and frequency
The relation between energy
and frequency
for photons
is E h
quantum mechanics
Rationalizing the time-dependent equation
We want a time-dependent wave equationfor a particle with mass m
with this relation between energy and frequency
We might also reasonably want it to have plane wave solutions
e.g., of the formwhen we have some specific energy E
and when we are in a uniform potential
E h
exp i kz t
Rationalizing the time-dependent equation
Schrödinger postulated the time-dependent equation
Note that for a uniform potentiale.g., for simplicity
with and waves of the form
are indeed solutions
22 ,
, , ,2
tt V t t i
m t
rr r r
0V E 22 /k mE
exp exp exp expEt Eti t kz i kz i ikz
Rationalizing the time-dependent equation
In his time-dependent equation
Schrödinger chose a sign for the right hand sidewhich means that a wave with a spatial part
is definitely going in the positive z directionThat wave, including its time dependence would be of the form (for )
22 ,
, , ,2
tt V t t i
m t
rr r r
exp ikz
exp /i kz Et 0V
Compatibility with the time-independent equation
Before examining the time-dependent equation furtherfirst we should check that it is compatible with the time-independent equation
The time-independent equation could apply if we had states of definite energy E, an eigenenergy
Suppose we had some corresponding eigenfunctionso that
r
2
2
2V E
m r r r r
Compatibility with the time-independent equation
As it standsthis solution is not a solution of the time-dependent equation
Putting in here for does not workbecause has no time-dependence
the right hand side is zerowhereas it should be
how do we resolve this?
r
22 ,
, , ,2
tt V t t i
m t
rr r r
r ,t r r
E r
Compatibility with the time-independent equation
Suppose that, instead of proposing the solutionwe propose
r , exp /t iEt r r
2
2 , ,2
t V tm
r r r
, exp /t iEt r r so solves the time-independent Schrödinger equation
2
2 exp / exp /2
iEt V iEtm
r r r
2
2 exp /2
V iEtm
r r r exp /E iEt r
,E t r
Compatibility with the time-independent equation
Similarly, knowing that solves the time-independent equation with energy E
substitutingin the time-dependent equation gives
r
, exp /t iEt r r
22 ,
, ,2
tt V t i
m t
rr r r
, exp /t iEt r r so solves the time-dependent Schrödinger equation
exp /i iEtt
r
exp /i iEtt
r exp /Ei i iEt r
,E t r
Compatibility with the time-independent equation
So every solution of the time-independent Schrödinger equation, with eigenenergy E
is also a solution of the time-dependent equationas long as we always multiply it by a factor
If is a solution of the time-independent Schrödinger equation, with eigenenergy E
thenis a solution of both the time-independent and the time-dependent Schrödinger equations
making these two equations compatible
r
, exp /t iEt r r
exp /iEt
r
Oscillations and time-independence
If we propose a solution
to a time-independent problem can this represent something that is stable in time?
Yes! - measurable quantities associated with this stateare stable in time!
e.g., probability density
, exp /t iEt r r
2 2, exp / exp /t iEt iEt r r r r
3.3 The time-dependent Schrödinger equation
Slides: Video 3.3.4 Solutions of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation
Text reference: Quantum Mechanics for Scientists and Engineers
Section 3.3
The time-dependent Schrödinger equation
Solutions of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation
Quantum mechanics for scientists and engineers David Miller
Contrast to classical wave equation
The common classical wave equation has a different form
for which
would also be a solutionNote the classical equation has a second time derivative
as opposed to the first time derivative in Schrödinger’s time-dependent equation
2 22
2 2
k fft
expf i kz t
Schrödinger’s complex waves
Note that Schrödinger’s use of a complex wave equation
with the “i” on the right hand sidemeans that generally the wave is required to be
a complex entityFor example, for
though is a solutionis not a solution
22 ,
, , ,2
tt V t t i
m t
r
r r r
0V exp /i kz Et
sin /kz Et
Wave equation solutions
With the classical wave equationif at some time we see a particular shape of wave
e.g., on a string
Wave equation solutions
With the classical wave equationif at some time we see a particular shape of wave
e.g., on a string
we do not know if it is going to the right f z ct
Wave equation solutions
With the classical wave equationif at some time we see a particular shape of wave
e.g., on a string
we do not know if it is going to the rightor to the left
or even some combination of the two
f z ct g z ct
Time evolution from Schrödinger’s equation
In Schrödinger’s equation, for a known potential V
if we knew the wavefunction at every point in space at some time to
we could evaluate the left hand side of the equation at that time for all r
so we would know for all rso we could integrate the equation to deduce at all future times
22 ,
, , ,2
tt V t t i
m t
rr r r
, ot r
, /t t r
,t r
Time evolution from Schrödinger’s equation
Explicitlyknowing we can calculate
that is, we can know the new wavefunction in space at the next instant in time
and we can continue on to the next instantand so on
predicting all future evolution of the wavefunction
, /t t r
,
, ,o
o ot
t t t tt
r
r r
3.3 The time-dependent Schrödinger equation
Slides: Video 3.3.6 Linear superposition
Text reference: Quantum Mechanics for Scientists and Engineers
Section 3.4 – 3.5
The time-dependent Schrödinger equation
Linear superposition
Quantum mechanics for scientists and engineers David Miller
Linearity of Schrödinger’s equation
The time-dependent Schrödinger equation is linear in the wavefunction
One reason is that no higher powers of appear anywhere in the equation
A second reason is that appears in every termthere is no additive constant term anywhere
22 ,
, , ,2
tt V t t i
m t
rr r r
Linearity of Schrödinger’s equation
Linearity requires two conditionsobeyed by Schrödinger’s time-dependent equation
1 - If is a solution, then so also is a , where a is any constant
2 - If a and b are solutions, then so also isA consequence of these two conditions is that
where ca and cb are (complex) constantsis also a solution
a b
, , ,c a a b bt c t c t r r r
Linear superposition
The fact that
is a solution if a and b are solutionsis the property of
linear superpositionTo emphasize
linear superpositions of solutions of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation
are also solutions
, , ,c a a b bt c t c t r r r
Time-dependence and expansion in eigenstates
We know thatif the potential V is constant in time
each of the energy eigenstateswith eigenenergy En
is separately a solution of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation
provided we remember to multiply by the right complex exponential factor
n r
, exp /n n nt iE t r r
Time-dependence and expansion in eigenstates
Now we also know that the set of eigenfunctions of problems we will consider is a complete set
so the wavefunction at can be expanded in them
where the an are the expansion coefficientsBut we know that a function that starts out as
will evolve in time as so, by linear superposition, the solution at time t is
0t ,0 n n
n
a r r
n r , exp /n n nt iE t r r
, , exp /n n n n nn n
t a t a iE t r r r
Time-dependence and expansion in eigenstates
Hence, for the case where the potential V does not vary in time
is the solution of the time-dependent equationwith the initial condition
Hence, if we expand the wavefunction at time in the energy eigenstates
we have solved for the time evolution of the state just by adding up the above sum
, , exp /n n n n nn n
t a t a iE t r r r
,0 n nn
a r r r
0t
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