Weird QM summary

Rohan Kulkarni
Chapter 1

The Wave Function

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Chapter 2

Time independent Schrodinger

Equation

If any ~ is in the calculations that will be probably because I have been referring Griffiths.
We can always work in units where ~ = 1.

2.1 Stationary states or ”LETS SEE HOW TO SOLVE THIS

SCHRODINGER EQUATION IN THE SIMPLEST SCE-
NARIO”
Ψ = Ψ(x, t) and ψ = Ψ(x)

∂Ψ ~2 ∂ 2 Ψ
i~ =− +VΨ (2.1)
∂t 2m ∂x2
Lets dissect this ugly yet beautiful equation which is also known as the Time De-
pendent Schrodinger Equation (TDSE)

• This is the Schrodinger equation in one dimension. (Acting on a system of one particle)

• The right hand side is the same as ĤΨ. Factor out Ψ and the remaining thing is the
Hamiltionian for this scenario.

• In this equation the only variable parameter is V(x,t). We drop the time depen-
dence in the potential to make our life easy for now.

• What does it mean to solve the Schrodinger equation?

– First of all what kind of an equation is this?

This is a second order partial differential equation in time-t and position-x.
– What’s a Physicist’s favorite tool to attack PDE’s?
Even if you don’t know, it’s always seperation of variables.
– Rather than just talking lets solve this to see what we get and then comment
what it means by solving Schrodinger’s equation.

Lets solve this bad boy i.e equation (2.1)

The following is a step by step procedure to solve this bad boy.

1.

Ψ(x, t) = ψ(x)φ(t) (2.2)

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 So what we did here is we decomposed a function of two variables into a product two
functions of one variable. (On both the sides we have function which is dependent on
both the variables. IF this is not obvious, just think about it)

2. Plug (2.2) into equation (2.1) and divide it by (2.2).

The product looks something like this :

1 dφ ~ d2 ψ
i~ =− + V (x) (2.3)
φ dt 2m dx2
Look at this elegant equation. On one side it is just dependent on time and on the other
it is dependent on position. This is an excellent decomposition assuming physicists like
symmetry. (Who are we kidding, Physicists are obsessed with it).

3. The only way that equation (2.3) is possible is that both the sides are constant.
Think about it, a change in LHS will be because of change in t which will not incur a
change in RHS and vice versa. The only way that the equation can be happy is when
both of them are equal to a constant
So now we introduce the constant E :
1 dφ
i~ =E
φ dt
dφ iE
=− φ (2.4)
dt ~

4. Plug 2.4 into 2.3

~2 d2 φ
− + V φ = Eφ (2.5)
2m dx2

This is called the Time Independent Schrodinger Equation(TDSE).

5. So the Seperation of variables technique has decomposed this PDE into two ODE’s
which can be solved.
One of the ODE is (2.5) which can be solved for a given potential.

The other ODE is (2.4), Which can be easily solved and the solution looks like :

φ(t) = e−iEt/~ (2.6)

We have successfully solved the Schrodinger equation and now we will discuss
the properties of the solution

2.2 Properties of the Stationary states of the Schrodinger

equation
Now lets combine the two differential equation solutions and see what we get.

2.3 Some properties of Eigenfuctions

This section should be after the Infinite Square well but I will put it here instead
as it is more general than just to a specific potential. We are talking here about
the Eigenfunctions ψ(x)

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1. If the potential is a symmetric function (Along the center)
⇒ The functions are alternatively even and odd. i.e. ψ1 (x) is even then ψ2 (x) will
be odd.

2. As you go up in energy, each successive state has one more node. (Node : Zero crossing
on the ψn (x) v/s x graph. End points do not count
⇒ Ground state i.e n=1 has zero nodes, n=1 has one and so on.

3. They are mutually Orthogonal and if they are normalized then they are mutually
Orthonormal
Z
ψm (x)∗ ψn (x) = δmn (2.7)

4. Completeness : Funny enough that proofs for these things tend to be nasty and
physicists assume it and hope for the best.
⇒ By complete we mean that any other function f (x) can be expressed as a linear
combination of these Eigenfunctions.

∞
X
f (x) = cn ψn (x) (2.8)
n=1

To get the constants cn we will use something called the Fourier trick
Z
cn = ψn (x)∗ f (x)dx (2.9)

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2.4 Infinite square well
(
0, If 0 ≤ x ≤ a
V (x) =
∞, otherwise
Eigenvalues

~2 kn2 n2 π 2 ~2
En = = (2.10)
2m 2ma2
Eigenvectors
r
2  nπ 
ψn (x) = sin x (2.11)
a a
Stationary States
r
2  nπ  2 2 2
Ψn (x, t) = sin x e−i(n π ~/2ma )t (2.12)
a a
Most General Stationary State - Linear combination of the stationary states

∞ r
X 2  nπ  2 2 2
Ψ(x, t) = cn sin x e−i(n π ~/2ma )t (2.13)
a a
n=1
r Z a
2  nπ 
cn = sin x Ψ(x, 0)dx (Fourier’s trick) (2.14)
a 0 a

Remarks

• Using property 4 of eigenfunctions , For an infinite square well any function can be
represented in the following way where we know how to calculate cn’s from the equation
above.
r ∞
2X  nπ 
f (x) = cn sin x
a n a

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2.5 Harmonic oscillator
Lets only deal with the Algebraic method (Ladder operators) as it is more used
in problems and applications. Analytic / Brute force method is just brute.
r
1 2 1 2 2 k
V (x) = kx = ω x where ω= (2.15)
2 2 m
Hamiltonian [x = q in generalized coordinates]

1 2 1 d 1 d
Ĥ = p̂ + mω 2 q̂ 2 ; q̂ = q , p̂ = −i = (2.16)
2m 2 dx i dx

[x̂, p̂] = i = i~ (2.17)

We are going to define two new operator in this game to make our life easier.

These operators are called ladder operators

1 √
 
† 1
â = √ mω q̂ − i √ p̂ Creation operator/Raising operator
2 mω
[↠, â] = 1 = Iˆ
1 √
 
1
â = √ mω q̂ + i √ p̂ Annhiliation operator/Lowering operator
2 mω
(2.18)

New Hamiltonian: Defined with ladder operators.

 
† 1
Ĥ = ω â â + (2.19)
2

Two important results

These results can be compared to electromagnetic waves as they are harmonically oscillating
too. ~ω is the energy of one packet(photon) of this wave. Similarly, we say that one energy
level equals a climb/fall in the ladder by ~ω or just ω as ~ = 1.

Ĥ(↠ψ(x)) = (E + ~ω)ψ(x) = (E + ω)↠ψ(x)

(2.20)
Ĥ(âψ(x)) = (E − ~ω)ψ(x) = (E − ω)âψ(x)

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Chapter 3

Formalism

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Formalism-Following the Script

3.0.1 Properties of Commutators

1. [Â, λB̂ + µĈ] = λ[Â, B̂] + µ[Â, Ĉ]
2. [Â, B̂] = −[B̂, Â]
3. [[Â, B̂], Ĉ] + [[B̂, Ĉ], Â] + [[Ĉ, B̂], Â] = 0
4. [Â, B̂ Ĉ] = [Â, B̂]Ĉ + B̂[Â, Ĉ]

3.0.2 How is Schrodinger Equation Introduced

ĤΨn = En Ψn (3.1)
I want to explain this equation in a bit more detail. Here is what to remember.
• This is an eigenvalue equation.
• Ψn are Eigenstates for a specific Hamiltonian Ĥ , For different hamiltonians we have
different eigenstates which have eigenvalues En .
• This equation is set in such a way that the eigenvalues are indeed the Energy levels
of the stationary state of the system.
• The way the hamiltonian is defined is such that
n n
X 1 X X
Ĥ = −~2 ∆i + V (xi − xj ) + W (xi ) (3.2)
2mi
i=1 i<j i=1

This is for a n-particle (Non relativistic) system. (No internal degrees of freedom.
The 1st term is the kinetic energy, 2nd term is interaction between the particles and
the 3rd term corresponds to external potential.
• It looks like in this course we are not dealing with multi-particle systems a lot so the
main factor that can vary while solving the Schrodinger equation is for one particle so
drop of the sums in that case.
• So the second term will also not play a role. The last term. The external potential
is what we will be varying in the hamiltonians for different problems as we
saw in the previous chapter.
What does it actually mean by solving the Schrodinger equation?
It means :
• For a given Hamiltonian we solve the eigenvalue equation. Which is also a partial
differential equation.
• Find the eigenvalues of the

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Chapter 4

QM in 3 dimensions

~ = 1 at times.

4.1 Schrodinger equation in Spherical coordinates

∂Ψ
i~ = ĤΨ Time Dependent Schrodinger equation TDSE (4.1)
∂t
With the 3-D Hamiltonian operator:

~2 ~ 2
Ĥ = − ∇ +V
2m
Which gives us the TDSE:

~2 ~ 2 ∂Ψ
− ∇ Ψ + V Ψ = i~ (4.2)
2m ∂t

If you remove the time dependence after using the separation of varibles

4.2 Angular Momentum

L=r×p (4.3)
Where the Hamiltonian is :

Ĥ = (4.4)

d
Lx = ypz − zpy px = i
dx
d
Ly = zpx − xpz py = i
dy
d
Lz = xpy − ypx pz = i
dz

Eigenvalues of Angular momentum

We just exploit the values commutation relations and the rules.

[Lx , Ly ] = iLz We can use the cyclic permutaions with x,y,z to get the other expressions.

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 (4.5)

Uncertainty Principle
Lets state the generalized uncertainty principle again before we forget it. [For operators]
 2  2
2 2 ~ 1
σ σB̂ ≥ < [Â, B̂] > = < [Â, B̂] > (4.6)
2i 2i

 2  2
~ ˆ ˆ 1 1 1
σL2ˆ σL2ˆ ≥ < [Lx , Ly ] > = < [Lx , Ly ] > = 2 < iLˆz >2 = < Lˆz >2
ˆ ˆ
x y 2i 2i 4i 4

1
σLˆx σLˆy ≥ < Lˆz > (4.7)
2

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