Engineering Physics

(PHY1701)

Dr. B. Ajitha
Assistant Professor
Division of Physics
VIT University
Chennai, India
ajitha.b@vit.ac.in
 PHY1701
Module-1: Introduction to Modern Physics Dr. Ajitha

Contents
• Planck’s concept (hypothesis) (AB 66-67)
• Compton Effect (AB 80-86),
• Particle properties of wave: Matter Waves (AB 104-114),
• Davisson Germer Experiment (AB 115-117),
• Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle (AB 119-128),
• Wave function (AB 182-184 & 190-195), &
• Schrödinger equation (time dependent & independent)
(AB 187 -190 & 195-197).

 Concepts of Modern Physics, Arthur Beiser et al., Sixth Edition,

Tata McGraw Hill (2013) (AB)
2
Introduction of Schroedinger’s Wave Equation PHY1701
Dr. Ajitha

 Classical mechanics fails to explain the

microscopic system of particles due to
uncertainty principle.
 Therefore, classical mechanics, which
assumed both the entities have definite
values at all instants – not valid for atomic
systems.
 According to de Broglie theory, a material
particle is associated with a matter wave ; 
= h/mv
 So, finally, Schroedinger did mathematical
reformation using a wave function
associated with matter waves.
Erwin Schrödinger
 Schroedinger described the amplitude of
matter wave by Ψ (x,y,z,t) known as wave
function or state of the system.
3
Schroedinger’s Time independent Wave Equation PHY1701
Dr. Ajitha

 Let us consider a particle of mass m, moving with a velocity v associated

with standing waves.
 Let Ψ be the wave function of a particle along x, y, and z coordinate axes
at time t.
 The classical differential equation of a progressive wave, moving with a
wave velocity v can be given by,
𝜕2 Ψ 𝜕2 Ψ 𝜕2 Ψ 1 𝜕2 Ψ
+ + = -----1
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑧 2 𝑣 2 𝜕𝑡 2
Where, Ψ − is amplitude of waves; v − is velocity of waves; t − is time.

Ψ = Ψ0 e−iωt −−− −2
 Eqn 2, is the general solution of the wave equation, which is eqn 1.
 If we include electron’s (or particle’s) parameters such as wavelength,
mass, momentum, total energy, potential energy etc., in the general
wave equation then we can call it as the wave equation of electron (or
of any particle).
4
 PHY1701
Time independent Wave Equation Dr. Ajitha

𝜕Ψ
= Ψ0 e−iωt × −iω
𝜕t
= −iωΨ
𝜕2Ψ 2
2
= −ω Ψ
𝜕𝑡
Now we will have (particle’s) ω2 also in the general wave equation.
Substituting these value in Equation 1 we get,
𝜕2Ψ 𝜕2Ψ 𝜕2Ψ 1 2
2
+ 2
+ 2
= 2
−ω Ψ
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝑣
2 2 2
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
Since, 𝛻 2 = + 2 + 2 (𝐿𝑎𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟ቇ
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
2
ω
𝛻 2Ψ = − 2 Ψ
𝑣
5
 PHY1701
Time independent Wave Equation Dr. Ajitha

Now we can include electron’s wavelength as follows,

ω = 2πϑ = 2π 𝑣Τλ ∵ ϑ = 𝑣 Τλ
ω 2π
=
𝑣 λ 2
ω
If we substitute in this equation, 𝛻 2 Ψ = − Ψ
𝑣 2
4π2
We get, 𝛻2Ψ + 2 Ψ =0
λ
According to de Broglie wave equation,
h
λ=
mv

2 4π2 m2 v2
𝛻 Ψ+ 2 Ψ = 0--------- eq. 3
h

6
 PHY1701
Time independent Wave Equation Dr. Ajitha

 If we consider the m2v2 term, we can include Kinetic, potential and

total energies of the particle as follows,
1
E e− total energy = V potential energy + mv 2 (kinetic energy)ቇ
2
1
E = V + mv 2
2
1
E − V = mv 2
2
1
E − V = mv 2
2
2 E − V = mv 2
2m E − V = m2 v 2
2
2
8π m
𝛻 Ψ + 2 E − V Ψ = 0 -------- eq. 4
h
(Shroedinger’s time independent equation for electron or any particle)
7
 PHY1701
Time independent Wave Equation Dr. Ajitha

h 2m
∵ђ= 𝛻2Ψ + 2
E − V Ψ = 0; −−−−−−−− eq. 5
2π ђ
For a free particle, V=0, thus,

2mE
𝛻 2Ψ
+ 2 Ψ=0
ђ
(Shroedinger’s time independent equation for free particle)

Eq. 8 can also be expressed in the following way,

ђ2 2
𝛻 Ψ+ E−V Ψ=0
2𝑚
ђ2 2
𝛻 Ψ − V Ψ = EΨ
2𝑚

8
Time independent Wave Equation PHY1701
Dr. Ajitha

ђ2 2
𝛻 Ψ − V Ψ = EΨ
2𝑚
ђ2 2
− 𝛻 Ψ+ V Ψ = EΨ
2𝑚

ђ2 2
[− 𝛻 + V]Ψ = EΨ
2𝑚
ĤΨ=𝐄Ψ
ђ2 2
Here, Ĥ = − 𝛻 + V is known as Hamiltonian Operator
2m

For a one dimensional motion, the Schrodinger time independent

equation is as follows,
𝑑2Ψ 8π2 m
+ E−V Ψ=0
𝑑𝑥2 h2

9
Schroedinger’s Time dependent Wave Equation PHY1701
Dr. Ajitha

Schrodinger's time dependent equation may be obtained from

time independent equation by eliminating the term E.
Ψ = Ψ0 e−iωt ------- eq. 1
𝜕Ψ
= Ψ0 e−iωt × −iω
𝜕t
Here we have chance to write ω term in terms of E as follows

= − i2πϑ Ψ0 e−iωt = − i2πϑ Ψ; →→→ [∵ ω = 2πϑ൧

E
= − i2π Ψ; →→→ [∵ E = hϑ or ϑ = EΤh൨
h
E h
= −i Ψ; →→→ ∵ђ=
ђ 2π
𝜕Ψ
EΨ = iђ ------- eq. 2
𝜕t
10
 PHY1701
Wave Function Dr. Ajitha

Substituting the value of E Ψ in Schrodinger time independent eq., we get

2
2m 𝜕Ψ
𝛻 Ψ + 2 iђ − VΨ = 0
ђ 𝜕t

2
2m 𝜕Ψ
𝛻 Ψ = − 2 iђ − VΨ
ђ 𝜕t
ђ2 2 𝜕Ψ
− 𝛻 Ψ + VΨ = iђ
2m 𝜕t

ђ2 2 𝜕Ψ
− 𝛻 + V Ψ = iђ ------- eq. 3
2m 𝜕t

(Shroedinger’s time dependent equation for any particle)

11
 PHY1701
Dr. Ajitha

Equation 4 can be written as,

ђ2 2 𝜕Ψ
[− 𝛻 + V] Ψ = 𝑖ℏ
2𝑚 𝜕t

ĤΨ=𝐄Ψ
ђ2 2
Here, Ĥ = − 𝛻 + V is known as Hamiltonian Operator
2m

 The connection to the Schrodinger equation can be made by

examining wave and particle expressions for energy:

https://slideplayer.com/slide/4897587/
12