B RGE

G BEL

SECTION
Schrödinger equation
QUANTUM
MECHANICS
LECTURE
Motivation of the
Schrödinger equation
Motivation of the Schrödinger Equation
Particle & Wave

Plane wave

Is solution of the classical wave equation

Several downsides…
No particle properties…

Is there an alternative differential equation?

particle & wave

Schrödinger equation
Schrödinger Equation in 3D

1D and free particle:

3D and finite potential V(r,t):

 B RGE
G BEL

SECTION
Schrödinger equation
QUANTUM
MECHANICS
LECTURE
Discussion &
Interpretation
Motivation of the Schrödinger Equation

Particle & Wave

Plane wave

Is solution of the classical wave equation

Several downsides…
No particle properties…

Is there an alternative differential equation?

particle & wave

Schrödinger equation
Discussion and Interpretation
Why do we even need a new differential equation? Schrödinger equation

• Heisenberg uncertainty: Cannot know 𝒓 and 𝒑 = 𝑚𝒓ሶ

𝜕
→ starting conditions: 𝜓(𝒓, 𝑡 = 0) but not 𝜓 (𝒓, 𝑡 = 0)
𝜕𝑡

𝜕
(i) differential equation must be first order in time
𝜕𝑡

• Superposition: Sums of solutions must be solutions as well

(ii) differential equation must be linear in 𝜓

• Normalization: Wave function must represent the position of the particle

(iii) Wavefunction must be normalizable

Normalization and probability density
(iii) Wavefunction must be normalizable

• We define the probability density:

• When integrated over a region, this quantity tells us the probability to find the particle.

• Let us assume a
Gaussian wavefunction
centered at r = 0

1 measurement 1000 measurements 10000 measurements

r
Continuity equation
• When integrated this quantity tells us the probability to find the particle

• There must exist a probability current density j so that the continuity equation (without sinks or
sources) is fulfilled
 B RGE
G BEL

SECTION
Schrödinger equation
QUANTUM
MECHANICS
LECTURE
Operators &
Expectation values
Status
Operators

Correspondence principle

• Energy operator
• Momentum operator
particle & wave
Operators

Correspondence principle Schrödinger equation

• Energy operator
• Momentum operator

• They have to act on the wave function

• Return the eigenvalue

• Hamilton operator
Expectation values

• Momentum

• Position

… We expect the
particle to be where
it can never be… 0 a/2 a
 B RGE
G BEL

SECTION
Schrödinger equation
QUANTUM
MECHANICS
LECTURE
Intermediate
summary
Intermediate Summary

Schrödinger equation

Superposition