Physics formulation

PREVIOUS CLASSES
Distinction between four mechanics
Limitation of quantification of length
Introduction to need of quantum mechanics
Why does QUANTUM MECHANICS developed?
Needs of Planck’s constant and its formulation
Observation of Black Body radiation and failure of classical mechanics to understand it
Planck’s explanation of black body radiation.
Failure of classical formulation to explain some other experimental results

Formulation
Quantum mechanical postulates

Quantum Mechanical Problems

Classical mechanics: Determine the position of the particle at
any given time
Velocity,
Momentum,
Kinetic energy, T =

Newton’s law,
Energy function,
Quantum mechanics: Statistical interpretation
Schrodinger equation

= Probability of finding the particle between and + at time

Probability that individual (chosen of random) lies between
and + =
= probability density that lies between and b
= = =
Normalization
=1
=

Schrodinger equation says that

= -
+
 =
= []
So, =

But, must go to zero as goes to . Otherwise the wave

function would not be normalizable. It follows that
=0
=constant=1
Momentum
Expected value
=
=
=
==
As,
= - +
Now apply the integration by parts:
=-
= - 0 at .
=-
= =-
=
Time dependent Schrodinger equation
Schrodinger equation for the time dependent wavefunction can
be solved by method of separation of variables.
=)
is a function of only and is a function of only.
So,
and (t)
So, Schrodinger equation
Divide by ) , one gets

Left side is function of only and right side is function of only.

So,

=
Applications
1.The infinite square well
Outside the well , ) = 0
Inside the well, V = 0
Time-dependent Schrodinger equation,

=
same as classical simple harmonic oscillator
)=
Boundary condition, ) = )= 0
So, B = 0
So, ) =
)=
Either = 0 or
So, 0, ,
, = 1,2 3,….

So, which gives

Harmonic Oscillator

, =
V
Expand V in a Taylor series,
V = V + V’ (- ) + V’’ + ……….
V V’’
Quantum problem is to solve the Schrodinger equation for the
potential V m
Other way
=
,
For large ,
other way

For Lange
So,

=
Hamiltonian ,
as
Expectation value of ,

Standard deviation,
Finite square well
Vfor a
for
,V=0

where
)=
For a, V
 where
+D Cos
D Cos

is always continuous.
is continuous except at places where the potential is infinite.
= and
Scattering state
E
For
Delta function potential

Potential,
Schrodinger equation,
Bounded state
, V(
So, where =
as , A = 0, for
For
Free Particle

where
 Failure of classical concepts, Formalism of Quantum
Mechanics: Postulates, Hilbert space, observables, Dirac
notation, principle of superposition, eigenvalues and
eigenfunctions, orthonormality, expectation values,
uncertainty principle, Schrödinger Equation; Application to 1-
D problems: Free particle, Particle in a box, Delta-Function
Potential, Finite Square well, Quantum tunnelling, Scattering
matrix, Harmonic oscillator.
Eyvind H. Wichmann, Berkeley Physics Course Vol 4: Quantum physics, McGraw Hill, 1971.

CHAPTER -1
Beiser, Concepts of Modern Physics, Tata McGraw-Hill, 2003.

David J. Griffith, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, Pearson Education Ltd, New Delhi, 2009.

CHAPTERs – 1 & 2
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