Oscillation Theorem: Difference between revisions
m (moved Oscillation theorem to Oscillation Theorem: Correct capitalization of title) |
No edit summary |
||
(5 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Quantum Mechanics A}} | {{Quantum Mechanics A}} | ||
Let <math>\psi_1\!</math> be a bound state of a given potential with energy <math>E_1\!</math> and <math>\psi_2\!</math> be another bound state with energy <math>E_2\!</math> such that <math>E_2>E_1\!</math>. Let <math>x_0\!</math> be a point at which both <math>\psi_1\!</math> and <math>\psi_2\!</math> vanish; this is guaranteed to happen at least for <math>x_0\to\pm\infty.\!</math> We will now prove that, between any two points <math>x_0\!</math> and <math>x_1\!</math> at which <math>\psi_1\!</math> vanishes, there must be at least one point at which <math>\psi_2\!</math> vanishes. Let us begin by writing down the Schrödinger equation for each wave function: | |||
:<math>-\ | :<math>-\frac{\hbar^2}{2m}\frac{d^2 \psi_1}{dx^2}+V(x)\psi_1=E_1\psi_1\!</math> | ||
:<math>-\ | :<math>-\frac{\hbar^2}{2m}\frac{d^2 \psi_2}{dx^2}+V(x)\psi_2=E_2\psi_2\!</math> | ||
Multiplying the first equation by <math>\psi_2\!</math> and the second by <math>\psi_1,\!</math> subtracting the second equation from the first, and simplifying, we see that | |||
:<math>\frac{ | :<math>\frac{d}{dx}\left(-\psi_2\frac{d\psi_1}{dx}+\psi_1\frac{d\psi_2}{dx}\right)=\frac{2m}{\hbar^2}\left(E_1-E_2\right)\psi_1\psi_2.\!</math> | ||
If we now integrate both sides of this equation from <math>x_0\!</math> to any position <math>x'\!</math> and simplify, we see that | If we now integrate both sides of this equation from <math>x_0\!</math> to any position <math>x'\!</math> and simplify, we see that | ||
The key is to now let <math>x'\!</math> be the first position to the right of <math>x_0\!</math> where <math>\psi_1\!</math> vanishes. | :<math>-\psi_2(x')\frac{d\psi_1(x')}{dx}+\psi_1(x')\frac{d\psi_2(x')}{dx}=\frac{2m}{\hbar^2}(E_1-E_2)\int_{x_0}^{x'}\psi_1\psi_2\,dx\!</math> | ||
:<math> | |||
The key is to now let <math>x'=x_1\!</math> be the first position to the right of <math>x_0\!</math> where <math>\psi_1\!</math> vanishes. | |||
:<math>\psi_2(x_1)\frac{d\psi_1(x_1)}{dx}=\frac{2m}{\hbar^2}(E_2-E_1)\int_{x_0}^{x_1}\psi_1\psi_2\,dx\!</math> | |||
Now, if we assume that <math>\psi_2\!</math> does not vanish at or between <math> | Now, if we assume that <math>\psi_2\!</math> does not vanish at or between <math>x_0\!</math> and <math>x_1\!</math>, then it is easy to see that the left hand side of the previous equation has a different sign from that of the right hand side, and thus it must be true that <math>\psi_2\!</math> must vanish at least once between <math>x_0\!</math> and <math>x_1\!</math> if <math>E_2>E_1.\!</math> |
Latest revision as of 16:17, 6 August 2013
Let Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \psi_1\!} be a bound state of a given potential with energy Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle E_1\!} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \psi_2\!} be another bound state with energy Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle E_2\!} such that Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle E_2>E_1\!} . Let Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x_0\!} be a point at which both Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \psi_1\!} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \psi_2\!} vanish; this is guaranteed to happen at least for Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x_0\to\pm\infty.\!} We will now prove that, between any two points Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x_0\!} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x_1\!} at which Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \psi_1\!} vanishes, there must be at least one point at which Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \psi_2\!} vanishes. Let us begin by writing down the Schrödinger equation for each wave function:
- Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle -\frac{\hbar^2}{2m}\frac{d^2 \psi_1}{dx^2}+V(x)\psi_1=E_1\psi_1\!}
- Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle -\frac{\hbar^2}{2m}\frac{d^2 \psi_2}{dx^2}+V(x)\psi_2=E_2\psi_2\!}
Multiplying the first equation by Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \psi_2\!} and the second by Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \psi_1,\!} subtracting the second equation from the first, and simplifying, we see that
- Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \frac{d}{dx}\left(-\psi_2\frac{d\psi_1}{dx}+\psi_1\frac{d\psi_2}{dx}\right)=\frac{2m}{\hbar^2}\left(E_1-E_2\right)\psi_1\psi_2.\!}
If we now integrate both sides of this equation from Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x_0\!} to any position Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x'\!} and simplify, we see that
- Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle -\psi_2(x')\frac{d\psi_1(x')}{dx}+\psi_1(x')\frac{d\psi_2(x')}{dx}=\frac{2m}{\hbar^2}(E_1-E_2)\int_{x_0}^{x'}\psi_1\psi_2\,dx\!}
The key is to now let Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x'=x_1\!} be the first position to the right of Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x_0\!} where Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \psi_1\!} vanishes.
- Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \psi_2(x_1)\frac{d\psi_1(x_1)}{dx}=\frac{2m}{\hbar^2}(E_2-E_1)\int_{x_0}^{x_1}\psi_1\psi_2\,dx\!}
Now, if we assume that Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \psi_2\!} does not vanish at or between Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x_0\!} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x_1\!} , then it is easy to see that the left hand side of the previous equation has a different sign from that of the right hand side, and thus it must be true that Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \psi_2\!} must vanish at least once between Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x_0\!} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x_1\!} if Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle E_2>E_1.\!}