Lecture 3: The Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation The material in this lecture is not covered in Atkins.

It is required to understand postulate 6 and 11.5 The informtion of a wavefunction Lecture on-line The Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation (PDF) The time Dependent Schroedinger Equation (HTML) The time dependent Schrdinger Equation (PowerPoint) Tutorials on-line The postulates of quantum mechanics (This is the writeup for Dry-lab-II ( This lecture coveres parts of postulate 6) Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation The Development of Classical Mechanics Experimental Background for Quantum mecahnics Early Development of Quantum mechanics Audio-visuals on-line review of the Schrdinger equation and the Born postulate (PDF) review of the Schrdinger equation and the Born postulate (HTML) review of Schrdinger equation and Born postulate (PowerPoint **, 1MB) Slides from the text book (From the CD included in Atkins ,**)

Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

setting up equation Consider a particle of mass m that is moving in one dimension. Let its position be given by x

X
O

V V(X,t1) V(X,t2)

Let the particle be subject to the potential V(x, t)

All properties of such a particle is in quantum mechanics determined by the wavefunction (x, t) of the system

Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

V( x , t )
setting up equation

Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

setting up equation

A system that changes with time is described by the time dependent Schrdinger equation

h ( x, t ) = H( x, t ) i t
Where H is the Hamiltonian of the system : h2 2 H = + V( x , t ) 2 2m x for 1D - particle
according to postulate 6

Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

setting up equation

h ( x, t ) h ( x , t ) = + V( x , t ) ( x , t ) 2m x 2 i t
2 2
The time dependent Schrdinger equation

The wavefunction (x, t) is also referred to as

The statefunction
Our state will in general change with time due to V(x,t). Thus is a function of time and space

Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

Probability from wavefunction The wavefunction does not have any physical interpretation. However :

P(x, t) = (x, t)(x, t)* dx

Probability density Is the probability at time t to find the particle between x and x + x. ( x t)*( x, t)dx ,

will change with time

dx o

Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

Probability from wavefunction

It is important to note that the particle is not distributed over a large region as a charge cloud

(x, t)(x, t)

It is the probability patterns (wave function) used to describe the electron motion that behaves like waves and satisfies a wave equation

Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

Probability from wavefunction

Consider a large number N of identical boxes with identical particles all described by the same wavefunction ( x , t ) :
Let dn x denote the number of particle which at the same time is found between x and x + x

Then : dnx * = ( x , t ) ( x , t )dx N

Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

with time independent potential energy

The time - dependent Schroedinger equation :

h ( x , t ) h ( x , t ) = + V ( x , t ) ( x , t ) 2 i 2 m x t
2 2
V

Can be simplified in those cases where the potential V only depends on the position : V(t, x) - > V(x)

V(X)

Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

with time independent potential energy : separation of time and space
We might try to find a solution of the form :

( x , t ) = f ( t ) ( x )
We have

(x, t) ((x)f(t)) f(t) = = ( x) t t t

and

(x, t) ((x)f(t)) ( x) = = f(t) 2 2 2 x x x

2 2 2

Simplyfied Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

with time independent potential energy : separation of time and space

h ( x , t ) h ( x , t ) = + V ( x , t ) ( x , t ) 2 i 2 m x t
2 2

A substitution of ( x , t ) = f ( t ) ( x ) into the Schrdinger equation thus affords :

h h2 f(t) 2 ( x) ( x) = + V( x )f(t) ( x) f(t) 2 2m i t x

Simplyfied Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

with time independent potential energy : separation of time and space

h h f(t) ( x) ( x) = + V( x )f(t) ( x) f(t) 2 2m i t x

2 2

1 A multiplication from the left by affords : f ( t ) ( x )

h 1 f(t) h 1 ( x) = + V( x ) 2 i f (t ) t 2m ( x) x
2 2
The R.H.S. does not depend on t if we now assume that V is time independent. Thus, the L.H.S. must also be independent of t

Simplyfied Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

with time independent potential energy : separation of time and space Thus :

h 1 f(t) = E = cons tan t i f ( t ) t

The L.H.S. does not depend on x so the R.H.S. must also be independent of x and equal to the same constant, E.

1 ( x) h + V( x ) = E = cons tan t 2 2m ( x) x
2 2

Simplyfied Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

with time independent potential energy : separation of time and space
We can now solve for f(t) :

h 1 f(t) = E = cons tan t i f ( t ) t

Or :

f(t) i = Et f (t ) h
Now integrating from time t=0 to t=to on both sides affords:

to

f(t) i = Et o f (t ) o h
to

Simplyfied Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

with time independent potential energy : separation of time and space

to

f(t) i = Et o f (t ) o h
to

i ln[f (t o )] ln[f (o)] = E[t o 0] h

i ln[ f ( to )] = Eto + ln[ f (o)] h

Cons tan t

i ln[ f ( to )] = Eto + C h

Simplified Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

with time independent potential energy : separation of time and space

Or:

i ln[ f ( to )] = Eto + C h

i Et + C = Exp[C ]Exp i Et f ( t ) = Exp h h

E t i sin E t ) f ( t ) = Exp[C ](cos h h

Simplified Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

with time independent potential energy : separation of time and space

E t i sin E t ) f ( t ) = Exp[C ](cos h h

+

-i i

t =0

t = (h/ E) t = (h/ E) 2

t =3 ( h /E ) t = 2(h/ E) 2

Change of sign of f(t) with time

Simplified Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

with time independent potential energy : separation of time and space Time independent Schrdinger equation

The equation for (x) is given by

1 ( x) h + V( x ) = E 2 2m ( x) x
2 2

Or :
h ( x) + ( x)V( x ) = E ( x) 2 2m x
2 2

Simplified Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

with time independent potential energy : separation of time and space Time independent Schrdinger equation

h ( x) + ( x)V( x ) = E ( x) 2 2m x
2 2
This is the time-independent Schroedinger Equation for a particle moving in the time independent potential V(x)

It is a postulate of Quantum Mechanics that E is the total energy of the system Part of QM postulate 6

Simplified Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

with time independent potential energy : separation of time and space Time independent Schrdinger equation

The total wavefunction for a one-dimentional particle in a potential V(x) is given by

( x , t ) = f ( t ) ( x ) E = Exp[C ] Exp[ i t ] ( x ) h E = AExp[ i t ] ( x ) h

Simplified Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

with time independent potential energy : separation of time and space Time independent Schrdinger equation

If (x) is a solution to
h ( x) + ( x)V( x ) = E ( x) 2 2m x
2 2

So is A (x)

Lecture 2

h 2 2 (A ( x)) + A ( x)V( x ) = AE ( x) 2 2m x

Simplified Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

with time independent potential energy : separation of time and space
time independent probability function

h 2 2 (A ( x)) + A ( x)V( x ) = AE ( x) 2 2m x

or :
h 2 2 '( x) + '( x)V( x ) = E'( x) 2 2m x

with (x) = A (x)

'

Simplified Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

with time independent potential energy : separation of time and space
time independent probability function

Thus we can write without loss of generality for a particle in a time-independent potential

E ( x , t ) = Exp[ i t ] ( x ) h
This wavefunction is time dependent and complex. Let us now look at the corresponding probability density

( x , t ) ( x , t )
*

Simplified Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

with time independent potential energy : separation of time and space
time independent probability function

We have :
E ( x , t ) ( x , t ) = Exp[ i t ] ( x ) h E * * Exp[i t ] ( x ) = ( x ) ( x ) h
*

Thus , states describing systems with a time-independent potential V(x) have a time-independent (stationary) probability density.

Simplified Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation stationary states

E ( x , t ) ( x , t ) = Exp[ i t ] ( x ) h E * * Exp[i t ] ( x ) = ( x ) ( x ) h
*

This does not imply that the particle is stationary. However, it means that the probability of finding a particle in the interval x + -1/2 x to x + 1/2 x is constant.

Simplified Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation stationary states

( x ) ( x )dx
*

Independent of time

We say that systems that can be described by wave functions of the type

E ( x , t ) = Exp[ i t ] ( x ) h
Represent Stationary states

Simplified Time Dependent Schrdinger Equation

Postulate 6 The time development of the state of an undisturbed system is given by the time - dependent Schrdinger equation

h ( x, t ) = H( x, t ) i t

where H is the Hamiltonian (i.e. energy) operator for the quantum mechanical system

What you should know from this lecture

1. You should know postulate 6 and the form of the time dependent Schrdinger equation
h ( x, t ) = H( x, t ) i t

2. You should know that the wavefunction for systems where the potential energy is independent of time [V(x, t) V(x)] is given by E ( x, t ) = Exp[ i t] ( x ) h Where ( x ) is a solution to the time - independent Schrdinger equation : H ( x ) = E ( x ), and E is the energy of the system.

What you should know from this lecture

3. Systems with a time independent potential energy [V(x, t) V(x) ] have a time - independent probability density : * ( x , t ) = Exp[ i E t ] ( x )Exp[i E t ] * ( x ) ( x , t ) h h = ( x ) * ( x ). They are called stationary states