dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaExact results for `bouncing' Gaussian wave packets
| Authors | M. Belloni, M. A. Doncheski, R. W. Robinett |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | quant-ph/0408182 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0408182 |
| DOI | 10.1238/Physica.Regular.071a00136 |
Abstract
We consider time-dependent Gaussian wave packet solutions of the Schrodinger equation (with arbitrary initial central position, x_0, and momentum, p_0, for an otherwise free-particle, but with an infinite wall at x=0, so-called bouncing wave packets. We show how difference or mirror solutions of the form psi(x,t)-psi(-x,t) can, in this case, be normalized exactly, allowing for the evaluation of a number of time-dependent expectation values and other quantities in closed form. For example, we calculate <p^2>_t explicitly which illustrates how the free-particle kinetic (and hence total) energy is affected by the presence of the distant boundary. We also discuss the time dependence of the expectation values of position, <x>_t, and momentum, <p>_t, and their relation to the impulsive force during the `collision' with the wall. Finally, the x_0,p_0 --> 0 limit is shown to reduce to a special case of a non-standard free-particle Gaussian solution. The addition of this example to the literature then expands on the relatively small number of Gaussian solutions to quantum mechanical problems with familiar classical analogs (free particle, uniform acceleration, harmonic oscillator, unstable oscillator, and uniform magnetic field) available in closed form.
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"abstract": "We consider time-dependent Gaussian wave packet solutions of the Schrodinger\nequation (with arbitrary initial central position, x_0, and momentum, p_0, for\nan otherwise free-particle, but with an infinite wall at x=0, so-called\nbouncing wave packets. We show how difference or mirror solutions of the form\npsi(x,t)-psi(-x,t) can, in this case, be normalized exactly, allowing for the\nevaluation of a number of time-dependent expectation values and other\nquantities in closed form. For example, we calculate \u003cp^2\u003e_t explicitly which\nillustrates how the free-particle kinetic (and hence total) energy is affected\nby the presence of the distant boundary. We also discuss the time dependence of\nthe expectation values of position, \u003cx\u003e_t, and momentum, \u003cp\u003e_t, and their\nrelation to the impulsive force during the `collision\u0027 with the wall. Finally,\nthe x_0,p_0 --\u003e 0 limit is shown to reduce to a special case of a non-standard\nfree-particle Gaussian solution. The addition of this example to the literature\nthen expands on the relatively small number of Gaussian solutions to quantum\nmechanical problems with familiar classical analogs (free particle, uniform\nacceleration, harmonic oscillator, unstable oscillator, and uniform magnetic\nfield) available in closed form.",
"arxiv_id": "quant-ph/0408182",
"authors": [
"M. Belloni",
"M. A. Doncheski",
"R. W. Robinett"
],
"categories": [
"quant-ph"
],
"doi": "10.1238/Physica.Regular.071a00136",
"title": "Exact results for `bouncing\u0027 Gaussian wave packets",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0408182"
},
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