Quantum Mechanics-I 31

to express the motion of a particle according to the de-Broglie's matter-wave hypothesis

a wave packet can be established assuming a wave associated with each moving material

particle, which moves in a manner similar to the motion ofparticle in accordance with the
classical mechanics. The only difference is that a wave packet has dimensions whereas the
classical particle is assumed to be dimensionless (i.e., a point).
Now the questions arise that how are the mechanical properties of material particles
explained by the quantum mechanics ? How are the wave packet and the characteristics
representing its spread determined ? Is it possible to relate the characteristics of the
wave packet with the experimentally measured quantities ? To answer these questions in
different physical conditions, in wave mechanics, the matter waves are represented by
a wave function and then to explain the wave function y associated with an atomic
particle,a wave equation is established first like the progressive wave. In 1925, Schrödinger
established a waveequation assuming the concept of wave function on the basis of de-
Broglie's wave hypothesis and Planck's quantum theory. This wave equation is called the
Schrödinger's wave equation. This equation is capable to explain successfully all types of
problems. The role of Schrödinger's wave equation in quantum mechanics is similar to that
of Newton's law of motion in classical mechanics. Now we shall study the Schrödinger
wave equation and the properties of wave function.

1.16. Schrödinger's Wave Equation

Schrödinger's equation is the wave equation which expresses the wave function y of
matter waves in different physical conditions. This equation tells the behaviour of wave
function associated with the atomic particle. This equation can be established just like the
equation of an ordinary plane progressive wave.
We know that the differential equation of one-dimensional plane progressive wave
travelling with velocity v in positive X-direction is
22y 1 22
ax2 2 212
The solution of which is y = ae_{w[t (x/v)], where
– a is the amplitude ofthe wave.

Now if we assume that the matter wave associated with a particle of mass m freely
moving with velocity v is analogous to the above wave, the one-dimensional wave equation
forthe wave function of matter wave associated with the particle, at any instant t will be
ǝ21 ǝ2²
ax212 e2
The solution of which is V(x)=ae-i[t – (x/v)] = ae~2ni[vt - (x/A)]
b (Since ω = 2πυ and v = υλ)
But
λ=h/px= 2nh/px and E = hv = 2xhu
Y(x +) = ae[(E/A)t-(p_h)x] = ae{(Et-p.x)/h
or
4(x.) = ae(Px-Er/h ...(1.56)
Obviously, the function 4(r, ) is the function of time t and positionx.
(1) Time Dependent Schrödinger's Equation
Consider a particle of mass m moving in positive X-direction in a conservative force
[Link] potential energy of the particle is VGr.), momentum in X-direction is px and
the total energy of the particle is E. The matter wave associated with the particle can be
expressed by a one-dimensional wave function as follows:
y = aePxx Et)/h
-
...(1.57)
Partially differentiating the eqn. (1.57) with respect to time t,

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 32 Unified Physics: Third Year (First Paper)

em E iE
ar h
ae(px-En)/h= h
he
ог
Ey = ih Ә ...(1.58)
Similarly partially differentiating eqn. (1.57) with respect to x,
he
=Px aeilpxx-Enih=PW
ax

or
Pih= -ih ax ...(1.59)
According to classical mechanics, the total energy of the particle
2
E= Px+V
2m
2
or Ey = (Px+Vy
2m
Substituting the values of E and px from eqns. (1.58) and (1.59), we get
me
22
1
ih= -(-ih)2+V y
at 2m ax2
ay 12ezA
or ih +Vy ...(1.60)
2т Əx²
Ih at
This is the time dependent Schrödinger's wave equation for a one-dimensional
moving particle under a conservative force. The solution (x ) of this equation is called the
time dependent wave function. yӘ ћ ²a
For the free particle, 0, hence ih Ət
V =
2т Əx²
In three-dimensional case, eqn. (1.60) takes the following form :
me
h
²y+Vy = ih ih e ...(1.61)
2m
This equation is the time dependent Schrödinger's equation.
(2) Time Independent Schrödinger's Equation
Sometimes we come across potential energy of the particle does
situations where the
not depend on time and the potential energy is only the function of position. In such cases,
the behaviour of particle is expressed by the time independent Schrödinger equation.
In
Consider a particle of mass m moving in positive X-direction under a force F(x)
this force field, the potential energy of the particle V does not depend on the time t, but
depends only on the position x (i.e., V V(x)). Let momentum of particle in X-direction be
=

Px and the total energy of particle be E.

The wave function representing the plane wave associated with the particle is
y = ae!(Pxx-Er)/h ...(1.62)
Partially differentiating eqn. (1.62) with respect to x, we get
ma

...(1.63)
nd on = - !
ax h
ex
According to classical mechanics, total energy of particle

E=+V
2m

or
Ey = x+V
2m

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 Quantum Mechanics-I 33

Substituting the value of px from eqn. (1.63), we get

1
Ey = 2m(- iħ)2ǝ2
Əx2
y +V

or Ey +Vy
2m Əx2
=

2m
or + Vy Ey or
24 (E-V)y = 0 ...(1.64)
ax2
=

2m Əx2
This is the time independent Schrödinger's equation for one-dimensional motion of a
particleunder the conservative force field. The solution ()is called the time independent
wave function.
224 2m
For the free particle, V= 0, hence + 24 Ey = 0 ...(1.65)
ex2
In three-dimensional case, the time independent Schrödinger's wave equation (1.64)
will take the following form :

2m
2
(A- = 0
Ce ...(1.66)

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