Griffiths Quantum Mechanics 3e: Problem 2.

7 Page 1 of 4

Problem 2.7
A particle in the infinite square well has the initial wave function
(
Ax, 0 ≤ x ≤ a/2,
Ψ(x, 0) =
A(a − x), a/2 ≤ x ≤ a.
(a) Sketch Ψ(x, 0), and determine the constant A.
(b) Find Ψ(x, t).
(c) What is the probability that a measurement of the energy would yield the value E1 ?
(d) Find the expectation value of the energy, using Equation 2.21.21

Solution

In Problem 2.3 the general solution to the Schrödinger equation for the infinite square well
potential, (
0 if 0 ≤ x ≤ a
V (x) = ,
∞ otherwise
was found to be
r ∞
~π 2 n2
 
2X nπx
Ψ(x, t) = Bn exp −i 2
t sin , 0≤x≤a
a 2ma a
n=1
21
Remember, there is no restriction in principle on the shape of the starting wave function, as long as it is nor-
malizable.
´ In particular, Ψ(x, 0) need not have a continuous derivative. However, if you try to calculate hHi using
Ψ(x, 0)∗ ĤΨ(x, 0) dx in such a case, you may encounter technical difficulties, because the second derivative of Ψ(x, 0)
is ill defined. It works in Problem 2.9 because the discontinuities occur at the end points, where the wave function
is zero anyway. In Problem 2.39 you’ll see how to manage cases like Problem 2.7.

www.stemjock.com
Griffiths Quantum Mechanics 3e: Problem 2.7 Page 2 of 4

and zero elsewhere. The coefficients Bn are determined by using the provided initial condition.
Before doing so, though, first normalize the initial wave function by finding A.
ˆ ∞
1= |Ψ(x, 0)|2 dx
−∞
ˆ ∞
= Ψ(x, 0)Ψ∗ (x, 0) dx
−∞
ˆ a/2 ˆ a
= (Ax)(Ax)∗ dx + [A(a − x)][A(a − x)]∗ dx
0 a/2
ˆ a/2 ˆ a
= A2 x2 dx + A2 (a − x)2 dx
0 a/2
a3
   3
2 2 a
=A +A
24 24
 3
a
= A2
12

Solve for A. r
3
A=2
a3
As a result, the initial wave function becomes
 r
3
0 ≤ x ≤ a/2

2
 x
 a3
Ψ(x, 0) = r .

 3
2 (a − x) a/2 ≤ x ≤ a

a3
Set t = 0 in the general solution.
r ∞
2X nπx
Ψ(x, 0) = Bn sin
a a
n=1

To solve for Bn , multiply both sides by sin pπx

a , where p is an integer,
r ∞
pπx 2X nπx pπx
Ψ(x, 0) sin = Bn sin sin
a a a a
n=1

and then integrate both sides with respect to x from 0 to a.

ˆ a ˆ ar X ∞
pπx 2 nπx pπx
Ψ(x, 0) sin dx = Bn sin sin dx
0 a 0 a a a
n=1
r ∞ ˆ a
2X nπx pπx
= Bn sin sin dx
a 0 a a
n=1

Because the sine functions are orthogonal, this integral on the right is zero if n 6= p. Every term

www.stemjock.com
Griffiths Quantum Mechanics 3e: Problem 2.7 Page 3 of 4

in this infinite series vanishes, then, except for the one corresponding to n = p.
ˆ a r ˆ a
nπx 2 nπx
Ψ(x, 0) sin dx = Bn sin2 dx
0 a a 0 a
r
2 a
= Bn
a 2
r
a
= Bn
2
Solve for Bn .
r ˆ a
2 nπx
Bn = Ψ(x, 0) sin dx
a 0 a
r ˆ a/2 r
" ˆ a r #
2 3 nπx 3 nπx
= 2 x sin dx + 2 (a − x) sin dx
a 0 a3 a a/2 a3 a
√ "ˆ a/2 ˆ a #
2 6 nπx nπx
= 2 x sin dx + (a − x) sin dx
a 0 a a/2 a
√ ˆ a/2 ˆ a ˆ a !
2 6 nπx nπx nπx
= 2 x sin dx + a sin dx − x sin dx
a 0 a a/2 a a/2 a
√ "ˆ a/2   ˆ a ˆ a   #
2 6 a ∂ nπx nπx a ∂ nπx
= 2 − cos dx + a sin dx − − cos dx
a 0 π ∂n a a/2 a a/2 π ∂n a
√ ˆ a/2 ˆ a ˆ a !
2 6 1 d nπx nπx 1 d nπx
= − cos dx + sin dx + cos dx
a π dn 0 a a/2 a π dn a/2 a
√  
2 6 1 d  a nπ  a  nπ  1 d  a nπ a
= − sin + cos − cos nπ + − sin + sin nπ
a π dn nπ 2 nπ 2 π dn nπ 2 nπ
√ 
2 6 1  a nπ a nπ  a  nπ 
= − − 2 sin + cos + cos − cos nπ
a π n π 2 2n 2 nπ 2
1 a nπ a nπ a a 
+ sin − cos − 2 sin nπ + cos nπ
π n2 π 2 2n 2 n π n
√  
2 6 2a nπ a
= 2 2
sin − 2 2 sin nπ
a n π 2 n π | {z }
=0
√
4 6 nπ
= 2 2 sin
n π 2
With these coefficients, the general solution becomes
r ∞
~π 2 n2
 
2X nπx
Ψ(x, t) = Bn exp −i 2
t sin
a 2ma a
n=1
r ∞ √
~π 2 n2
 
2X 4 6 nπ nπx
= 2 2
sin exp −i 2
t sin
a n π 2 2ma a
n=1
r ∞
~π 2 n2
 
8 3X 1 nπ nπx
= 2 2
sin exp −i 2
t sin , 0 ≤ x ≤ a.
π a n 2 2ma a
n=1

www.stemjock.com
Griffiths Quantum Mechanics 3e: Problem 2.7 Page 4 of 4

Notice that the summand is zero for even values of n; consequently, this infinite series can be
simplified (that is, made to converge faster) by summing over the odd integers only. Make the
substitution n = 2k − 1.
r ∞
~π 2 (2k − 1)2
 
8 3 X 1 (2k − 1)π (2k − 1)πx
Ψ(x, t) = 2 sin exp −i t sin
π a (2k − 1)2 2 2ma2 a
2k−1=1

Therefore,
r ∞
3 X (−1)k−1 ~π 2 (2k − 1)2
 
8 (2k − 1)πx
Ψ(x, t) = 2 exp −i t sin , 0 ≤ x ≤ a.
π a (2k − 1)2 2ma2 a
k=1

Writing the general solution in terms of the eigenstates,

r ∞
~π 2 n2
 
8 3X 1 nπ nπx
Ψ(x, t) = 2 2
sin exp −i 2
t sin
π a n 2 2ma a
n=1
r ∞ r !
~π 2 n2
 
8 3X 1 nπ 2 nπx
= 2 sin sin exp −i t
π 2 n2 2 a a 2ma2
n=1
∞ r
~π 2 n2
 
X 8 3 1 nπ
= sin ψn (x) exp −i t ,
π 2 2 n2 2 2ma2
n=1

we can see that the probability of measuring energy,

~2 π 2 n2
En = ,
2ma2
is r 2
8 3 1 nπ 96 nπ
P (En ) = 2 2
sin = 4 4
sin2 .
π 2n 2 n π 2

For E1 = ~2 π 2 /(2ma2 ) in particular,

96
P (E1 ) = ≈ 0.986.
π4
The expectation value of the energy is
∞ ∞  2 2 2 ∞
X X 96 2 nπ ~ π n 48~2 X 1 nπ
hHi = P (En )En = 4 4
sin 2
= 2 2 2
sin2 .
n π 2 2ma π ma n 2
n=1 n=1 n=1

As before, sum over the odd integers only by making the substitution n = 2k − 1.
∞ ∞ ∞
48~2 X 1 2 (2k − 1)π 48~2 X 1 k−1 2 48~2 X 1
hHi = 2 2 sin = 2 2 [(−1) ] = 2 2
π ma (2k − 1)2 2 π ma (2k − 1)2 π ma (2k − 1)2
2k−1=1 k=1 k=1
2
 2
48~ π
= 2 2
π ma 8
6~ 2
=
ma2

www.stemjock.com