ENGINEERING PHYSICS

Muhammad Faisal, Ph.D.

Department of Science and Humanities
ENGINEERING PHYSICS
Unit II : Quantum Mechanics and Simple Quantum Mechanical systems

Where are we?

Accepted the need for Quantum Mechanics

Accepted the basic approaches and definitions

What Next?!
ENGINEERING PHYSICS
Unit II : Quantum Mechanics and Simple Quantum Mechanical systems

Class #12 (As per less pl 11)

• One dimensional Schrödinger’s time dependent wave equation

• Time dependent and position dependent wave functions

• Schrödinger’s time independent wave equation

ENGINEERING PHYSICS
Unit II : Quantum Mechanics and Simple Quantum Mechanical systems

➢Suggested Reading
1. Concepts of Modern Physics, Arthur Beiser, Chapter 5

2. Learning material unit II prepared by the Department

of Physics

➢Reference Videos

1. Video lectures : MIT 8.04 Quantum Physics I

2. Engineering Physics Class #10

ENGINEERING PHYSICS
Schrödinger’s wave equation

• Analogue of Newton’s law (Backbone of classical mechanics)

Moving Matter Wave

particle wave equation

Backbone of quantum mechanics

 ENGINEERING PHYSICS
One dimensional Schrödinger’s time dependent wave equation
• The general form of the wave function describing a system in one
𝒊
(𝒑𝒙−𝑬𝒕)
dimension is given by 𝝍 𝒙, 𝒕 = 𝑨 𝒆 ℏ

• The total energy of a system is the sum of the kinetic energy and
the potential energy, E = KE + V momentum operator
𝝏
ෝ= −𝒊ℏ
𝐩 𝝏𝒙
• This equation remains invariant when multiplied by 𝝍 𝒙, 𝒕
kinetic energy
𝑬𝚿(𝐱, 𝐭) = 𝑲𝑬𝚿(𝐱, 𝐭) + 𝑽𝚿(𝐱, 𝐭) ෡ 𝚿(𝐱, 𝐭) = 𝑲𝑬𝚿(𝐱,
𝑬 ෢ 𝐭) + 𝑽𝚿(𝐱, 𝐭) ෢=
operator, 𝐊𝐄
ℏ 𝟐 𝝏𝟐
Remember eigen value equation 𝐆෠ 𝝍 = 𝑮 𝝍 −
𝟐𝒎 𝝏𝒙𝟐
• The terms in the equations can be rewritten in terms of operators total energy
𝒅𝜳 ℏ𝟐 𝒅𝟐 𝜳 operator, 𝐄෠ =
𝒊ℏ = − + 𝑽𝜳 Rearranging ℏ𝟐 𝒅𝟐 𝚿 𝒅𝚿 𝝏
𝒅𝒕 𝟐𝒎 𝒅𝒙𝟐 + 𝒊ℏ − 𝑽𝚿 = 𝟎 𝒊 ℏ 𝝏𝒕
𝟐𝒎 𝒅𝒙𝟐 𝒅𝒕

• This is the Schrodinger’s time dependent wave equation (nonrelativistic)

• The solution of this equation yields the wave function and its time evolution
ENGINEERING PHYSICS
Three dimensional Schrödinger’s time dependent wave equation

ℏ𝟐 𝒅𝟐 𝚿 𝒅𝚿
𝟐𝒎 𝒅𝒙𝟐
+ 𝒊ℏ
𝒅𝒕
− 𝑽𝚿 = 𝟎 Extending to 3D

ℏ 𝟐 𝒅𝟐 𝒅𝟐 𝒅𝟐 𝒅𝚿 𝒓, 𝒕
𝟐
+ 𝟐 + 𝟐 𝚿 𝒓, 𝒕 + 𝒊ℏ − 𝑽𝚿 𝒓, 𝒕 = 𝟎
𝟐𝒎 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒛 𝒅𝒕

ℏ𝟐 𝟐 𝒅𝜳 𝒓, 𝒕
𝜵 𝚿 𝒓, 𝒕 + 𝒊ℏ − 𝑽𝚿 𝒓, 𝒕 = 𝟎
𝟐𝒎 𝒅𝒕
𝝏𝟐 𝝏𝟐 𝝏𝟐
Where, 𝜵𝟐 = + + 𝟐 is the Laplacian operator (revisit)
𝝏𝒙𝟐 𝝏𝒚𝟐 𝝏𝒛
ENGINEERING PHYSICS
Unit I : Review of concepts leading to Quantum Mechanics

Quick Recap! (04-01-2021)

Schrodinger’s time dependent wave equation

Tools to Only two possible nature
Why Schrodinger’s understand of quantum systems!
wave equations? QM
Schrodinger’s time independent wave equation
ENGINEERING PHYSICS
Schrödinger’s time independent wave equation

• For steady state system:

The observables are time invariant and hence the wave function
could be independent of time
𝒊
(𝒑𝒙−𝑬𝒕)
• The wave function 𝝍 𝒙, 𝒕 = 𝒆 ℏ can be expressed as
𝒊 𝒊
(𝒑𝒙) −ℏ(𝑬𝒕)
𝚿 𝒙, 𝒕 = 𝑨𝒆 ℏ 𝒆 = 𝝍 𝒙 .𝝓 𝒕 Any quantum event - function of space and time
𝒊
(𝒑𝒙)
where 𝝍 𝒙 = 𝑨𝒆 ℏ is the space dependent component
𝒊
−ℏ(𝑬𝒕)
and 𝝓 𝒕 = 𝒆 is the time dependent component
ENGINEERING PHYSICS
Schrödinger’s time independent wave equation

• Substituting for 𝜳 𝒙, 𝒕 = 𝝍 𝒙 . 𝝓(𝒕) in the time

dependent Schrodinger’s equation

ℏ𝟐 𝒅𝟐 𝚿 𝒅𝚿
+ 𝒊ℏ − 𝑽𝚿 = 𝟎
𝟐𝒎 𝒅𝒙𝟐 𝒅𝒕

ℏ𝟐 𝝏𝟐 𝝍 𝒙 .𝝓(𝒕) 𝝏𝝍 𝒙 .𝝓(𝒕)
+ 𝒊ℏ − 𝑽𝝍 𝒙 . 𝝓(𝒕) = 𝟎
𝟐𝒎 𝝏𝒙𝟐 𝝏𝒕

• Replacing energy operator in the above equation, 𝝏

Total energy operator, 𝐄෠ = 𝒊 ℏ 𝝏𝒕

ℏ𝟐 𝒅𝟐 𝝍 𝒙 . 𝝓(𝒕)
𝟐
+ 𝑬𝝍 𝒙 . 𝝓(𝒕) − 𝑽𝝍 𝒙 . 𝝓(𝒕) = 𝟎
𝟐𝒎 𝒅𝒙
Remember eigen value equation 𝐆෠ 𝝍 = 𝑮 𝝍
ENGINEERING PHYSICS
Schrödinger’s time independent wave equation
• Rewriting the equation,
ℏ𝟐 𝒅𝟐 𝝍 𝒙 . 𝝓(𝒕)
+ 𝑬𝝍 𝒙 . 𝝓(𝒕) − 𝑽𝝍 𝒙 . 𝝓(𝒕) = 𝟎
𝟐𝒎 𝒅𝒙𝟐
ℏ 𝟐 𝒅𝟐 𝝍 𝒙 .
𝟐
+ 𝑬𝝍 𝒙 − 𝑽𝝍 𝒙 ∗𝝓 𝒕 =𝟎
𝟐𝒎 𝒅𝒙
• The product of two functions is zero implies that either of the terms is zero
ℏ𝟐 𝒅𝟐 𝝍 𝒙 .
• Hence, +
𝑬𝝍 𝒙 − 𝑽𝝍 𝒙 = 𝟎, which is the Schrodinger’s time
𝟐𝒎 𝒅𝒙𝟐
independent wave equation
Schrodinger’s time independent wave equation in 𝒅𝟐 𝝍 𝒙 . 𝟐𝒎
+ 𝟐 𝑬−𝑽 𝝍 𝒙 =𝟎
the standard form of a differential equation 𝒅𝒙𝟐 ℏ
𝒉
Solution of this equation gives the wave function 𝑾𝑲𝑻, ℏ =
𝟐𝝅
of a steady state system
𝒅𝟐 𝝍 𝒙 . 𝟖𝝅𝟐 𝒎
+ 𝑬−𝑽 𝝍 𝒙 =𝟎
Region in which the particle is moving can be 𝒅𝒙𝟐 𝒉𝟐
defined by the potential function
ENGINEERING PHYSICS
Three dimensional Schrödinger’s time independent wave equation

• The Schrodinger’s time independent wave equation in 3D

can be written as 𝒅𝟐 𝝍 𝒙 . 𝟐𝒎
+ 𝟐 𝑬−𝑽 𝝍 𝒙 =𝟎
𝒅𝒙𝟐 ℏ
𝝏𝟐 𝝏𝟐 𝝏𝟐 𝟐𝒎
𝟐
+ 𝟐 + 𝟐 𝚿 𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛 + 𝟐 𝑬 – 𝑽 𝚿 𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛 = 𝟎
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛 ℏ

which can be simplified as How to set up Schrodinger’s time

independent wave equation?
𝟐𝒎 1. Accept Schrodinger’s time
𝜵𝟐 𝚿 𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛 + 𝟐 𝑬 – 𝑽 𝚿 𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛 = 𝟎 dependent wave equation
ℏ 2. Substitute space and time
dependent component of wave
𝝏𝟐 𝝏𝟐 𝝏𝟐
where 𝜵𝟐 = + 𝟐 + is the Laplacian operator function
𝝏𝒙𝟐 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛𝟐 3. Write as second order Diff Eqn.
wrt space component
ENGINEERING PHYSICS
Conceptual Questions
Starting from Schrodinger’s time dependent wave equation
arrive at the Schrodinger’s time independent wave equation.

Set up Schrodinger’s time dependent equation as an eigen

value equation.
 ENGINEERING PHYSICS
Class #11 …….. Quiz …

The concepts which are true of Schrodinger’s wave equations …

ℏ 𝟐 𝝏𝟐
1. The operator for the kinetic energy is {− 𝟐𝒎 𝝏𝒙𝟐 }

2. For a quantum system, in the case when (E-V) is positive

and constant, what will be the corresponding value of
momentum?

𝒅𝟐 𝝍 𝒙 . 𝟐𝒎 𝒅𝟐 𝝍 𝒙 . 𝟐𝒎(𝑬−𝑽) 𝟐𝒎(𝑬−𝑽)
+ 𝟐 𝑬−𝑽 𝝍 𝒙 =𝟎 + 𝒌𝟐 𝝍(𝒙) = 𝟎 𝒌𝟐 = or 𝒌 =
𝒅𝒙𝟐 ℏ 𝒅𝒙 𝟐 ℏ𝟐 ℏ𝟐

𝟐𝒎(𝑬 − 𝑽)
𝒑= 𝟐𝒎(𝑬 − 𝑽) 𝒌=
𝒑 = ℏ𝒌 ℏ

3. The time independent wave equation can be used to

evaluate steady state systems
THANK YOU

Muhammad Faisal, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Science and Humanities

muhammadfaisal@[Link]
+91 80 50829629