✎ Schrödinger Equation [The Physics Travel Guide]

You've loaded an old revision of the document! If you save it, you will create a new version with this data.

<WRAP lag>$   \color{royalblue}{i}  \color{olive}{\hbar} \color{darkturquoise}{\partial_t} \color{firebrick}{\Psi(\vec{x},t)}   =  \color{darksalmon}{\hat H} \color{firebrick}{\Psi(\vec{x},t)}  $</WRAP>

====== Schrödinger Equation ======

//see also [[theories:quantum_mechanics:canonical|Quantum Mechanics]]//

<tabbox Intuitive> 
{{ :equations:wavefunction.png?nolink&500|}}

The Schrödinger equation describes how the state of a quantum system changes in time. It is as central to [[theories:quantum_mechanics:canonical|quantum mechanics]] as [[equations:newtons_second_law|Newton’s laws]] are to [[theories:classical_mechanics:newtonian|classical mechanics]]

In quantum mechanics, we describe particles using waves. However, these waves are not waves in the same sense as sound waves or ocean waves. Rather, they are probability waves that tell us where it is likely to find a given particle.

Every time in physics we describe something in terms of waves, we need a wave equation that tells us how the waves behave in different situations. The Schrödinger equation is the correct equation to describe the probability waves of quantum mechanics.

The Schrödinger equation tells us that <color darkturquoise>rate of change</color> of the <color firebrick>wave-function</color> is completely determined by the <color darksalmon>total energy of the system</color>.

In addition, it tells us that the wave-function is a <color royalblue>complex</color> function. Therefore, it cannot represent anything in our real world like, for example, a spatial displacement. Instead, to get something that gets actually measured in experiments, we must consider the absolute value of the wave function, which then represents the probability that something happens.

It also tells us that the <color olive>actual size of quantum effects is tiny</color>.

While in principle, Schrödinger's equation enables us to describe any kind of quantum system this is in practice quite hard. We can solve the Schrödinger equation only for very special simplified systems. For all other systems, approximation methods must be used.

<tabbox Concrete> 
In the Schrödinger equation, the <color firebrick>wave-function</color> $\color{firebrick}{\Psi(\vec{x},t)}$ describes the state of the system. This means concretely that ${ \Psi(\vec{x},t)}$ encodes, for example, if a given system is excited or in its rest state. The wave-function is a [[basic_tools:complex_analysis|complex function]], which means that at a given point in space, say $ \vec{x}= (1,4,7)$, and time, say $t=9s$, the wave function is a complex number: ${\Psi(1,4,7,9)}= 5 + 3 i$. The wave-function at a given point in space and time yields a probability amplitude. By taking the absolute square of an probability amplitude we get the probability density and by integrating over some spatial volume we get the probability to the the particle within this volume.

The left-hand side of the Schrödinger equation denotes the <color darkturquoise></color> of the wave function. We act with the <color darkturquoise>partial derivative</color> $\color{darkturquoise}{\partial_t}$ on our wave-function and the result: ${\partial_t}{ \Psi(\vec{x},t)}$ denotes how the wave function changes as time passes on.

The <color darksalmon>Hamiltonian operator</color> $\color{darksalmon}{\hat H}$ represents the total energy of the system. We can get the Hamiltonian operator from the classical energy $E= T +V$, where $T$ is the kinetic energy and $V$ the potential energy by replacing

\begin{align}
\text{ the classical momentum } p_i \ &\rightarrow \ {-i} \hbar \partial_{x_i} \, .
\end{align}

Formulated differently, the Hamiltonian operator is calculated from the classical energy $E= T +V$ by replacing the classical momentum $p_i$ with the momentum operator $ \hat{p}_i \equiv {-i} \hbar \partial_{x_i}$:

\begin{equation} \hat H \equiv - \frac{\hbar^2}{2m} \Delta^2 + \hat V \hat{=} \frac{\hat{p}^2}{2m} + \hat V. \end{equation}

It is conventional to denote operators by an additional hat above the classical symbol.

The Hamiltonian is what is different for different systems. Formulated differently, the Hamiltonian characterizes the system in question. The rest of the Schrödinger equation stays the same for all systems. For example, the Hamiltonian for a [[models:basic_models:harmonic_oscillator|harmonic oscillator]] reads

\begin{equation} \hat H \equiv  \frac{\hat{p}^2}{2m} - \frac{1}{2}k \hat{x}^2   . \end{equation}

----

**Stationary Schrödinger equation**

For systems with a __time-independent Hamiltonian__ $\partial_t H =0$, it is helpful to split the wave function into two parts $\Psi(x,t) = \phi(t) \psi(x)$. We can see why this is useful by putting this ansatz into the Schrödinger equation

\begin{align}
i \hbar  \partial_t \Psi(x,t) &= H \Psi (x,t) \notag \\
i \hbar \partial_t\phi(t) \psi(x) &= H \phi(t) \psi(x) \notag \\
i \hbar  \frac{\partial_t \phi(t)}{\phi(t)} &=  \frac{H  \psi(x)}{\psi(x)} .
\end{align}
Take note that Hamiltonian $H$ on the right-hand side contains the momentum operator $i \partial_{x}$ and thus $\psi(x)$ does not cancel here. The left-hand side now only depends on $t$ while the right-hand side only depends on $x$. This equation can only be correct for arbitrary values for $x$ and arbitrary values for $t$ when both sides independently yield some constant that we call $E$:
\begin{align}
\Rightarrow \quad i \hbar  \frac{\partial_t \phi(t)}{\phi(t)} &= E ,
\Rightarrow\frac{H  \psi(x)}{\psi(x)} &= E.
\end{align}

The solution of the first equation is

$$ \phi(t) = A e^{-Et/\hbar} $$
and the second equation is known as the stationary Schrödnger equation. This means that for all systems where the Hamiltonian does not explicitly depend on the time, we known immediately how the time-dependence of the total wave function $\Psi(x,t)$ looks like, namely: $\Psi(x,t) = \phi(t) \psi(x) = A e^{-Et/\hbar} \psi(x)$. The only thing we then have to do is to solve the __stationary Schrödinger equation__

\begin{equation}
\colorbox{lightpink}{$H  \psi(x)= E\psi(x)$}
\end{equation}
for the Hamiltonian $H$ that describes the system in question.

The __complete wave function__ then reads

$$  \colorbox{lightpink}{${\Psi(x,t) = \phi(t) \psi(x) = A e^{-Et/\hbar} \psi(x)}$}$$

-->Example: Free Particle#

The Hamiltonian for a free particle is $H= \frac{-\hbar \partial_x^2}{2m}$. The stationary Schrödinger equation therefore reads

\begin{align}
H  \psi(x)&= E\psi(x) \notag \\
\frac{-\hbar \partial_x^2}{2m} \psi(x) &=E\psi(x) \notag \\
\frac{-\hbar \partial_x^2}{2m} \psi(x) &=E\psi(x) \notag
\end{align}
This equation is solved for $E>0$ by

$$ \Psi(x) =A e^{i\sqrt{2mE/\hbar}x} + B e^{-i\sqrt{2mE/\hbar}x}.$$

Such a solution describes a plane wave. However, since such a plane wave solution cannot be normalized (which we need since the total probability has to be 100\%), it is not a physical solution. Instead, to describe a real free particle we need to use a normalizable superposition of such plane wave solutions that we call wave packets. 
<--
----

**Wave Packets**

A generic solution of the stationary Schrödinger equation

$\Psi(x) =A e^{i\sqrt{2mE/\hbar}x} + B e^{-i\sqrt{2mE/\hbar}x}$$

is non-physical, since it describes a plane wave that oscillates till infinity and therefore can't be normalized.

To get something that we can normalize we must use a superposition of such generic solutions. By adding plane waves with different oscillation frequencies we can build a wave packet that is localized in space and therefore can be normalized.

One possibility is a Gaussian wave-packet, where $A(\vec p)$ is a Gauss distribution.
\[  \Psi_{GWP}( \vec x,t) = \int d p^3 A(\vec p) e^{i( \vec p \vec x-Et)} = \int d p^3 \psi_0 e^{i(\vec p-\vec{ \tilde p})^2/4\sigma^2} {\mathrm{e }}^{i( \vec p \vec x-Et)} \, .
\]

Take note that using a [[basic_tools:fourier_transform|Fourier transform]] a wave packet can be tought of as being built of plane waves:

----

**Examples**

One of the most important examples is the particle in a box, since it demonstrates nicely how the [[advanced_tools:quantization|quantization]] of energy levels happens in quantum mechanics.

--> Particle in a box#

A particle confined in a box, here 1-dimensional, with infinitely high potential walls is one of the standard examples of quantum mechanics. Inside the box the potential is zero, outside it's infinite.

The potential is defined piece-wise

\begin{equation} V = 
\left\{
	\begin{array}{ll}
		0,  &  0< x <L \\
		\infty, &  {\mathrm{\ otherwise }}
	\end{array}
\right.  \end{equation}
and therefore, we have to solve the one-dimensional Schrödinger equation piece-wise.
\[ i \partial_t \Psi(\vec{x},t) =  -\frac{\partial_x^2}{2m}  \Psi(x,t)  + V(x) \Psi(x,t)
\]

* Inside the box, the solution is equal to the free particle solution, because $V=0$ for $0< x <L$
  * Outside, because $V=\infty$, the only possible, physical solution is $\Psi(x,t)=0$.

We can rewrite the general free particle solution
\[  \Psi(x,t) = A {\mathrm{e }}^{-i ( E t - \vec p \cdot \vec x) } + B {\mathrm{e }}^{-i ( E t + \vec p \cdot \vec x) } 
\]
\[ = \big( C \sin(\vec p \cdot \vec x) + D \cos(\vec p \cdot \vec x) \big){\mathrm{e }}^{-i E t},
\]
which we can rewrite again using the non-relativistic energy-momentum relation
\[ E = \frac{\vec{p}^2}{2m} \qquad \rightarrow \qquad \vec p = \sqrt{2mE}
\]
\begin{equation} \Psi(x,t) =   \big( C \sin(\sqrt{2mE}x) + D \cos(\sqrt{2mE}x) \big){\mathrm{e }}^{-i E t} \end{equation}

Next, we use that the wave-function must be a continuous function\footnote{If there are any jumps in the wave-function, the momentum of the particle $ \hat p_x \Psi = -i \partial_x \Psi$ is infinite because the derivative at the jumping point would be infinite.}. Therefore, we have the boundary conditions $\Psi(0)=\Psi(L) \stackrel{!}{=} 0$.
We see that, because $\cos(0)=1$ we have $D\stackrel{!}{=}0$. Furthermore, we see that these conditions impose 
\begin{equation} \label{box:quantbed} \sqrt{2mE}\stackrel{!}{=} \frac{n \pi}{L},  \end{equation}
 with arbitrary integer $n$, because for\footnote{Take note that we put an index $n$ to our wave-function, because we have a different solution for each $n$.}
 
 
\begin{equation} \label{eq:energyeigenfunctions} \Phi_n(x,t)=C\sin(\frac{n \pi}{L} x){\mathrm{e }}^{-i E_n t}  \end{equation}
both boundary conditions are satisfied
\[\rightarrow \Phi_n(L,t)=C\sin(\frac{n \pi}{L} L){\mathrm{e }}^{-i E t} = C\sin(n \pi){\mathrm{e }}^{-i E t} =0 \qquad \checkmark
\]
\[\rightarrow \Phi_n(0,t)= C \sin(\frac{n \pi}{L} 0){\mathrm{e }}^{-i E t} = C\sin(0){\mathrm{e }}^{-i E t} =0 \qquad \checkmark
\]
The normalization constant $C$, can be found to be $C=\sqrt{\frac{2}{L}}$, because the probability for finding the particle anywhere inside the box must be $100\%=1$ and the probability outside is zero, because there we have $\Psi=0$. Therefore
\[ P= \int_0^L dx \Phi_n^\star(x,t) \Phi_n(x,t) \stackrel{!}{=}  1  
	\]
\[P = \int_0^L dx C^2 \sin(\frac{n \pi}{L} x){\mathrm{e }}^{+i E t} \sin(\frac{n \pi}{L} x){\mathrm{e }}^{-i E t}  
	\]
\[ = C^2 \int_0^L dx  \sin^2(\frac{n \pi}{L} x) = C^2 \left[\frac{x}{2} -\frac{\sin (\frac{2n \pi}{L} x)}{4 \frac{n \pi}{L}} \right]_0^L
	\]
\[ = C^2 \left( \frac{L}{2} - \frac{\sin (\frac{2n \pi}{L} L)}{4 \frac{n \pi}{L}}    \right) = C^2  \frac{L}{2}   \stackrel{!}{=}  1 
	\]
\[ \rightarrow  C^2 \stackrel{!}{=}  \frac{2}{L}  \qquad \checkmark
	\]
We can now solve Eq.~\ref{box:quantbed} for the energy $E$

\begin{equation} E_n \stackrel{!}{=}  \frac{n^2 \pi^2}{L^2 2m}. \end{equation}
The possible energies are quantized, which means that the corresponding quantity can only be integer multiplies of some constant, here $ \frac{ \pi^2}{L^2 2m}$. Hence the name quantum mechanics.

[{{ :equations:infinitesquarewellanimation.gif?nolink|$A$ shows a solution of the particle in a box system in [[theories:classical_mechanics:newtonian|classical mechanics]]. $B-F$ show quantum mechanical solutions.}}]

Take note that we have a solution for each $n$ and linear combinations of the form
\[ \Phi(x,t) = A \Phi_1(x,t) +  B \Phi_2(x,t) + ... 
\]
are solutions, too. These solutions have to be normalised again because of the probabilistic interpretation\footnote{A probability of more than $1=100\%$ doesn't make sense}.
<--

----

* See also [[http://www.physics.utah.edu/~starykh/phys7640/Lectures/FeynmansDerivation.pdf|Feynman's derivation of the Schrödinger equation]]. 
  * Moreover it can be derived by using the symmetry group of non-relativistic physics, i.e. the Galilei group. This is shown at page 209 in Josef M. Jauch: "Foundations of Quantum Mechanics".
  * The Schrödinger equation is the non-relativistic limit of the [[equations:klein-gordon_equation|Klein-Gordon equation]]. (This is shown, for example, in Physics from Symmetry by Schwichtenberg)

One way to state the Schrödinger equation is that: "<color darksalmon>Energy</color> is the operator that <color darkturquoise>infinitesimally generates time translations</color>". ([[http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/wordpress/?p=4385|Source]])

The Schrödinger equation is the basic equation of motion in [[theories:quantum_mechanics:canonical|quantum mechanics]] and also describes the time evolution of states in quantum field theory.

In quantum mechanics, the Schrödinger equation provides a way to calculate how particles behave using
"probability waves". These waves describe where it is likely that we find a given particle.

The Schrödinger equation is the starting point when we want to describe how electrons are distributed in, for example, atoms or materials.

This is crucial in modern electronics. Modern computer chips are built of semiconductors and the Schrödinger equation is necessary to understand these materials properly. In this sense, semiconductor technology relies on the Schrödinger equation.

----

<blockquote>Like the [[formalisms:hamiltonian_formalism|Hamiltonian formalism]] for classical physics, the Schrödinger equation is not so much a specific equation,
 but a framework for quantum mechanical equations generally. Once one has obtained the appropriate Hamiltonian, the time evolution of the state according to Schrödinger's equation proceeds rather as though $|\Psi\rangle$ were a classical field subject to some classical field equation such as Maxwell's. In fact, if $|\Psi\rangle$ describes the state of a single photon, then it turns out that Schrodinger's equation actually
becomes [[equations:maxwell_equations|Maxwell's equations]]! The equation for a single photon is precisely
the same as the equation for an entire electromagnetic field. (However, there is an important difference in the type of solution for the equations that is allowed. Classical Maxwell fields are necessarily real whereas photon states are complex. There is also a so-called 'positive frequency condition that the photon state must satisfy). This fact is
responsible for the Maxwell-field-wavelike behaviour and polarization of
single photons that we caught glimpses of earlier. As another example, if 11Ji}
describes the state of a single electron, then Schröinger's equation becomes
[[equations:dirac_equation|Dirac's remarkable wave equation]] for the electron discovered in 1928 after
Dirac had supplied much additional originality and insight <cite>The Emperor's New Mind by Penrose</cite></blockquote>

<tabbox Research> 
The Schrödinger equation and the accompanying wave functions are not the only way describe quantum mechanics
mathematically.

Before Schrödinger developed his wave mechanics, Heisenberg and other's had already developed a complete description of quantum mechanics using matrices. This is known as Matrix mechanics.

However, Schrödinger framework was more convenient and "brought quantum mechanics to the masses". The wave function can be visualized more easily than matrices and differential equations easier to handle than problems in matrix mechanics.

There is also strong criticism of Schrödinger's wave mechanics since it introduces many objects that cannot be observed, like, for example the wave function. Some physicists argue that this leads to a lot of confusion and is the source of many problems. A nice discussion of this point of view can be found in [[https://arxiv.org/abs/1712.02894|"Space is blue and birds fly through it"]] by Carlo Rovelli.

----

**The deWitt term**

In curved spacetime, it's possible to add to the Schrödinger equation a so-called deWitt term

$$ \frac{\eta h^2}{2 \mu} R,$$

whose meaning, so far, is not clear. Here $\eta$ is a dimensionless parameter and $R$ the Ricci scalar.

This was proposed by Bryce deWitt in [[https://journals.aps.org/rmp/abstract/10.1103/RevModPhys.29.377|Rev. Mod. Phys. 29. 377]].

\begin{align} 
\color{royalblue}{i} \ &: \text{ is the imaginary unit} \notag \\
\color{olive}{\hbar} \ &: \text{ is reduced Planck constant that characterizes the size of quantum effects} \notag \\
\color{darkturquoise}{\partial_t} \ &: \text{ denotes the partial derivative with respect to time} \notag \\ 
\color{firebrick}{\Psi(\vec{x},t}) \ &: \text{ the wave-function which is a complex function of the spatial and time coordinates} \notag \\
\color{darksalmon}{\hat H} \ &: \text{ the Hamiltonian operator, which represents the total energy and characterizes the system in question} 
\end{align}

--> How can we derive the Schroedinger Equation?#

There are several possibilities:

* [[http://www.physics.utah.edu/~starykh/phys7640/Lectures/FeynmansDerivation.pdf|Feynman's derivation of the Schrödinger equation]]
  * Schrodinger's equation can be derived using symmetry arguments. Specifically, you write out the commutation relations that exist between the generators of the Galilei group and then choose the position representation. What you find is that the generator of time translations has the same form that is usually ascribed to the Hamiltonian. Details can be found, for example, in the third chapter of Ballentine's "Quantum Mechanics: A Modern Development"
  * Schrödingers equation can be derived by using Galilei invariance: "I encourage everyone to learn the derivation of Schrödinger's equation straight from the representation theory of the Galilei group! It's cool. (I think it appears in the books by Mackey and Jauch listed here.)" http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/symmetries.html -> Page 209 in Josef M. Jauch, Foundations of Quantum Mechanics page V (I.e. chapter 12-5)
  * In the quantum mechanics book by Cohen-Tannoudji a "derivation" from several requirements is described
  * The Schrödinger equation can also be derived by taking the non-relativistic limit of the Klein-Gordon equation.  This is described, for example, in "Physics from Symmetry" by Schwichtenberg
  * See also https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/69982/variational-derivation-of-schrodinger-equation

There are also, lots of more unconventional approaches:

* [[https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0102069|Schrodinger equation from an exact uncertainty principle]] by Michael J. W. Hall, Marcel Reginatto
  * [[http://www.math.ryerson.ca/~gord/abstracts/Dirac2/AnnalsEP03.pdf|Entwined Pairs and Schroedinger 's Equation]] by G.N. Ord, R.B. Mann
  * http://www.wetsavannaanimals.net/wordpress/how-to-derive-the-schrodinger-equation/

<--

-->What's the Lagrangian corresponding to the Schrödinger equation?#
see https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/15242/lagrangian-of-schrodinger-field
<--
--> Particle of what spin are described by the Schrödinger equation?#

The Schrödinger equation is the non-relativistic limit of the [[equations:klein-gordon_equation|Klein-Gordon equation]], which is the correct equation for spin $0$ particles. Hence, the Schrödinger equation describes spin $0$ particles.

The correct equation for spin $1/2$ particles is the [[equations:dirac_equation|Dirac equation]] and it's non-relativistic limit is the Pauli equation. The Pauli equation is the analogue of the Schrödinger equation for particles with spin $1/2$.

See also: https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/129667/is-it-true-that-the-schr%C3%B6dinger-equation-only-applies-to-spin-1-2-particles/129744
<--
 
-->What inspired Schrödinger to derive his equation?#

See [[https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/18998/what-inspired-schr%C3%B6dinger-to-derive-his-equation/19009#19009]]

and also: [[https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1933/schrodinger-lecture.pdf]]

<--
<tabbox History> 
<blockquote>In Peter Debye's class in introductory physics Felix found
what he desired and felt later that he learned more from
that class than from all his other courses together. Coming
across Sommerfeld's famous book.....

In 1926 an event occurred that had a great influence on
his career. He described this in an article for Physics Today
in December 1976. He (Felix Bloch) writes:
Once at the end of a colloquium I heard Debye saying something
like: "Schrodinger, you are not working right now on very important
problems anyway. Why don't you tell us some time about that thesis of de
Broglie, which seems to have attracted some attention?"

So in one of the next colloquia, Schrodinger gave a beautifully clear
account of how de Broglie associated a wave with a particle and how he
could obtain the quantization rules of Niels Bohr and Sommerfeld by
demanding that an integer number of waves should be fitted along a
stationary orbit. When he had finished, Debye casually remarked that this way of
talking was rather childish. As a student of Sommerfeld he had learned
that, to deal properly with waves, one had to have a wave equation. It
sounded quite trivial and did not seem to make a great impression, but
Schrodinger evidently thought a bit more about the idea afterwards.
Just a few weeks later he gave another talk in the colloquium which
he started by saying: "My colleague Debye suggested that one should have a
wave equation; well I have found one!"
And then he told us essentially what he was about to publish under
the title "Quantization as Eigenvalue Problem" as the first paper of a series
in the Annalen der Physik. I was still too green to really appreciate the
significance of this talk, but from the general reaction of the audience I
realized that something rather important had happened, and I need not
tell you what the name of Schrodinger has meant from then on. Many
years later, I reminded Debye of his remark about the wave equation;
interestingly enough he claimed that he had forgotten about it and I am not
quite sure whether this was not the subconscious suppression of his regret
that he had not done it himself. In any event, he turned to me with a
broad smile and said: "Well, wasn't I right?"
This quotation not only illustrates an important event in
Felix's career but demonstrates as well how charmingly he
could write and tell stories.

<cite>Felix Bloch 1905-1983 A biographical memoir by Hofstadter R</cite>
</blockquote>

</tabbox>

Please solve the following equation to prove you're human. 53 +9 = Please keep this field empty:

Edit summary

Note: By editing this page you agree to license your content under the following license: CC Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

User Tools

Site Tools

Page Tools