About
The Superposition Principle
The fundamental building blocks of one-dimensional quantum mechanics are energy eigenfunctions ψn(x) and energy eigenvalues En. For a given potential energy function V(x) and boundary conditions, energy eigenfunctions can be determined either analytically or numerically. Most of the time in quantum mechanics these energy eigenfunctions are determined in position space. Once these energy eigenstates are determined, more interesting quantum-mechanical wave functions Ψ(x,t) can be studied by applying the superposition principle
where the expansion coefficients cn satisfy Σ cn|2 = 1. Depending on how many of the coefficients cn are non-zero, one may have an energy eigenstate, a two-state superposition, or even an initially localized (usually Gaussian shaped) wave packet.
Any complete orthonormal set of eigenfunctions can be used to construct the wave function Ψ(x,t). This simulation uses the superposition principle to construct and display a time-dependent wave function using either infinite square well (ISW) or simple harmonic oscillator (SHO) eigenfunctions.
Units
Although the metric (MKS) system of units has become the standard international system of units, it is not well suited for computation if the quantities being computed are very large or very small. Quantum phenomena occurs on the microscopic scale at very fast times and computations are usually done using an atomic system of units in which the reduced Plank's constant ħ, the Bohr radius ao, and the mass of the electron m are set equal to unity. The one-dimensional time independent Schrödinger equation in these units is:
In atomic units, one unit time is 2.42×10-17 seconds, one unit of distance is 5.29×10-11 meters, and one unit of energy is 4.36×10-18 Joules. This simulation models a particle with the mass of an electron using these atomic units.
References:
- For an excellent tutorial on energy eigenfunction shape and the relationship to the potential energy function, see: A. P. French and E. F. Taylor, Qualitative plots of bound state wave functions, Am. J. Phys. 39, 961-962 (1971).
- An Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (2ed) by David J. Griffiths page 28.
Credits:
The Bound Energy Eigenstate Superposition JavaScript simulation was developed by Wolfgang Chrsitian using the Easy Java/JavaScript Simulations (EjsS) modeling tool. You can examine and modify this simulation if you have EjsS version 5.2 or above installed by importing the model's zip archive into EjsS. Information about EjsS is available at: <http://www.um.es/fem/Ejs/> and in the OSP ComPADRE collection <http://www.compadre.org/OSP/>.
The following Options cannot work on SHO (but works if system=ISO):
-"SHO squeezed"
-"SHO squeezed wide"
-"SHO boosted coherent"
-"SHO boosted squeezed"
-"SHO shifted ground state"
-"SHO shifted excited state"
Infinite Square Well Exercises
[Screen shot of an ISW superposition state that as it hits one side of the well.]
Pre-set Demonstrations
You can access the pre-set initial states for the infinite square well (ISW) via the textbox on the lower-left-hand side of the main simulation panel. These show:
- ISW Two State: Loads an ISW two-state superposition (equal mix of ground state and first-excited state).
- ISW Gaussian: Loads an ISW initial Gaussian wave packet with no initial average momentum.
- ISW Narrow Gaussian <p>0 = 0: Loads an ISW initial Gaussian wave packet with no initial average momentum.
- ISW Narrow Gaussian <p>0 = 80 π/a: Loads an ISW initial Gaussian wave packet with an initial average momentum.
Exercises
1. Given the default infinite square well width of a
= 1.57 = π/2, what are the ground-state and
first-excited-state energies? Recall that we have scaled the problem such
that ħ = m = 1.
2. Since the time dependence of energy eigenstates is just, e-iEnt/ħ,
how long does it take the ground state and the first-excited state to evolve in
time back to their t = 0 values? In other words, with what period do
these states oscillate with time? Once you have these values compare them to
each other.
3. Now select the ISW Two State and set the dt to the ground state period
divided by 10. The text field can accept simple mathematical operations
such as /, *, pi, etc. Single step through the simulation and see if the wave
function indeed has the same period as you calculated in Question 2. Now
set the dt to the ground state period divided by 3 and run the
simulation. Single step through the simulation and describe the the wave
function at these times. Why does this occur? What odes this result mean for the
period of expectation values of x, <x>?
4. Now select one of the ISW Gaussian wave packets (ISW Gaussian, ISW
Narrow Gaussian <p>0 = 0, ISW Narrow Gaussian <p>0 = 80 π/a) from the drop down menu.
First look at all three wave packets. Describe the similarities and differences
between the packets' initial shapes. Choose one packet and set the dt to
the ground state period divided by 100 and run the simulation. Describe the
motion of each wave packet. Which packet initially behaves like a particle in a
classical infinite square well?
5. Now set the dt to the ground state period divided by 10 and single
step through the simulation. What do you notice about the wave function at these
times? Now set dt to the ground state period divided by 4, then 3 and
single step through the simulation. Again describe what do you notice about the
wave function at these times.
Infinite Square Well Eigenfunctions
[Screen shot of the energy eigenfunction describing the ISW first-excited state.]
The infinite square well (ISW) is an idealized model consisting of a point mass m inside an infinitely deep well of width a.
According to quantum mechanics, the energy eigenfunctions ψn(x) for a symmetric ISW are simple sinusoidal functions
.
The corresponding energy eigenvalues En scale as the principal quantum number n squared
.
Simple Harmonic Oscillator Eigenfunctions
[Screen shot of the SHO ground state.]
A simple harmonic oscillator (SHO) with a potential energy V(x) = ½mω²x² has energy eigenfunctions ψn(x)
that are expressed in terms of a Gaussian times a Hermite polynomial Hn(x)
The angular frequency ω=(K/m)½ is that of a classical mass on a spring with spring constant
K. Substituting
these SHO eigenfunctions ψn(x) into the time-independent Schrödinger equation shows that they have energy eigenvalues En that scale as
the principal quantum number n
.
Note that unlike the infinite square well model, the simple harmonic oscillator energy eigenvalues are evenly spaced.
In order to compare ISW and SHO eigenfunctions, the spring constant is chosen so that the ground state energy eigenvalues of these two systems are equal.
Translations
Code | Language | Translator | Run | |
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Credits
Wolfgang Christian; Mario Belloni; Dieter Roess; Fremont Teng; Loo Kang Wee
Sample Learning Goals
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For Teachers
Bound Eigenstate Superposition JavaScript Simulation Applet HTML5
Instructions
Combo Box and Functions
Toggling Full Screen
Play/Pause, Step and Reset Buttons
Research
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Video
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Version:
Other Resources
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- Parent Category: Physics
- Category: 06 Modern Physics
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