Section A: Tutorial 1: Solutions

28th February 2014

1. In general, the conditions that a wavefunction needs to satisfy are that it should
be single-valued, continuous, finite everwhere and that its first derivative should
be continuous. The first derivative continuity condition is not necessary if the
wavefunction enters a region where the potential energy is infinite, something that
will be seen later when the particle in a box problem is discussed. In addition
to mathematically verification, it is useful to plot the functions to see regions of
discontinuity.

(a) ex for −∞ < x < ∞

This is not an allowed wavefunction since it goes to infinity as x tends to
infinity, and cannot be normalized.
(b) e−x for 0 ≤ x < ∞
This is an allowed wavefunction. The normalization condition is given by
Z∞
N 2 e−x e−x dx = 1
0
√
which
√ −x gives N = 2. Thus the normalized wavefunction is given by ψ(x) =
2e .
(c)

ψ(x) = sin(kx) for 0 ≤ x < 2π/k

= 0 for − ∞ < x < 0 and 2π/k ≤ x < ∞

We first check for continuity at x = 0 and x = 2π/k. Clearly we have ψ(0) =

ψ(2π/k) = 0. Thus the wavefunction is single valued, finite everywhere, and
continuous. The first derivative at x = 0 has a discontinuity since

dψ(x) dψ(x)
|0− = 0 and |0+ = k
dx dx
Similarly, there is a derivative discontinuity at x = 2π/k. Thus the wave-
function may not be allowed depending on the potential energy function.

1
 If we ignore the derivative discontinuities and normalize the wavefunction,
we can write
Z∞ 2π/k
Z
N 2 ψ ∗ (x)ψ(x)dx = N 2 sin2 (kx)dx = 1
−∞ 0
q
Using sin2 (A) = (1 − cos(2A))/2, we can show that N = k/π.
(d) e|x| for −∞ < x < ∞
Not an allowed wavefunction since it soes to infinity as x tends to infinity.
2
(e) e−x for −∞ < x < ∞
This is an allowed wavefunction. The normalization condition is given by
+∞
Z
2
N 2
e−2x dx = 1
−∞

The
q integral above is called a Gaussian integral and its value is given by
π/2. Though it is possible to derive this and definitely useful to know the
derivation, we shall not do it here. Solving we get
 1/4
2
N=
π
(f)

ψ(x) = ex for − ∞ < x ≤ 0

= x + 1 − x2 for 0 < x ≤ 1
= e−(x−1) for 1 < x ≤ ∞

Wavefunction is finite everywhere and single-valued. Check for continuity at

x = 0 and x = 1. Clearly, we have

ψ(0− ) = e0 = 1 andψ(0+ ) = 0 + 1 − 02 = 1

ψ(1− ) = 1 + 1 − 12 = 1 andψ(1+ ) = e1−1 = 1

Thus the wavefunction is continuous. We now look for derivative continuity
dψ(x) dψ(x)
|0− = e0 = 1 and |0+ = 1 − 2(0) = 1
dx dx
dψ(x) dψ(x)
|1− = 1 − 2(1) = −1 and |1+ = −e1−1 = −1
dx dx
Clearly the first derivative is also continuous. Thus, the function is an allowed
wavefunction. The normalization condition is given by
Z∞
 0
Z1

Z
N2  e2x dx + (x + 1 − x2 )2 dx + e−2(x−1) dx = 1
−∞ 0 1
 Solving, we get
1 41 1
 
N2 + + =1
2 30 2
q
which can be rearranged to get N = 30/71
2. We will use the following formulas for the operators:
∂ ∂2
x̂ = x p̂x = −ih̄ p̂2x = −h̄2
∂x ∂x2
(a)
p̂x (sin(kx) + cos(kx)) = −ih̄k(cos(kx) − sin(kx))
Not an eigenfunction
(b)

p̂2x (sin(kx)+cos(kx)) = −h̄2 (−k 2 sin(kx)−k 2 cos(kx)) = h̄2 k 2 (sin(kx)+cos(kx))

Eigenfunction with eigenvalue h̄2 k 2 .

(c)

p̂2x (A sin(kx)+B cos(kx)) = −h̄2 (−k 2 A sin(kx)−k 2 B cos(kx)) = h̄2 k 2 (A sin(kx)+B cos(kx))

Eigenfunction with eigenvalue h̄2 k 2 .

(d)
x̂ekx = xekx
Not an eigenfunction
(e)
p̂x (Aekx + Be−kx ) = −ih̄k(Aekx − Be−kx )
Not an eigenfunction
(f)
p̂2x ((Aekx + Be−kx ) = −h̄2 k 2 (Aekx + Be−kx )
Eigenfunction with eigenvalue h̄2 k 2 .
(g)
2 ∂ 2 −ax2
p̂2x e−ax = −h̄2 e
∂x2
∂ 2
= −h̄2 − 2axe−ax
∂x
2 −ax2 2
= 2ah̄ (e − 2ax2 e−ax )
2
= 2ah̄2 (1 − 2ax)e−ax

For this to be an eigenfunction, the value of a has to be zero for the x term
to vanish. If a = 0, the second derivative goes to zero. Thus, the eigenvalue
is 0 and the eigenfunction is a constant 1.
 (h)
2 2 2 2
(p̂2x + x̂2 )e−ax = 2ah̄2 (1−2ax2 )e−ax +x2 e−ax = (2ah̄2 +x2 (−4a2 h̄2 +1))e−ax

In order for this to be an eigenfunction, we must have the coefficient of x2

2
in the polynomial multiplying e−ax go to zero. This can only happen if
−4a2 h̄2 + 1 = 0 or a = ±1/2h̄.

3. First we normalize the function

ZL ZL !
2 2 2 1 − cos(2nπx/L)
N sin (nπx/L)dx = N dx
2
0 0

For integer n, we can showqthat the integral on the right has value L/2. Thus we
have N 2 L/2 = 1 or N = 2/L. Thus the normalized wavefunction is given by
q
2/L sin(nπx/L). Now we can calculate expectation values.

ZL
s  s
2 nπx 2 nπx
  
hxi = sin x sin dx
L L L L
0
L
2Z nπx
 
= x sin2 dx
L L
0
ZL
1 nπx
  
= x 1 − cos dx
L L
0
1 L2
" # !
x sin(nπx/L) cos(nπx/L) L
= − + |0
L 2 nπ/L (nπ/L)2
= L/2

ZL
s !s
2 nπx ∂ 2 nπx
   
hpx i = sin −ih̄ sin dx
L L ∂x L L
0
L
−2inπh̄ Z nπx nπx
   
= 2
sin cos dx
L L L
0
ZL
−inπh̄ nπx
 
= sin 2 dx
L2 L
0
= 0