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Electron WaveFunction

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10 views

Electron WaveFunction

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bassantb06222
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Bassant Bahaa Amin Optoelectronics_Ass_2 202006222

Electron Wavefunction
The electron wavefunction is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics that
describes the quantum state of an electron. It contains all the information about the
electron's position, momentum, and energy. The wavefunction is typically denoted by the
symbol ψ (psi) and is a complex-valued function that varies with position and time.

Schrodinger Equation

The Schrodinger equation is the linear partial differential equation describing the wave
function, 𝚿. The equation is named after Erwin Schrodinger. Schrodinger could work on the
wave function using the postulates of quantum mechanics.

Following is the equation of the Schrodinger equation:

When:

m: mass of the particle

⛛: Laplacian

i: imaginary unit

ħ=h/2𝝿: reduced Planck constant

E: constant equal to the energy level of the system

Physical Significance:

• Position and Momentum: By analyzing the wave function, you can calculate the
expectation values of physical quantities, such as an electron's average position or
momentum.

• Energy States: In bound systems (like an electron in an atom), the wavefunction


describes discrete energy levels, where electrons can only occupy specific energy
states, as determined by the boundary conditions imposed by the system.
Bassant Bahaa Amin Optoelectronics_Ass_2 202006222

Properties of Wave Function

• All measurable information about the particle is available.

• 𝚿 should be continuous and single-valued.

• Using the Schrodinger equation, energy calculations become easy.

• Probability distribution in three dimensions is established using the wave function.

• The probability of finding a particle if it exists is 1.

• The wave function itself does not directly give the position of an electron. Instead,
the square of the absolute value of the wavefunction, |ψ(x, t)|², gives the
probability density of finding the electron at a particular point in space at a given
time. This is often referred to as the Born rule.

Electron Wavefunction in a Harmonic Potential:

• The electron wavefunction in a harmonic oscillator potential is a solution to the


Schrödinger equation, giving the probability distribution of the electron's position
in discrete energy levels.
• The quantized energy levels of the harmonic oscillator directly relate to the
different states an electron can occupy in certain quantum systems.
• The shape of the wavefunction reflects the electron’s probability distribution in
space, which changes with energy states.
• The harmonic oscillator serves as an important approximation for more complex
systems involving electrons, such as atoms, molecules, and nanostructures.

The image illustrates the differences


between the classical and quantum
descriptions of a harmonic oscillator, using
both visual representations and wave
functions. Let’s break down each part based on
the provided panels:
Bassant Bahaa Amin Optoelectronics_Ass_2 202006222

Classical Harmonic Oscillator (Panels A–B):

1. Panel A:

o This shows a classical particle undergoing simple harmonic motion. The


particle is represented as a black dot attached to a spring-like object,
oscillating back and forth across a vertical axis. In classical mechanics, the
motion is deterministic, with the particle following a definite trajectory along
a straight line.

2. Panel B:

o This shows another view of the classical particle as it moves to the rightmost
position in its oscillation. The particle's path can be predicted precisely as it
moves back and forth between two positions, represented by the black line
(center) and red circle (representing different points in its oscillation).

In the classical view, the harmonic oscillator moves according to Newton's laws, with
kinetic and potential energy interchanging during the motion.

Quantum Harmonic Oscillator (Panels C–H):

Quantum mechanics treats the particle very differently, as described by wavefunctions


rather than deterministic trajectories.

Standing Wave Solutions (Panels C–F):

3. Panel C:

o This panel shows the ground state wavefunction of a quantum harmonic


oscillator, which is the lowest energy state (n=0). The wave function is shown
as a smooth curve centered around the origin. The vertical axis represents
the real part of the wave function (blue). Since this is the ground state, it is
symmetric, without any nodes (points where the wavefunction crosses zero),
and the probability of finding the particle is highest near the center.

4. Panel D:

o This represents the first excited state of the quantum harmonic oscillator
(n=1). The wavefunction now has one node (a point where the wavefunction
crosses zero). This state is an example of a standing wave with more complex
structure. The amplitude of the wave decreases as you move away from the
center.
Bassant Bahaa Amin Optoelectronics_Ass_2 202006222

5. Panel E:

o This shows the second excited state (n=2) of the quantum harmonic
oscillator. The wavefunction now has two nodes, and its shape becomes
more complex with each higher energy level. Again, the real part of the
wavefunction (blue) dominates here, and the distribution is more spread out.

6. Panel F:

o The third excited state (n=3) wavefunction is displayed here. The


wavefunction has three nodes and continues to show the more complex
standing wave nature of quantum harmonic oscillators.

Non-Standing Wave Solutions (Panels G–H):

7. Panel G:

o This shows a superposition of quantum states, which is not a pure standing


wave solution. Both the real part (blue) and imaginary part (red) of the
wavefunction are shown. The complex structure indicates that the particle's
wavefunction is a combination of multiple energy states. This leads to time-
dependent behavior that does not correspond to a simple standing wave.

8. Panel H:

o This shows another example of a wavefunction that is not a standing wave,


but a more complicated solution. Like panel G, both the real and imaginary
parts are depicted, and this represents a wave packet, where the position
and energy of the particle are not as precisely defined. In this case, the
particle exhibits non-stationary behavior, meaning its properties can
change with time.

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