Picking the different solutions to the time independent Schrodinger eqaution












2












$begingroup$


The time independent Schrodinger equation
$$-frac{hbar^2}{2m} frac{d^2psi}{dx^2}+Vpsi = Epsi$$ can have many different solutions of $psi$ for a particular value of $E$.



For example, if we found a complex solution $psi(x)$ for a particular value of $E$, say $E_0$, we can write $psi(x)=a(x)+ib(x)$. Then $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ will also be solutions to the T.I.S.E with $E=E_0$. Furthermore $c_1a(x)+c_2b(x)$ will also be solutions with $c_1$ and $c_2$ being arbitrary constants.



I read that one can always choose any of these solutions as the solution for the stationary state with energy $E_0$. But does that mean all these different solutions represent the same physical state of a particle?



The expectation value of any dynamical variable $Q(x,p)$ is given by
$int psi^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})psi. $ How do we know for sure that $int a(x)^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})a(x) $ and $int b(x)^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})b(x)$ gives the same expectation values?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    The last two integrals don't seem to have an infinitesimal?
    $endgroup$
    – Gert
    yesterday
















2












$begingroup$


The time independent Schrodinger equation
$$-frac{hbar^2}{2m} frac{d^2psi}{dx^2}+Vpsi = Epsi$$ can have many different solutions of $psi$ for a particular value of $E$.



For example, if we found a complex solution $psi(x)$ for a particular value of $E$, say $E_0$, we can write $psi(x)=a(x)+ib(x)$. Then $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ will also be solutions to the T.I.S.E with $E=E_0$. Furthermore $c_1a(x)+c_2b(x)$ will also be solutions with $c_1$ and $c_2$ being arbitrary constants.



I read that one can always choose any of these solutions as the solution for the stationary state with energy $E_0$. But does that mean all these different solutions represent the same physical state of a particle?



The expectation value of any dynamical variable $Q(x,p)$ is given by
$int psi^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})psi. $ How do we know for sure that $int a(x)^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})a(x) $ and $int b(x)^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})b(x)$ gives the same expectation values?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    The last two integrals don't seem to have an infinitesimal?
    $endgroup$
    – Gert
    yesterday














2












2








2





$begingroup$


The time independent Schrodinger equation
$$-frac{hbar^2}{2m} frac{d^2psi}{dx^2}+Vpsi = Epsi$$ can have many different solutions of $psi$ for a particular value of $E$.



For example, if we found a complex solution $psi(x)$ for a particular value of $E$, say $E_0$, we can write $psi(x)=a(x)+ib(x)$. Then $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ will also be solutions to the T.I.S.E with $E=E_0$. Furthermore $c_1a(x)+c_2b(x)$ will also be solutions with $c_1$ and $c_2$ being arbitrary constants.



I read that one can always choose any of these solutions as the solution for the stationary state with energy $E_0$. But does that mean all these different solutions represent the same physical state of a particle?



The expectation value of any dynamical variable $Q(x,p)$ is given by
$int psi^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})psi. $ How do we know for sure that $int a(x)^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})a(x) $ and $int b(x)^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})b(x)$ gives the same expectation values?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$




The time independent Schrodinger equation
$$-frac{hbar^2}{2m} frac{d^2psi}{dx^2}+Vpsi = Epsi$$ can have many different solutions of $psi$ for a particular value of $E$.



For example, if we found a complex solution $psi(x)$ for a particular value of $E$, say $E_0$, we can write $psi(x)=a(x)+ib(x)$. Then $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ will also be solutions to the T.I.S.E with $E=E_0$. Furthermore $c_1a(x)+c_2b(x)$ will also be solutions with $c_1$ and $c_2$ being arbitrary constants.



I read that one can always choose any of these solutions as the solution for the stationary state with energy $E_0$. But does that mean all these different solutions represent the same physical state of a particle?



The expectation value of any dynamical variable $Q(x,p)$ is given by
$int psi^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})psi. $ How do we know for sure that $int a(x)^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})a(x) $ and $int b(x)^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})b(x)$ gives the same expectation values?







quantum-mechanics wavefunction schroedinger-equation






share|cite|improve this question















share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited yesterday









Qmechanic

106k121961227




106k121961227










asked yesterday









TaeNyFanTaeNyFan

54414




54414












  • $begingroup$
    The last two integrals don't seem to have an infinitesimal?
    $endgroup$
    – Gert
    yesterday


















  • $begingroup$
    The last two integrals don't seem to have an infinitesimal?
    $endgroup$
    – Gert
    yesterday
















$begingroup$
The last two integrals don't seem to have an infinitesimal?
$endgroup$
– Gert
yesterday




$begingroup$
The last two integrals don't seem to have an infinitesimal?
$endgroup$
– Gert
yesterday










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















5












$begingroup$


  1. In ordinary quantum mechanics, two wavefunctions represent the same physical state if and only if they are multiples of each other, that is $psi$ and $cpsi$ represent the same state for any $cinmathbb{C}$. If you insist on wavefunctions being normalized, then $c$ is restricted to complex numbers of absolute value 1, i.e. number of the form $mathrm{e}^{mathrm{i}k}$ for some $kin[0,2pi)$.



  2. If $psi(x) = a(x) + mathrm{i}b(x)$ is a solution of the Schrödinger equation, then it is not automatically true that $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ are also solutions. It is "accidentally" true for the time-independent Schrödinger equation because applying complex conjugation shows us directly that $psi^ast(x)$ is a solution if $psi(x)$ is, and $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ can be obtained by linear combinations of $psi(x)$ and $psi^ast(x)$.



    There are now two cases: If $psi$ and $psi^ast$ are not linearly independent - i.e. one can be obtained from the other by multiplication with a complex constant - then the space of solutions for this energy is still one-dimensional, and there's only a single physical state. If they are linearly independent, then there are at least two distinct physical states with this energy.



    Note that already the free particle with $V=0$ gives a counter-example to the claim that all solutions for the same energy have the same values for all expectation values. There we have plane wave solutions $psi(x) = mathrm{e}^{mathrm{i}px}$ and $psi^ast(x) = mathrm{e}^{-mathrm{i}px}$ that are linearly-independent complex conjugates with the same energy that differ in the sign of their expectation value for the momentum operator $p$.








share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$





















    3












    $begingroup$

    Solutions can be degenerate with the same expectation value of the energy, but they can have different expectation values for other operators like angular momentum or it $z$ component.



    For example the hydrogenic wave functions with $n=2$: $2s$ and $2p$. And then there are three different $2p$ wave functions that can be written as linear combinations of $2p_x, 2p_y, 2p_z$ or of the spherical harmonics $Y_{ell,m}$ with $ell=1$ and $m=-1,0,1$.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$





















      3












      $begingroup$


      ... one can always choose any of these solutions as the solution for the stationary state with energy $E_0$.




      That statement is misleading because of how it uses the word "the," suggesting uniqueness. If both occurrances of "the" were replaced by "a," then the statement would make sense.



      A given observable will typically have different expectation values in two different states with the same energy. For example, when $V=0$, the functions $exp(pm ipx/hbar)$ both have energy $E=p^2/2m$, but they have different eigenvalues ($pm p$) of the momentum operator $P=-ihbarpartial/partial x$.



      (I'm being relaxed here about using words like "eigenstate" for non-normalizable functions, but I think those mathematical technicalities are beside the point of this question.)






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$





















        0












        $begingroup$

        For a onedimensional equation like the one you propose something more certain may be said.



        Schrödinger equation is a second-order, linear and homogeneous ODE. Then a unique solution is determined giving $psi(x_0)$ and $psi'(x_0)$. As a consequence, there can't be more than two independent solutions (for a given $E$).



        The homogeneous boundary value problem ($psi(a)=psi(b)=0$ for given $a$, $b$, even infinite) is still more restricted: for each eigenvalue there is only one independent solution. In other words, eigenvalues are never degenerate.



        The proof makes use of the Wronskian. Let $psi_1$, $psi_2$ two
        solutions (for the same $E$ and the same boundary conditions). Define
        $$W(x) = psi_1(x),psi_2'(x) - psi_1'(x),psi_2(x).$$
        It can be shown that $W(x)$ is a constant, the same for all $x$.
        If the boundary conditions are homogeneous, clearly $W(x)=0$ for all $x$:
        $$psi_1(x),psi_2'(x) - psi_1'(x),psi_2(x) = 0$$
        $${psi_1'(x) over psi_1(x)} = {psi_2'(x) over psi_2(x)}$$
        $$logpsi_1(x) = logpsi_2(x) + c$$
        $$psi_1(x) = psi_2(x),e^c$$
        q.e.d.



        The case of a free particle, with two solutions, is no
        counterexample, since in that case there are no homogeneous boundary conditions. Anyhow you get two independent solutions and no more.






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$













          Your Answer





          StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
          return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
          StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
          StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
          });
          });
          }, "mathjax-editing");

          StackExchange.ready(function() {
          var channelOptions = {
          tags: "".split(" "),
          id: "151"
          };
          initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

          StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
          // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
          if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
          StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
          createEditor();
          });
          }
          else {
          createEditor();
          }
          });

          function createEditor() {
          StackExchange.prepareEditor({
          heartbeatType: 'answer',
          autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
          convertImagesToLinks: false,
          noModals: true,
          showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
          reputationToPostImages: null,
          bindNavPrevention: true,
          postfix: "",
          imageUploader: {
          brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
          contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
          allowUrls: true
          },
          noCode: true, onDemand: true,
          discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
          ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
          });


          }
          });














          draft saved

          draft discarded


















          StackExchange.ready(
          function () {
          StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fphysics.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f468127%2fpicking-the-different-solutions-to-the-time-independent-schrodinger-eqaution%23new-answer', 'question_page');
          }
          );

          Post as a guest















          Required, but never shown

























          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes








          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes









          5












          $begingroup$


          1. In ordinary quantum mechanics, two wavefunctions represent the same physical state if and only if they are multiples of each other, that is $psi$ and $cpsi$ represent the same state for any $cinmathbb{C}$. If you insist on wavefunctions being normalized, then $c$ is restricted to complex numbers of absolute value 1, i.e. number of the form $mathrm{e}^{mathrm{i}k}$ for some $kin[0,2pi)$.



          2. If $psi(x) = a(x) + mathrm{i}b(x)$ is a solution of the Schrödinger equation, then it is not automatically true that $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ are also solutions. It is "accidentally" true for the time-independent Schrödinger equation because applying complex conjugation shows us directly that $psi^ast(x)$ is a solution if $psi(x)$ is, and $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ can be obtained by linear combinations of $psi(x)$ and $psi^ast(x)$.



            There are now two cases: If $psi$ and $psi^ast$ are not linearly independent - i.e. one can be obtained from the other by multiplication with a complex constant - then the space of solutions for this energy is still one-dimensional, and there's only a single physical state. If they are linearly independent, then there are at least two distinct physical states with this energy.



            Note that already the free particle with $V=0$ gives a counter-example to the claim that all solutions for the same energy have the same values for all expectation values. There we have plane wave solutions $psi(x) = mathrm{e}^{mathrm{i}px}$ and $psi^ast(x) = mathrm{e}^{-mathrm{i}px}$ that are linearly-independent complex conjugates with the same energy that differ in the sign of their expectation value for the momentum operator $p$.








          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$


















            5












            $begingroup$


            1. In ordinary quantum mechanics, two wavefunctions represent the same physical state if and only if they are multiples of each other, that is $psi$ and $cpsi$ represent the same state for any $cinmathbb{C}$. If you insist on wavefunctions being normalized, then $c$ is restricted to complex numbers of absolute value 1, i.e. number of the form $mathrm{e}^{mathrm{i}k}$ for some $kin[0,2pi)$.



            2. If $psi(x) = a(x) + mathrm{i}b(x)$ is a solution of the Schrödinger equation, then it is not automatically true that $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ are also solutions. It is "accidentally" true for the time-independent Schrödinger equation because applying complex conjugation shows us directly that $psi^ast(x)$ is a solution if $psi(x)$ is, and $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ can be obtained by linear combinations of $psi(x)$ and $psi^ast(x)$.



              There are now two cases: If $psi$ and $psi^ast$ are not linearly independent - i.e. one can be obtained from the other by multiplication with a complex constant - then the space of solutions for this energy is still one-dimensional, and there's only a single physical state. If they are linearly independent, then there are at least two distinct physical states with this energy.



              Note that already the free particle with $V=0$ gives a counter-example to the claim that all solutions for the same energy have the same values for all expectation values. There we have plane wave solutions $psi(x) = mathrm{e}^{mathrm{i}px}$ and $psi^ast(x) = mathrm{e}^{-mathrm{i}px}$ that are linearly-independent complex conjugates with the same energy that differ in the sign of their expectation value for the momentum operator $p$.








            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$
















              5












              5








              5





              $begingroup$


              1. In ordinary quantum mechanics, two wavefunctions represent the same physical state if and only if they are multiples of each other, that is $psi$ and $cpsi$ represent the same state for any $cinmathbb{C}$. If you insist on wavefunctions being normalized, then $c$ is restricted to complex numbers of absolute value 1, i.e. number of the form $mathrm{e}^{mathrm{i}k}$ for some $kin[0,2pi)$.



              2. If $psi(x) = a(x) + mathrm{i}b(x)$ is a solution of the Schrödinger equation, then it is not automatically true that $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ are also solutions. It is "accidentally" true for the time-independent Schrödinger equation because applying complex conjugation shows us directly that $psi^ast(x)$ is a solution if $psi(x)$ is, and $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ can be obtained by linear combinations of $psi(x)$ and $psi^ast(x)$.



                There are now two cases: If $psi$ and $psi^ast$ are not linearly independent - i.e. one can be obtained from the other by multiplication with a complex constant - then the space of solutions for this energy is still one-dimensional, and there's only a single physical state. If they are linearly independent, then there are at least two distinct physical states with this energy.



                Note that already the free particle with $V=0$ gives a counter-example to the claim that all solutions for the same energy have the same values for all expectation values. There we have plane wave solutions $psi(x) = mathrm{e}^{mathrm{i}px}$ and $psi^ast(x) = mathrm{e}^{-mathrm{i}px}$ that are linearly-independent complex conjugates with the same energy that differ in the sign of their expectation value for the momentum operator $p$.








              share|cite|improve this answer









              $endgroup$




              1. In ordinary quantum mechanics, two wavefunctions represent the same physical state if and only if they are multiples of each other, that is $psi$ and $cpsi$ represent the same state for any $cinmathbb{C}$. If you insist on wavefunctions being normalized, then $c$ is restricted to complex numbers of absolute value 1, i.e. number of the form $mathrm{e}^{mathrm{i}k}$ for some $kin[0,2pi)$.



              2. If $psi(x) = a(x) + mathrm{i}b(x)$ is a solution of the Schrödinger equation, then it is not automatically true that $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ are also solutions. It is "accidentally" true for the time-independent Schrödinger equation because applying complex conjugation shows us directly that $psi^ast(x)$ is a solution if $psi(x)$ is, and $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ can be obtained by linear combinations of $psi(x)$ and $psi^ast(x)$.



                There are now two cases: If $psi$ and $psi^ast$ are not linearly independent - i.e. one can be obtained from the other by multiplication with a complex constant - then the space of solutions for this energy is still one-dimensional, and there's only a single physical state. If they are linearly independent, then there are at least two distinct physical states with this energy.



                Note that already the free particle with $V=0$ gives a counter-example to the claim that all solutions for the same energy have the same values for all expectation values. There we have plane wave solutions $psi(x) = mathrm{e}^{mathrm{i}px}$ and $psi^ast(x) = mathrm{e}^{-mathrm{i}px}$ that are linearly-independent complex conjugates with the same energy that differ in the sign of their expectation value for the momentum operator $p$.









              share|cite|improve this answer












              share|cite|improve this answer



              share|cite|improve this answer










              answered yesterday









              ACuriousMindACuriousMind

              73k18130322




              73k18130322























                  3












                  $begingroup$

                  Solutions can be degenerate with the same expectation value of the energy, but they can have different expectation values for other operators like angular momentum or it $z$ component.



                  For example the hydrogenic wave functions with $n=2$: $2s$ and $2p$. And then there are three different $2p$ wave functions that can be written as linear combinations of $2p_x, 2p_y, 2p_z$ or of the spherical harmonics $Y_{ell,m}$ with $ell=1$ and $m=-1,0,1$.






                  share|cite|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$


















                    3












                    $begingroup$

                    Solutions can be degenerate with the same expectation value of the energy, but they can have different expectation values for other operators like angular momentum or it $z$ component.



                    For example the hydrogenic wave functions with $n=2$: $2s$ and $2p$. And then there are three different $2p$ wave functions that can be written as linear combinations of $2p_x, 2p_y, 2p_z$ or of the spherical harmonics $Y_{ell,m}$ with $ell=1$ and $m=-1,0,1$.






                    share|cite|improve this answer









                    $endgroup$
















                      3












                      3








                      3





                      $begingroup$

                      Solutions can be degenerate with the same expectation value of the energy, but they can have different expectation values for other operators like angular momentum or it $z$ component.



                      For example the hydrogenic wave functions with $n=2$: $2s$ and $2p$. And then there are three different $2p$ wave functions that can be written as linear combinations of $2p_x, 2p_y, 2p_z$ or of the spherical harmonics $Y_{ell,m}$ with $ell=1$ and $m=-1,0,1$.






                      share|cite|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$



                      Solutions can be degenerate with the same expectation value of the energy, but they can have different expectation values for other operators like angular momentum or it $z$ component.



                      For example the hydrogenic wave functions with $n=2$: $2s$ and $2p$. And then there are three different $2p$ wave functions that can be written as linear combinations of $2p_x, 2p_y, 2p_z$ or of the spherical harmonics $Y_{ell,m}$ with $ell=1$ and $m=-1,0,1$.







                      share|cite|improve this answer












                      share|cite|improve this answer



                      share|cite|improve this answer










                      answered yesterday









                      PieterPieter

                      9,16231536




                      9,16231536























                          3












                          $begingroup$


                          ... one can always choose any of these solutions as the solution for the stationary state with energy $E_0$.




                          That statement is misleading because of how it uses the word "the," suggesting uniqueness. If both occurrances of "the" were replaced by "a," then the statement would make sense.



                          A given observable will typically have different expectation values in two different states with the same energy. For example, when $V=0$, the functions $exp(pm ipx/hbar)$ both have energy $E=p^2/2m$, but they have different eigenvalues ($pm p$) of the momentum operator $P=-ihbarpartial/partial x$.



                          (I'm being relaxed here about using words like "eigenstate" for non-normalizable functions, but I think those mathematical technicalities are beside the point of this question.)






                          share|cite|improve this answer









                          $endgroup$


















                            3












                            $begingroup$


                            ... one can always choose any of these solutions as the solution for the stationary state with energy $E_0$.




                            That statement is misleading because of how it uses the word "the," suggesting uniqueness. If both occurrances of "the" were replaced by "a," then the statement would make sense.



                            A given observable will typically have different expectation values in two different states with the same energy. For example, when $V=0$, the functions $exp(pm ipx/hbar)$ both have energy $E=p^2/2m$, but they have different eigenvalues ($pm p$) of the momentum operator $P=-ihbarpartial/partial x$.



                            (I'm being relaxed here about using words like "eigenstate" for non-normalizable functions, but I think those mathematical technicalities are beside the point of this question.)






                            share|cite|improve this answer









                            $endgroup$
















                              3












                              3








                              3





                              $begingroup$


                              ... one can always choose any of these solutions as the solution for the stationary state with energy $E_0$.




                              That statement is misleading because of how it uses the word "the," suggesting uniqueness. If both occurrances of "the" were replaced by "a," then the statement would make sense.



                              A given observable will typically have different expectation values in two different states with the same energy. For example, when $V=0$, the functions $exp(pm ipx/hbar)$ both have energy $E=p^2/2m$, but they have different eigenvalues ($pm p$) of the momentum operator $P=-ihbarpartial/partial x$.



                              (I'm being relaxed here about using words like "eigenstate" for non-normalizable functions, but I think those mathematical technicalities are beside the point of this question.)






                              share|cite|improve this answer









                              $endgroup$




                              ... one can always choose any of these solutions as the solution for the stationary state with energy $E_0$.




                              That statement is misleading because of how it uses the word "the," suggesting uniqueness. If both occurrances of "the" were replaced by "a," then the statement would make sense.



                              A given observable will typically have different expectation values in two different states with the same energy. For example, when $V=0$, the functions $exp(pm ipx/hbar)$ both have energy $E=p^2/2m$, but they have different eigenvalues ($pm p$) of the momentum operator $P=-ihbarpartial/partial x$.



                              (I'm being relaxed here about using words like "eigenstate" for non-normalizable functions, but I think those mathematical technicalities are beside the point of this question.)







                              share|cite|improve this answer












                              share|cite|improve this answer



                              share|cite|improve this answer










                              answered yesterday









                              Chiral AnomalyChiral Anomaly

                              12.5k21541




                              12.5k21541























                                  0












                                  $begingroup$

                                  For a onedimensional equation like the one you propose something more certain may be said.



                                  Schrödinger equation is a second-order, linear and homogeneous ODE. Then a unique solution is determined giving $psi(x_0)$ and $psi'(x_0)$. As a consequence, there can't be more than two independent solutions (for a given $E$).



                                  The homogeneous boundary value problem ($psi(a)=psi(b)=0$ for given $a$, $b$, even infinite) is still more restricted: for each eigenvalue there is only one independent solution. In other words, eigenvalues are never degenerate.



                                  The proof makes use of the Wronskian. Let $psi_1$, $psi_2$ two
                                  solutions (for the same $E$ and the same boundary conditions). Define
                                  $$W(x) = psi_1(x),psi_2'(x) - psi_1'(x),psi_2(x).$$
                                  It can be shown that $W(x)$ is a constant, the same for all $x$.
                                  If the boundary conditions are homogeneous, clearly $W(x)=0$ for all $x$:
                                  $$psi_1(x),psi_2'(x) - psi_1'(x),psi_2(x) = 0$$
                                  $${psi_1'(x) over psi_1(x)} = {psi_2'(x) over psi_2(x)}$$
                                  $$logpsi_1(x) = logpsi_2(x) + c$$
                                  $$psi_1(x) = psi_2(x),e^c$$
                                  q.e.d.



                                  The case of a free particle, with two solutions, is no
                                  counterexample, since in that case there are no homogeneous boundary conditions. Anyhow you get two independent solutions and no more.






                                  share|cite|improve this answer









                                  $endgroup$


















                                    0












                                    $begingroup$

                                    For a onedimensional equation like the one you propose something more certain may be said.



                                    Schrödinger equation is a second-order, linear and homogeneous ODE. Then a unique solution is determined giving $psi(x_0)$ and $psi'(x_0)$. As a consequence, there can't be more than two independent solutions (for a given $E$).



                                    The homogeneous boundary value problem ($psi(a)=psi(b)=0$ for given $a$, $b$, even infinite) is still more restricted: for each eigenvalue there is only one independent solution. In other words, eigenvalues are never degenerate.



                                    The proof makes use of the Wronskian. Let $psi_1$, $psi_2$ two
                                    solutions (for the same $E$ and the same boundary conditions). Define
                                    $$W(x) = psi_1(x),psi_2'(x) - psi_1'(x),psi_2(x).$$
                                    It can be shown that $W(x)$ is a constant, the same for all $x$.
                                    If the boundary conditions are homogeneous, clearly $W(x)=0$ for all $x$:
                                    $$psi_1(x),psi_2'(x) - psi_1'(x),psi_2(x) = 0$$
                                    $${psi_1'(x) over psi_1(x)} = {psi_2'(x) over psi_2(x)}$$
                                    $$logpsi_1(x) = logpsi_2(x) + c$$
                                    $$psi_1(x) = psi_2(x),e^c$$
                                    q.e.d.



                                    The case of a free particle, with two solutions, is no
                                    counterexample, since in that case there are no homogeneous boundary conditions. Anyhow you get two independent solutions and no more.






                                    share|cite|improve this answer









                                    $endgroup$
















                                      0












                                      0








                                      0





                                      $begingroup$

                                      For a onedimensional equation like the one you propose something more certain may be said.



                                      Schrödinger equation is a second-order, linear and homogeneous ODE. Then a unique solution is determined giving $psi(x_0)$ and $psi'(x_0)$. As a consequence, there can't be more than two independent solutions (for a given $E$).



                                      The homogeneous boundary value problem ($psi(a)=psi(b)=0$ for given $a$, $b$, even infinite) is still more restricted: for each eigenvalue there is only one independent solution. In other words, eigenvalues are never degenerate.



                                      The proof makes use of the Wronskian. Let $psi_1$, $psi_2$ two
                                      solutions (for the same $E$ and the same boundary conditions). Define
                                      $$W(x) = psi_1(x),psi_2'(x) - psi_1'(x),psi_2(x).$$
                                      It can be shown that $W(x)$ is a constant, the same for all $x$.
                                      If the boundary conditions are homogeneous, clearly $W(x)=0$ for all $x$:
                                      $$psi_1(x),psi_2'(x) - psi_1'(x),psi_2(x) = 0$$
                                      $${psi_1'(x) over psi_1(x)} = {psi_2'(x) over psi_2(x)}$$
                                      $$logpsi_1(x) = logpsi_2(x) + c$$
                                      $$psi_1(x) = psi_2(x),e^c$$
                                      q.e.d.



                                      The case of a free particle, with two solutions, is no
                                      counterexample, since in that case there are no homogeneous boundary conditions. Anyhow you get two independent solutions and no more.






                                      share|cite|improve this answer









                                      $endgroup$



                                      For a onedimensional equation like the one you propose something more certain may be said.



                                      Schrödinger equation is a second-order, linear and homogeneous ODE. Then a unique solution is determined giving $psi(x_0)$ and $psi'(x_0)$. As a consequence, there can't be more than two independent solutions (for a given $E$).



                                      The homogeneous boundary value problem ($psi(a)=psi(b)=0$ for given $a$, $b$, even infinite) is still more restricted: for each eigenvalue there is only one independent solution. In other words, eigenvalues are never degenerate.



                                      The proof makes use of the Wronskian. Let $psi_1$, $psi_2$ two
                                      solutions (for the same $E$ and the same boundary conditions). Define
                                      $$W(x) = psi_1(x),psi_2'(x) - psi_1'(x),psi_2(x).$$
                                      It can be shown that $W(x)$ is a constant, the same for all $x$.
                                      If the boundary conditions are homogeneous, clearly $W(x)=0$ for all $x$:
                                      $$psi_1(x),psi_2'(x) - psi_1'(x),psi_2(x) = 0$$
                                      $${psi_1'(x) over psi_1(x)} = {psi_2'(x) over psi_2(x)}$$
                                      $$logpsi_1(x) = logpsi_2(x) + c$$
                                      $$psi_1(x) = psi_2(x),e^c$$
                                      q.e.d.



                                      The case of a free particle, with two solutions, is no
                                      counterexample, since in that case there are no homogeneous boundary conditions. Anyhow you get two independent solutions and no more.







                                      share|cite|improve this answer












                                      share|cite|improve this answer



                                      share|cite|improve this answer










                                      answered 1 hour ago









                                      Elio FabriElio Fabri

                                      3,1551214




                                      3,1551214






























                                          draft saved

                                          draft discarded




















































                                          Thanks for contributing an answer to Physics Stack Exchange!


                                          • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                                          But avoid



                                          • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                                          • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


                                          Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


                                          To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




                                          draft saved


                                          draft discarded














                                          StackExchange.ready(
                                          function () {
                                          StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fphysics.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f468127%2fpicking-the-different-solutions-to-the-time-independent-schrodinger-eqaution%23new-answer', 'question_page');
                                          }
                                          );

                                          Post as a guest















                                          Required, but never shown





















































                                          Required, but never shown














                                          Required, but never shown












                                          Required, but never shown







                                          Required, but never shown

































                                          Required, but never shown














                                          Required, but never shown












                                          Required, but never shown







                                          Required, but never shown







                                          Popular posts from this blog

                                          數位音樂下載

                                          格利澤436b

                                          When can things happen in Etherscan, such as the picture below?