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Suppose \(\psi(x)\) is a properly normalized wave function describing the state of an electron. Consider a second wave function, \(\psi_{\text {new }}(x)=e^{i \phi} \psi(x),\) for some real number \(\phi .\) How does the probability density associated with \(\psi_{\text {new }}\) compare to that associated with \(\psi ?\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The probability densities associated with the wave functions \(\psi(x)\) and \(\psi_{\text{new}}(x) = e^{i\phi}\psi(x)\) are the same.

Step by step solution

01

Calculate the probability density associated with \(\psi(x)\)

We are given that \(\psi(x)\) is a properly normalized wave function describing the state of an electron. To calculate the probability density associated with \(\psi(x)\), we need to find \(|\psi(x)|^2\). The probability density is given by: $$ P_{\psi}(x) = |\psi(x)|^2 $$
02

Calculate the probability density associated with \(\psi_{\text{new}}(x)\)

We are given that \(\psi_{\text{new}}(x) = e^{i\phi}\psi(x), \text{ where } \phi \text{ is a real number}\). We need to find \(|\psi_{\text{new}}(x)|^2\). The probability density is given by: $$ P_{\psi_{\text{new}}}(x) = |\psi_{\text{new}}(x)|^2 $$ Let's find \(|\psi_{\text{new}}(x)|\) first. We have \(\psi_{\text{new}}(x) = e^{i\phi}\psi(x)\); thus, $$ |\psi_{\text{new}}(x)| = |e^{i\phi}\psi(x)| $$ Now, let's use the property \(|ab| = |a||b|\) for complex numbers \(a\) and \(b\). We have: $$ |\psi_{\text{new}}(x)| = |e^{i\phi}||\psi(x)| $$ Since \(|e^{i\phi}| = 1\), we find: $$ |\psi_{\text{new}}(x)| = |\psi(x)| $$ Now we can calculate \(P_{\psi_{\text{new}}}(x)\): $$ P_{\psi_{\text{new}}}(x) = |\psi_{\text{new}}(x)|^2 = |\psi(x)|^2 $$
03

Compare the probability densities

We have calculated the probability densities associated with the wave functions \(\psi(x)\) and \(\psi_{\text{new}}(x)\). We found that: $$ P_{\psi}(x) = |\psi(x)|^2 $$ and $$ P_{\psi_{\text{new}}}(x) = |\psi_{\text{new}}(x)|^2 = |\psi(x)|^2 $$ Since \(P_{\psi}(x) = P_{\psi_{\text{new}}}(x)\), we conclude that the probability density associated with \(\psi_{\text{new}}(x)\) is the same as that associated with \(\psi(x)\).

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A surface is examined using a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). For the range of the working gap, \(L\), between the tip and the sample surface, assume that the electron wave function for the atoms under investigation falls off exponentially as \(|\Psi|=e^{-\left(10.0 \mathrm{nm}^{-1}\right) a}\). The tunneling current through the STM tip is proportional to the tunneling probability. In this situation, what is the ratio of the current when the STM tip is \(0.400 \mathrm{nm}\) above a surface feature to the current when the tip is \(0.420 \mathrm{nm}\) above the surface?

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