Wave -Function
Wave Function:
A wave function is a complex function which contains all the information about a quantum system
and from which all the dynamical physical quantities such as linear momentum, angular
momentum and energy of the system can be computed. The value of the wave function associated
with a moving body at any point (x,y,z) in space at any time (t) is related to the probability of
finding the body there at that time. Since the magnitude of ψ oscillates between positive and
negative values, the wave function ψ has no physical significance as probability of finding the
particle at any place at any instant cannot be negative.
2
However, |ψ| is always positive and thus is physically significant. It gives the probability
density i.e., |ψ|2 dxdydx gives the probability of finding the particle at a time t in the volume
element dxdydz in space.
Being a complex function, the wave function ψ can be written as
2
ψ= A+ iB ,|ψ| =ψψ∗¿( A+ iB)( A−iB)= A 2+ B2
Normalization: If we integrate over the entire space, we are certain that the particle is somewhere
in it. Thus, the total probability of finding the particle somewhere in the space must be equal to 1.
+∞
∫ |ψ| dxdydz =1⇒ ∫ |ψ| dxdydz =1.
2 2
i.e.,
all space −∞
This condition is called the normalization condition and the wave function which satisfies this
condition is called a normalized wave function.
For a wave function to be physically meaningful following conditions need to be satisfied:
(1) ψ must be continuous and single valued.
(2) The derivative of ψ must be continuous and single valued.
+∞
∫ |ψ| dxdydz =1. For this condition to satisfy, ψ must go to zero as
2
(3) ψ must be normalize i.e.,
−∞
x→± ∞ , y →± ∞, z→± ∞
Wave Equation: The classical differential equation representing the wave motion is given by
2 2
∂ y 1 ∂ y
2
= 2 2 ,
∂ x v p ∂t
Where vp=wave velocity and y are the variable which varies as the wave propagates in x direction.
For example, for standing waves in a stretched string it can be displacement, in a sound wave it is
pressure and in an electromagnetic wave it is electric field and magnetic field.
The general solution of this equation is given by y= A e−iω (t −x /v )= A e−i (ωt−kx)
p
