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I am not a physics student. In one of my courses, some fundamental concepts of Quantum mech were needed, so i was gng through them when i stumbled upon this

It says

$$\text{probability} = \int_a^b\Psi^*\Psi\mathrm{d}x\quad\biggl(= \int_a^b\Psi^2\mathrm{d}x\text{ if }\Psi\text{ is a real function}\biggr)$$

Here the $\Psi^*$ is wave functions's conjugate or what?

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May i ask, how did david represent the symbol in my last line ? – Jack Jan 8 '12 at 2:54
We have the MathJax rendering engine active on the site. It interprets a LaTeX-mathmode-alike language. In line equations go between single dollar-signs $\Psi^*$ and block equations between double dollar-signs $$P = \int_a^b \Psi^*\Psi ...$$. – dmckee♦ Jan 8 '12 at 3:05

1 Answer

up vote 4 down vote accepted

You are correct. $\Psi^{*}$ denotes the complex conjugate.

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ok, so in general the wave function is given to us and from there we need to proceed or it has general form for various cases that we need to be aware of? – Jack Jan 8 '12 at 2:55
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Usually you get the wave function at time t=0 and the evolution of the wave function is governed by the Schrodinger equation. – WWright Jan 8 '12 at 2:56

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