Tagged Questions
0
votes
0answers
49 views
Any problem at assuming the wave function as a real (rather than complex) function? [duplicate]
I'm a beginner at quantum mechanics but whenever I check the wave functions, they always have a complex factor.
I can't clearly understand because complex number is an imaginary number so it can't ...
2
votes
3answers
361 views
Confused over complex representation of the wave
My quantum mechanics textbook says that the following is a representation of a wave traveling in the +$x$ direction:$$\Psi(x,t)=Ae^{i\left(kx-\omega t\right)}\tag1$$
I'm having trouble visualizing ...
4
votes
2answers
338 views
Amplitude of Probability amplitude. Which one is it?
QM begins with a Born's rule which states that probability $P$ is equal to a modulus square of probability amplitude $\psi$:
$$P = \left|\psi\right|^2.$$
If I write down a wave function like this ...
1
vote
0answers
180 views
Probability and probability amplitude
What made scientists believe that we should calculate probability $P$ as the $P = \left|\psi\right|^2$ in quantum mechanics? Was it the double slit experiment? How? Is there anywhere in the ...
0
votes
1answer
401 views
Solving the time independent Schrodinger equation: Does a complex solution make sense?
In my notes, I have the Time Independent Schrodinger equation for a free particle
$$\frac{\partial^2 \psi}{\partial x^2}+\frac{p^2}{\hbar^2}\psi=0\tag1$$
The solution to this is given, in my notes, ...
0
votes
3answers
626 views
Absolute value sign when normalizing a wave function
I have solved the following problem from Griffiths "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics".
Consider the wavefunction:
$\Psi (x,t) = A e^{-\lambda |x|} e^{-i\omega t} $
Normalize $\Psi$.
Now, we ...
2
votes
3answers
278 views
What is the rationale behind representing a state function by a complex valued function in QM?
What is the rationale behind representing a state function of an electron with a complex valued function $\Psi$. If only the probabilistic argument was required then why not represent it with just a ...
16
votes
9answers
4k views
About the complex nature of the wave function?
1.
Why is the wave function complex? I've collected some layman explanations but they are incomplete and unsatisfactory. However in the book by Merzbacher in the initial few pages he provides an ...
