7
$\begingroup$

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

It says

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

Is the $\Psi^*$ in this expression the wave function's conjugate, or something else?

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
0

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
9
$\begingroup$

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

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
2
  • $\begingroup$ 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? $\endgroup$
    – Jack
    Jan 8, 2012 at 2:55
  • 3
    $\begingroup$ Usually you get the wave function at time t=0 and the evolution of the wave function is governed by the Schrodinger equation. $\endgroup$
    – WWright
    Jan 8, 2012 at 2:56

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.