Picking the different solutions to the time independent Schrodinger eqaution












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The time independent Schrodinger equation
$$-frac{hbar^2}{2m} frac{d^2psi}{dx^2}+Vpsi = Epsi$$ can have many different solutions of $psi$ for a particular value of $E$.



For example, if we found a complex solution $psi(x)$ for a particular value of $E$, say $E_0$, we can write $psi(x)=a(x)+ib(x)$. Then $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ will also be solutions to the T.I.S.E with $E=E_0$. Furthermore $c_1a(x)+c_2b(x)$ will also be solutions with $c_1$ and $c_2$ being arbitrary constants.



I read that one can always choose any of these solutions as the solution for the stationary state with energy $E_0$. But does that mean all these different solutions represent the same physical state of a particle?



The expectation value of any dynamical variable $Q(x,p)$ is given by
$int psi^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})psi. $ How do we know for sure that $int a(x)^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})a(x) $ and $int b(x)^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})b(x)$ gives the same expectation values?










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  • $begingroup$
    The last two integrals don't seem to have an infinitesimal?
    $endgroup$
    – Gert
    Mar 23 at 0:18
















2












$begingroup$


The time independent Schrodinger equation
$$-frac{hbar^2}{2m} frac{d^2psi}{dx^2}+Vpsi = Epsi$$ can have many different solutions of $psi$ for a particular value of $E$.



For example, if we found a complex solution $psi(x)$ for a particular value of $E$, say $E_0$, we can write $psi(x)=a(x)+ib(x)$. Then $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ will also be solutions to the T.I.S.E with $E=E_0$. Furthermore $c_1a(x)+c_2b(x)$ will also be solutions with $c_1$ and $c_2$ being arbitrary constants.



I read that one can always choose any of these solutions as the solution for the stationary state with energy $E_0$. But does that mean all these different solutions represent the same physical state of a particle?



The expectation value of any dynamical variable $Q(x,p)$ is given by
$int psi^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})psi. $ How do we know for sure that $int a(x)^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})a(x) $ and $int b(x)^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})b(x)$ gives the same expectation values?










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  • $begingroup$
    The last two integrals don't seem to have an infinitesimal?
    $endgroup$
    – Gert
    Mar 23 at 0:18














2












2








2


0



$begingroup$


The time independent Schrodinger equation
$$-frac{hbar^2}{2m} frac{d^2psi}{dx^2}+Vpsi = Epsi$$ can have many different solutions of $psi$ for a particular value of $E$.



For example, if we found a complex solution $psi(x)$ for a particular value of $E$, say $E_0$, we can write $psi(x)=a(x)+ib(x)$. Then $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ will also be solutions to the T.I.S.E with $E=E_0$. Furthermore $c_1a(x)+c_2b(x)$ will also be solutions with $c_1$ and $c_2$ being arbitrary constants.



I read that one can always choose any of these solutions as the solution for the stationary state with energy $E_0$. But does that mean all these different solutions represent the same physical state of a particle?



The expectation value of any dynamical variable $Q(x,p)$ is given by
$int psi^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})psi. $ How do we know for sure that $int a(x)^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})a(x) $ and $int b(x)^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})b(x)$ gives the same expectation values?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$




The time independent Schrodinger equation
$$-frac{hbar^2}{2m} frac{d^2psi}{dx^2}+Vpsi = Epsi$$ can have many different solutions of $psi$ for a particular value of $E$.



For example, if we found a complex solution $psi(x)$ for a particular value of $E$, say $E_0$, we can write $psi(x)=a(x)+ib(x)$. Then $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ will also be solutions to the T.I.S.E with $E=E_0$. Furthermore $c_1a(x)+c_2b(x)$ will also be solutions with $c_1$ and $c_2$ being arbitrary constants.



I read that one can always choose any of these solutions as the solution for the stationary state with energy $E_0$. But does that mean all these different solutions represent the same physical state of a particle?



The expectation value of any dynamical variable $Q(x,p)$ is given by
$int psi^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})psi. $ How do we know for sure that $int a(x)^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})a(x) $ and $int b(x)^*Q(x,frac{hbar}{i}frac{d}{dx})b(x)$ gives the same expectation values?







quantum-mechanics wavefunction schroedinger-equation






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edited Mar 23 at 2:56









Qmechanic

106k121981227




106k121981227










asked Mar 22 at 22:55









TaeNyFanTaeNyFan

54614




54614












  • $begingroup$
    The last two integrals don't seem to have an infinitesimal?
    $endgroup$
    – Gert
    Mar 23 at 0:18


















  • $begingroup$
    The last two integrals don't seem to have an infinitesimal?
    $endgroup$
    – Gert
    Mar 23 at 0:18
















$begingroup$
The last two integrals don't seem to have an infinitesimal?
$endgroup$
– Gert
Mar 23 at 0:18




$begingroup$
The last two integrals don't seem to have an infinitesimal?
$endgroup$
– Gert
Mar 23 at 0:18










4 Answers
4






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oldest

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6












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  1. In ordinary quantum mechanics, two wavefunctions represent the same physical state if and only if they are multiples of each other, that is $psi$ and $cpsi$ represent the same state for any $cinmathbb{C}$. If you insist on wavefunctions being normalized, then $c$ is restricted to complex numbers of absolute value 1, i.e. number of the form $mathrm{e}^{mathrm{i}k}$ for some $kin[0,2pi)$.



  2. If $psi(x) = a(x) + mathrm{i}b(x)$ is a solution of the Schrödinger equation, then it is not automatically true that $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ are also solutions. It is "accidentally" true for the time-independent Schrödinger equation because applying complex conjugation shows us directly that $psi^ast(x)$ is a solution if $psi(x)$ is, and $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ can be obtained by linear combinations of $psi(x)$ and $psi^ast(x)$.



    There are now two cases: If $psi$ and $psi^ast$ are not linearly independent - i.e. one can be obtained from the other by multiplication with a complex constant - then the space of solutions for this energy is still one-dimensional, and there's only a single physical state. If they are linearly independent, then there are at least two distinct physical states with this energy.



    Note that already the free particle with $V=0$ gives a counter-example to the claim that all solutions for the same energy have the same values for all expectation values. There we have plane wave solutions $psi(x) = mathrm{e}^{mathrm{i}px}$ and $psi^ast(x) = mathrm{e}^{-mathrm{i}px}$ that are linearly-independent complex conjugates with the same energy that differ in the sign of their expectation value for the momentum operator $p$.








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    4












    $begingroup$

    Solutions can be degenerate with the same expectation value of the energy, but they can have different expectation values for other operators like angular momentum or it $z$ component.



    For example the hydrogenic wave functions with $n=2$: $2s$ and $2p$. And then there are three different $2p$ wave functions that can be written as linear combinations of $2p_x, 2p_y, 2p_z$ or of the spherical harmonics $Y_{ell,m}$ with $ell=1$ and $m=-1,0,1$.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$





















      4












      $begingroup$


      ... one can always choose any of these solutions as the solution for the stationary state with energy $E_0$.




      That statement is misleading because of how it uses the word "the," suggesting uniqueness. If both occurrances of "the" were replaced by "a," then the statement would make sense.



      A given observable will typically have different expectation values in two different states with the same energy. For example, when $V=0$, the functions $exp(pm ipx/hbar)$ both have energy $E=p^2/2m$, but they have different eigenvalues ($pm p$) of the momentum operator $P=-ihbarpartial/partial x$.



      (I'm being relaxed here about using words like "eigenstate" for non-normalizable functions, but I think those mathematical technicalities are beside the point of this question.)






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$





















        1












        $begingroup$

        For a onedimensional equation like the one you propose something more certain may be said.



        Schrödinger equation is a second-order, linear and homogeneous ODE. Then a unique solution is determined giving $psi(x_0)$ and $psi'(x_0)$. As a consequence, there can't be more than two independent solutions (for a given $E$).



        The homogeneous boundary value problem ($psi(a)=psi(b)=0$ for given $a$, $b$, even infinite) is still more restricted: for each eigenvalue there is only one independent solution. In other words, eigenvalues are never degenerate.



        The proof makes use of the Wronskian. Let $psi_1$, $psi_2$ two
        solutions (for the same $E$ and the same boundary conditions). Define
        $$W(x) = psi_1(x),psi_2'(x) - psi_1'(x),psi_2(x).$$
        It can be shown that $W(x)$ is a constant, the same for all $x$.
        If the boundary conditions are homogeneous, clearly $W(x)=0$ for all $x$:
        $$psi_1(x),psi_2'(x) - psi_1'(x),psi_2(x) = 0$$
        $${psi_1'(x) over psi_1(x)} = {psi_2'(x) over psi_2(x)}$$
        $$logpsi_1(x) = logpsi_2(x) + c$$
        $$psi_1(x) = psi_2(x),e^c$$
        q.e.d.



        The case of a free particle, with two solutions, is no
        counterexample, since in that case there are no homogeneous boundary conditions. Anyhow you get two independent solutions and no more.






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          4 Answers
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          4 Answers
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          6












          $begingroup$


          1. In ordinary quantum mechanics, two wavefunctions represent the same physical state if and only if they are multiples of each other, that is $psi$ and $cpsi$ represent the same state for any $cinmathbb{C}$. If you insist on wavefunctions being normalized, then $c$ is restricted to complex numbers of absolute value 1, i.e. number of the form $mathrm{e}^{mathrm{i}k}$ for some $kin[0,2pi)$.



          2. If $psi(x) = a(x) + mathrm{i}b(x)$ is a solution of the Schrödinger equation, then it is not automatically true that $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ are also solutions. It is "accidentally" true for the time-independent Schrödinger equation because applying complex conjugation shows us directly that $psi^ast(x)$ is a solution if $psi(x)$ is, and $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ can be obtained by linear combinations of $psi(x)$ and $psi^ast(x)$.



            There are now two cases: If $psi$ and $psi^ast$ are not linearly independent - i.e. one can be obtained from the other by multiplication with a complex constant - then the space of solutions for this energy is still one-dimensional, and there's only a single physical state. If they are linearly independent, then there are at least two distinct physical states with this energy.



            Note that already the free particle with $V=0$ gives a counter-example to the claim that all solutions for the same energy have the same values for all expectation values. There we have plane wave solutions $psi(x) = mathrm{e}^{mathrm{i}px}$ and $psi^ast(x) = mathrm{e}^{-mathrm{i}px}$ that are linearly-independent complex conjugates with the same energy that differ in the sign of their expectation value for the momentum operator $p$.








          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$


















            6












            $begingroup$


            1. In ordinary quantum mechanics, two wavefunctions represent the same physical state if and only if they are multiples of each other, that is $psi$ and $cpsi$ represent the same state for any $cinmathbb{C}$. If you insist on wavefunctions being normalized, then $c$ is restricted to complex numbers of absolute value 1, i.e. number of the form $mathrm{e}^{mathrm{i}k}$ for some $kin[0,2pi)$.



            2. If $psi(x) = a(x) + mathrm{i}b(x)$ is a solution of the Schrödinger equation, then it is not automatically true that $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ are also solutions. It is "accidentally" true for the time-independent Schrödinger equation because applying complex conjugation shows us directly that $psi^ast(x)$ is a solution if $psi(x)$ is, and $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ can be obtained by linear combinations of $psi(x)$ and $psi^ast(x)$.



              There are now two cases: If $psi$ and $psi^ast$ are not linearly independent - i.e. one can be obtained from the other by multiplication with a complex constant - then the space of solutions for this energy is still one-dimensional, and there's only a single physical state. If they are linearly independent, then there are at least two distinct physical states with this energy.



              Note that already the free particle with $V=0$ gives a counter-example to the claim that all solutions for the same energy have the same values for all expectation values. There we have plane wave solutions $psi(x) = mathrm{e}^{mathrm{i}px}$ and $psi^ast(x) = mathrm{e}^{-mathrm{i}px}$ that are linearly-independent complex conjugates with the same energy that differ in the sign of their expectation value for the momentum operator $p$.








            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$
















              6












              6








              6





              $begingroup$


              1. In ordinary quantum mechanics, two wavefunctions represent the same physical state if and only if they are multiples of each other, that is $psi$ and $cpsi$ represent the same state for any $cinmathbb{C}$. If you insist on wavefunctions being normalized, then $c$ is restricted to complex numbers of absolute value 1, i.e. number of the form $mathrm{e}^{mathrm{i}k}$ for some $kin[0,2pi)$.



              2. If $psi(x) = a(x) + mathrm{i}b(x)$ is a solution of the Schrödinger equation, then it is not automatically true that $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ are also solutions. It is "accidentally" true for the time-independent Schrödinger equation because applying complex conjugation shows us directly that $psi^ast(x)$ is a solution if $psi(x)$ is, and $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ can be obtained by linear combinations of $psi(x)$ and $psi^ast(x)$.



                There are now two cases: If $psi$ and $psi^ast$ are not linearly independent - i.e. one can be obtained from the other by multiplication with a complex constant - then the space of solutions for this energy is still one-dimensional, and there's only a single physical state. If they are linearly independent, then there are at least two distinct physical states with this energy.



                Note that already the free particle with $V=0$ gives a counter-example to the claim that all solutions for the same energy have the same values for all expectation values. There we have plane wave solutions $psi(x) = mathrm{e}^{mathrm{i}px}$ and $psi^ast(x) = mathrm{e}^{-mathrm{i}px}$ that are linearly-independent complex conjugates with the same energy that differ in the sign of their expectation value for the momentum operator $p$.








              share|cite|improve this answer









              $endgroup$




              1. In ordinary quantum mechanics, two wavefunctions represent the same physical state if and only if they are multiples of each other, that is $psi$ and $cpsi$ represent the same state for any $cinmathbb{C}$. If you insist on wavefunctions being normalized, then $c$ is restricted to complex numbers of absolute value 1, i.e. number of the form $mathrm{e}^{mathrm{i}k}$ for some $kin[0,2pi)$.



              2. If $psi(x) = a(x) + mathrm{i}b(x)$ is a solution of the Schrödinger equation, then it is not automatically true that $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ are also solutions. It is "accidentally" true for the time-independent Schrödinger equation because applying complex conjugation shows us directly that $psi^ast(x)$ is a solution if $psi(x)$ is, and $a(x)$ and $b(x)$ can be obtained by linear combinations of $psi(x)$ and $psi^ast(x)$.



                There are now two cases: If $psi$ and $psi^ast$ are not linearly independent - i.e. one can be obtained from the other by multiplication with a complex constant - then the space of solutions for this energy is still one-dimensional, and there's only a single physical state. If they are linearly independent, then there are at least two distinct physical states with this energy.



                Note that already the free particle with $V=0$ gives a counter-example to the claim that all solutions for the same energy have the same values for all expectation values. There we have plane wave solutions $psi(x) = mathrm{e}^{mathrm{i}px}$ and $psi^ast(x) = mathrm{e}^{-mathrm{i}px}$ that are linearly-independent complex conjugates with the same energy that differ in the sign of their expectation value for the momentum operator $p$.









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              share|cite|improve this answer



              share|cite|improve this answer










              answered Mar 22 at 23:29









              ACuriousMindACuriousMind

              73k18130323




              73k18130323























                  4












                  $begingroup$

                  Solutions can be degenerate with the same expectation value of the energy, but they can have different expectation values for other operators like angular momentum or it $z$ component.



                  For example the hydrogenic wave functions with $n=2$: $2s$ and $2p$. And then there are three different $2p$ wave functions that can be written as linear combinations of $2p_x, 2p_y, 2p_z$ or of the spherical harmonics $Y_{ell,m}$ with $ell=1$ and $m=-1,0,1$.






                  share|cite|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$


















                    4












                    $begingroup$

                    Solutions can be degenerate with the same expectation value of the energy, but they can have different expectation values for other operators like angular momentum or it $z$ component.



                    For example the hydrogenic wave functions with $n=2$: $2s$ and $2p$. And then there are three different $2p$ wave functions that can be written as linear combinations of $2p_x, 2p_y, 2p_z$ or of the spherical harmonics $Y_{ell,m}$ with $ell=1$ and $m=-1,0,1$.






                    share|cite|improve this answer









                    $endgroup$
















                      4












                      4








                      4





                      $begingroup$

                      Solutions can be degenerate with the same expectation value of the energy, but they can have different expectation values for other operators like angular momentum or it $z$ component.



                      For example the hydrogenic wave functions with $n=2$: $2s$ and $2p$. And then there are three different $2p$ wave functions that can be written as linear combinations of $2p_x, 2p_y, 2p_z$ or of the spherical harmonics $Y_{ell,m}$ with $ell=1$ and $m=-1,0,1$.






                      share|cite|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$



                      Solutions can be degenerate with the same expectation value of the energy, but they can have different expectation values for other operators like angular momentum or it $z$ component.



                      For example the hydrogenic wave functions with $n=2$: $2s$ and $2p$. And then there are three different $2p$ wave functions that can be written as linear combinations of $2p_x, 2p_y, 2p_z$ or of the spherical harmonics $Y_{ell,m}$ with $ell=1$ and $m=-1,0,1$.







                      share|cite|improve this answer












                      share|cite|improve this answer



                      share|cite|improve this answer










                      answered Mar 22 at 23:11









                      PieterPieter

                      9,18231536




                      9,18231536























                          4












                          $begingroup$


                          ... one can always choose any of these solutions as the solution for the stationary state with energy $E_0$.




                          That statement is misleading because of how it uses the word "the," suggesting uniqueness. If both occurrances of "the" were replaced by "a," then the statement would make sense.



                          A given observable will typically have different expectation values in two different states with the same energy. For example, when $V=0$, the functions $exp(pm ipx/hbar)$ both have energy $E=p^2/2m$, but they have different eigenvalues ($pm p$) of the momentum operator $P=-ihbarpartial/partial x$.



                          (I'm being relaxed here about using words like "eigenstate" for non-normalizable functions, but I think those mathematical technicalities are beside the point of this question.)






                          share|cite|improve this answer









                          $endgroup$


















                            4












                            $begingroup$


                            ... one can always choose any of these solutions as the solution for the stationary state with energy $E_0$.




                            That statement is misleading because of how it uses the word "the," suggesting uniqueness. If both occurrances of "the" were replaced by "a," then the statement would make sense.



                            A given observable will typically have different expectation values in two different states with the same energy. For example, when $V=0$, the functions $exp(pm ipx/hbar)$ both have energy $E=p^2/2m$, but they have different eigenvalues ($pm p$) of the momentum operator $P=-ihbarpartial/partial x$.



                            (I'm being relaxed here about using words like "eigenstate" for non-normalizable functions, but I think those mathematical technicalities are beside the point of this question.)






                            share|cite|improve this answer









                            $endgroup$
















                              4












                              4








                              4





                              $begingroup$


                              ... one can always choose any of these solutions as the solution for the stationary state with energy $E_0$.




                              That statement is misleading because of how it uses the word "the," suggesting uniqueness. If both occurrances of "the" were replaced by "a," then the statement would make sense.



                              A given observable will typically have different expectation values in two different states with the same energy. For example, when $V=0$, the functions $exp(pm ipx/hbar)$ both have energy $E=p^2/2m$, but they have different eigenvalues ($pm p$) of the momentum operator $P=-ihbarpartial/partial x$.



                              (I'm being relaxed here about using words like "eigenstate" for non-normalizable functions, but I think those mathematical technicalities are beside the point of this question.)






                              share|cite|improve this answer









                              $endgroup$




                              ... one can always choose any of these solutions as the solution for the stationary state with energy $E_0$.




                              That statement is misleading because of how it uses the word "the," suggesting uniqueness. If both occurrances of "the" were replaced by "a," then the statement would make sense.



                              A given observable will typically have different expectation values in two different states with the same energy. For example, when $V=0$, the functions $exp(pm ipx/hbar)$ both have energy $E=p^2/2m$, but they have different eigenvalues ($pm p$) of the momentum operator $P=-ihbarpartial/partial x$.



                              (I'm being relaxed here about using words like "eigenstate" for non-normalizable functions, but I think those mathematical technicalities are beside the point of this question.)







                              share|cite|improve this answer












                              share|cite|improve this answer



                              share|cite|improve this answer










                              answered Mar 22 at 23:12









                              Chiral AnomalyChiral Anomaly

                              12.6k21542




                              12.6k21542























                                  1












                                  $begingroup$

                                  For a onedimensional equation like the one you propose something more certain may be said.



                                  Schrödinger equation is a second-order, linear and homogeneous ODE. Then a unique solution is determined giving $psi(x_0)$ and $psi'(x_0)$. As a consequence, there can't be more than two independent solutions (for a given $E$).



                                  The homogeneous boundary value problem ($psi(a)=psi(b)=0$ for given $a$, $b$, even infinite) is still more restricted: for each eigenvalue there is only one independent solution. In other words, eigenvalues are never degenerate.



                                  The proof makes use of the Wronskian. Let $psi_1$, $psi_2$ two
                                  solutions (for the same $E$ and the same boundary conditions). Define
                                  $$W(x) = psi_1(x),psi_2'(x) - psi_1'(x),psi_2(x).$$
                                  It can be shown that $W(x)$ is a constant, the same for all $x$.
                                  If the boundary conditions are homogeneous, clearly $W(x)=0$ for all $x$:
                                  $$psi_1(x),psi_2'(x) - psi_1'(x),psi_2(x) = 0$$
                                  $${psi_1'(x) over psi_1(x)} = {psi_2'(x) over psi_2(x)}$$
                                  $$logpsi_1(x) = logpsi_2(x) + c$$
                                  $$psi_1(x) = psi_2(x),e^c$$
                                  q.e.d.



                                  The case of a free particle, with two solutions, is no
                                  counterexample, since in that case there are no homogeneous boundary conditions. Anyhow you get two independent solutions and no more.






                                  share|cite|improve this answer









                                  $endgroup$


















                                    1












                                    $begingroup$

                                    For a onedimensional equation like the one you propose something more certain may be said.



                                    Schrödinger equation is a second-order, linear and homogeneous ODE. Then a unique solution is determined giving $psi(x_0)$ and $psi'(x_0)$. As a consequence, there can't be more than two independent solutions (for a given $E$).



                                    The homogeneous boundary value problem ($psi(a)=psi(b)=0$ for given $a$, $b$, even infinite) is still more restricted: for each eigenvalue there is only one independent solution. In other words, eigenvalues are never degenerate.



                                    The proof makes use of the Wronskian. Let $psi_1$, $psi_2$ two
                                    solutions (for the same $E$ and the same boundary conditions). Define
                                    $$W(x) = psi_1(x),psi_2'(x) - psi_1'(x),psi_2(x).$$
                                    It can be shown that $W(x)$ is a constant, the same for all $x$.
                                    If the boundary conditions are homogeneous, clearly $W(x)=0$ for all $x$:
                                    $$psi_1(x),psi_2'(x) - psi_1'(x),psi_2(x) = 0$$
                                    $${psi_1'(x) over psi_1(x)} = {psi_2'(x) over psi_2(x)}$$
                                    $$logpsi_1(x) = logpsi_2(x) + c$$
                                    $$psi_1(x) = psi_2(x),e^c$$
                                    q.e.d.



                                    The case of a free particle, with two solutions, is no
                                    counterexample, since in that case there are no homogeneous boundary conditions. Anyhow you get two independent solutions and no more.






                                    share|cite|improve this answer









                                    $endgroup$
















                                      1












                                      1








                                      1





                                      $begingroup$

                                      For a onedimensional equation like the one you propose something more certain may be said.



                                      Schrödinger equation is a second-order, linear and homogeneous ODE. Then a unique solution is determined giving $psi(x_0)$ and $psi'(x_0)$. As a consequence, there can't be more than two independent solutions (for a given $E$).



                                      The homogeneous boundary value problem ($psi(a)=psi(b)=0$ for given $a$, $b$, even infinite) is still more restricted: for each eigenvalue there is only one independent solution. In other words, eigenvalues are never degenerate.



                                      The proof makes use of the Wronskian. Let $psi_1$, $psi_2$ two
                                      solutions (for the same $E$ and the same boundary conditions). Define
                                      $$W(x) = psi_1(x),psi_2'(x) - psi_1'(x),psi_2(x).$$
                                      It can be shown that $W(x)$ is a constant, the same for all $x$.
                                      If the boundary conditions are homogeneous, clearly $W(x)=0$ for all $x$:
                                      $$psi_1(x),psi_2'(x) - psi_1'(x),psi_2(x) = 0$$
                                      $${psi_1'(x) over psi_1(x)} = {psi_2'(x) over psi_2(x)}$$
                                      $$logpsi_1(x) = logpsi_2(x) + c$$
                                      $$psi_1(x) = psi_2(x),e^c$$
                                      q.e.d.



                                      The case of a free particle, with two solutions, is no
                                      counterexample, since in that case there are no homogeneous boundary conditions. Anyhow you get two independent solutions and no more.






                                      share|cite|improve this answer









                                      $endgroup$



                                      For a onedimensional equation like the one you propose something more certain may be said.



                                      Schrödinger equation is a second-order, linear and homogeneous ODE. Then a unique solution is determined giving $psi(x_0)$ and $psi'(x_0)$. As a consequence, there can't be more than two independent solutions (for a given $E$).



                                      The homogeneous boundary value problem ($psi(a)=psi(b)=0$ for given $a$, $b$, even infinite) is still more restricted: for each eigenvalue there is only one independent solution. In other words, eigenvalues are never degenerate.



                                      The proof makes use of the Wronskian. Let $psi_1$, $psi_2$ two
                                      solutions (for the same $E$ and the same boundary conditions). Define
                                      $$W(x) = psi_1(x),psi_2'(x) - psi_1'(x),psi_2(x).$$
                                      It can be shown that $W(x)$ is a constant, the same for all $x$.
                                      If the boundary conditions are homogeneous, clearly $W(x)=0$ for all $x$:
                                      $$psi_1(x),psi_2'(x) - psi_1'(x),psi_2(x) = 0$$
                                      $${psi_1'(x) over psi_1(x)} = {psi_2'(x) over psi_2(x)}$$
                                      $$logpsi_1(x) = logpsi_2(x) + c$$
                                      $$psi_1(x) = psi_2(x),e^c$$
                                      q.e.d.



                                      The case of a free particle, with two solutions, is no
                                      counterexample, since in that case there are no homogeneous boundary conditions. Anyhow you get two independent solutions and no more.







                                      share|cite|improve this answer












                                      share|cite|improve this answer



                                      share|cite|improve this answer










                                      answered 2 days ago









                                      Elio FabriElio Fabri

                                      3,2251214




                                      3,2251214






























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