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| author | Prefetch | 2026-09-14 18:11:38 +0200 |
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| committer | Prefetch | 2026-09-14 18:11:38 +0200 |
| commit | cc391ce3b9867d88d124e147931d33be34e756fc (patch) | |
| tree | d719cf6ad60f559fcc0c2042907a2c4d8cd62977 /source/know/concept/probability-current/index.md | |
| parent | 5cacf4ffaf3a9621ab536195f6469f98a420f054 (diff) | |
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Diffstat (limited to 'source/know/concept/probability-current/index.md')
| -rw-r--r-- | source/know/concept/probability-current/index.md | 66 |
1 files changed, 34 insertions, 32 deletions
diff --git a/source/know/concept/probability-current/index.md b/source/know/concept/probability-current/index.md index bd41dab..81ca586 100644 --- a/source/know/concept/probability-current/index.md +++ b/source/know/concept/probability-current/index.md @@ -10,48 +10,49 @@ layout: "concept" In quantum mechanics, the **probability current** describes the movement of the probability of finding a particle at given point in space. -In other words, it treats the particle as a heterogeneous fluid with density $$|\psi|^2$$. -Now, the probability of finding the particle within a volume $$V$$ is: +Basically, it treats the particle as a heterogeneous fluid with density $$|\psi|^2$$. +Clearly, the probability of finding the particle within a volume $$V$$ is: $$\begin{aligned} - P = \int_{V} | \psi |^2 \ddn{3}{\vb{r}} + P = \int_{V} | \psi |^2 \dd{\vb{r}} \end{aligned}$$ -As the system evolves in time, this probability may change, so we take -its derivative with respect to time $$t$$, and when necessary substitute -in the other side of the Schrödinger equation to get: +As the system evolves in time, this probability may change, +so we take its derivative with respect to time $$t$$, +and substitute in the other side of the Schrödinger equation to get: $$\begin{aligned} \pdv{P}{t} - &= \int_{V} \psi \pdv{\psi^*}{t} + \psi^* \pdv{\psi}{t} \ddn{3}{\vb{r}} - = \frac{i}{\hbar} \int_{V} \psi (\hat{H} \psi^*) - \psi^* (\hat{H} \psi) \ddn{3}{\vb{r}} + &= \int_{V} \bigg( \psi \pdv{\psi^*}{t} + \psi^* \pdv{\psi}{t} \bigg) \dd{\vb{r}} \\ - &= \frac{i}{\hbar} \int_{V} \psi \Big( \!-\! \frac{\hbar^2}{2 m} \nabla^2 \psi^* + V(\vb{r}) \psi^* \Big) - - \psi^* \Big( \!-\! \frac{\hbar^2}{2 m} \nabla^2 \psi + V(\vb{r}) \psi \Big) \ddn{3}{\vb{r}} + &= \frac{i}{\hbar} \int_{V} \bigg( \psi (\hat{H} \psi^*) - \psi^* (\hat{H} \psi) \bigg) \dd{\vb{r}} \\ - &= \frac{i \hbar}{2 m} \int_{V} - \psi \nabla^2 \psi^* + \psi^* \nabla^2 \psi \ddn{3}{\vb{r}} - = - \int_{V} \nabla \cdot \vb{J} \ddn{3}{\vb{r}} + &= \frac{i}{\hbar} \int_{V} \bigg( \psi \Big( \!-\! \frac{\hbar^2}{2 m} \nabla^2 \psi^* + V(\vb{r}) \psi^* \Big) + - \psi^* \Big( \!-\! \frac{\hbar^2}{2 m} \nabla^2 \psi + V(\vb{r}) \psi \Big) \bigg) \dd{\vb{r}} + \\ + &= \frac{i \hbar}{2 m} \int_{V} \bigg( \!-\! \psi \nabla^2 \psi^* + \psi^* \nabla^2 \psi \bigg) \dd{\vb{r}} + \\ + &= - \int_{V} \nabla \cdot \vb{J} \dd{\vb{r}} \end{aligned}$$ -Where we have defined the probability current $$\vb{J}$$ as follows in -the $$\vb{r}$$-basis: +Where we have defined the probability current $$\vb{J}$$ +as follows in the $$\vb{r}$$-basis: $$\begin{aligned} \vb{J} - = \frac{i \hbar}{2 m} (\psi \nabla \psi^* - \psi^* \nabla \psi) - = \mathrm{Re} \Big\{ \psi \frac{i \hbar}{m} \psi^* \Big\} + &\equiv \frac{i \hbar}{2 m} (\psi \nabla \psi^* - \psi^* \nabla \psi) + = \Real\!\bigg\{ \psi \Big( \frac{i \hbar}{m} \Big) \nabla \psi^* \bigg\} \end{aligned}$$ Let us rewrite this using the momentum operator -$$\vu{p} = -i \hbar \nabla$$ as follows, noting that $$\vu{p} / m$$ is -simply the velocity operator $$\vu{v}$$: +$$\vu{p} = -i \hbar \nabla = - \vu{p}^*$$ +as follows, noting that $$\vu{p} / m$$ is simply the velocity operator $$\vu{v}$$: $$\begin{aligned} \boxed{ \vb{J} - = \frac{1}{2 m} ( \psi^* \vu{p} \psi - \psi \vu{p} \psi^*) - = \mathrm{Re} \Big\{ \psi^* \frac{\vu{p}}{m} \psi \Big\} - = \mathrm{Re} \{ \psi^* \vu{v} \psi \} + = \Real\!\Big\{ \psi^* \frac{\vu{p}}{m} \psi \Big\} + = \Real\{ \psi^* \vu{v} \psi \} } \end{aligned}$$ @@ -60,8 +61,8 @@ equation: $$\begin{aligned} \pdv{P}{t} - = \int_{V} \pdv{|\psi|^2}{t} \ddn{3}{\vb{r}} - = - \int_{V} \nabla \cdot \vb{J} \ddn{3}{\vb{r}} + = \int_{V} \pdv{|\psi|^2}{t} \dd{\vb{r}} + = - \int_{V} \nabla \cdot \vb{J} \dd{\vb{r}} \end{aligned}$$ By removing the integrals, we thus arrive at the **continuity equation** @@ -74,16 +75,17 @@ $$\begin{aligned} } \end{aligned}$$ -This states that the total probability is conserved, and is reminiscent of charge -conservation in electromagnetism. In other words, the probability at a -point can only change by letting it "flow" towards or away from it. Thus -$$\vb{J}$$ represents the flow of probability, which is analogous to the -motion of a particle. +This states that the total probability is conserved, +and is reminiscent of electric charge conservation. +In other words, the probability at a point can only change +by "flowing" towards or away from it. +Thus $$\vb{J}$$ represents the flow of probability as if it were a fluid. -As a bonus, this still holds for a particle in an electromagnetic vector -potential $$\vb{A}$$, thanks to the gauge invariance of the Schrödinger -equation. We can thus extend the definition to a particle with charge -$$q$$ in an SI-unit field, neglecting spin: +As a bonus, the continuity relation still holds +for a particle in an electromagnetic vector potential $$\vb{A}$$, +thanks to the gauge invariance of the Schrödinger equation. +We can thus extend the definition to a particle +with charge $$q$$ in an SI-unit field, neglecting spin: $$\begin{aligned} \boxed{ |
