phy-4600/solutions/exam1/prob2
2016-02-23 19:41:02 -05:00

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Show that ͟d͟〈͟p͟〉͟ = -͟d͟V͟(͟x͟)͟〵 when a particle is subjected to a potential 〈V(x)〉.
dt 〵dx
The time derivative of the expectation value of the momentum is a known quantity, from
Time Dependence of Expectation Value of General Momentum Operator:
d〈p〉 = 1.
dt ιħ
The problem is therefore reduced to finding whether -/dV(x)\ reduces to 1.
\dx / ιħ
-/dV(x)\ = -〈Ψ| d V(x) |Ψ〉.
\dx / dx
Viewing the expression in this form reveals a relationship between the space derivative and the operators V(x) and |Ψ〉. The chain rule allows this derivative to be computed.
-〈Ψ| d V(x) |Ψ〉 = -〈Ψ| ⎛d V(x)|Ψ> + d |Ψ> V(x)⎞.
dx ⎝dx dx ⎠