Quantum_Mechanics_Flashcards_Part1_2

1
Q

What equation represents a simple sine wave in quantum mechanics?

A

Ψ(x, t) = A sin(kx − ωt)

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2
Q

What is the phase velocity of a wave?

A

v_phase = ω / k

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3
Q

What is the complex form of a wave used in quantum mechanics?

A

Ψ(x, t) = A exp[i(kx − ωt)]

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4
Q

How is probability related to the wave function in quantum mechanics?

A

P(x, t) = |Ψ(x, t)|² = Ψ*Ψ

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5
Q

What principle relates localization in space to uncertainty in momentum?

A

Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle: Δx Δp ≥ ℏ/2

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6
Q

What are the assumptions used to derive the Schrödinger Equation?

A
  1. E = ℏω, 2. p = ℏk, 3. Energy conservation E = T + V
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7
Q

What is the time-dependent Schrödinger Equation?

A

iℏ ∂Ψ/∂t = [−ℏ²/(2m) ∂²/∂x² + V(x,t)]Ψ

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8
Q

What is the time-independent Schrödinger Equation?

A

−ℏ²/(2m) d²ψ/dx² + V(x)ψ = Eψ

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9
Q

What does the wavefunction Ψ(x, t) represent?

A

A complete description of a quantum state.

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10
Q

What are the properties of the probability density function P(x, t)?

A

Real, non-negative, normalized: ∫|Ψ|² dx = 1

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11
Q

How is the expectation value of position defined?

A

⟨x⟩ = ∫ Ψ* x Ψ dx

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12
Q

What is the momentum operator in 1D?

A

p̂ = −iℏ ∂/∂x

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13
Q

What is the expectation value of momentum?

A

⟨p⟩ = ∫ Ψ* (−iℏ ∂/∂x) Ψ dx

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14
Q

What is the kinetic energy operator?

A

T̂ = −ℏ²/(2m) ∂²/∂x²

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15
Q

What is the Hamiltonian operator?

A

Ĥ = T̂ + V̂ = −ℏ²/(2m) ∂²/∂x² + V(x)

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16
Q

How is a step potential defined in quantum mechanics?

A

V(x) = 0 for x ≤ 0, V₀ for x > 0

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17
Q

What are the boundary conditions at a potential step?

A

Continuity of ψ and dψ/dx at the boundary

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18
Q

What is quantum tunnelling?

A

Penetration of a particle into a classically forbidden region where E < V

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19
Q

What is the transmission probability through a potential step?

A

T = 4k₀k / (k₀ + k)²

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20
Q

What is the reflection probability?

A

R = ((k₀ − k)/(k₀ + k))²

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21
Q

What are the boundary conditions in an infinite square well?

A

ψ = 0 at the walls, ψ must be continuous inside

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22
Q

What are the energy eigenvalues for an infinite square well?

A

Eₙ = n²π²ℏ²/(2ma²), n = 1,2,3,…

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23
Q

What does the quantum number n represent?

A

It labels the allowed energy levels of a bound system

24
Q

What is zero-point energy?

A

The lowest possible energy of a quantum system, not zero due to HUP

25
Q

What is the potential energy in the quantum harmonic oscillator?

A

V(x) = ½ mω²x²

26
Q

What are the energy eigenvalues of the quantum harmonic oscillator?

A

Eₙ = (n + ½)ℏω

27
Q

What type of functions are the wavefunctions for the quantum harmonic oscillator?

A

ψₙ(x) = Hₙ(u) e^(−u²/2), where Hₙ are Hermite polynomials

28
Q

What does the time-dependent wavefunction Ψ(x,t) describe?

A

The full quantum state, including time evolution.

29
Q

What is a stationary state?

A

A state where the probability density |Ψ|² is time-independent.

30
Q

What causes oscillations in probability density for a superposition state?

A

Interference between energy eigenstates with different eigenvalues.

31
Q

What is Postulate 3 in quantum mechanics?

A

Any wavefunction can be expressed as a linear combination of eigenstates of a complete basis.

32
Q

What is the Copenhagen interpretation of measurement?

A

A measurement collapses the wavefunction to a corresponding eigenstate.

33
Q

What are Hermitian operators?

A

Operators with real eigenvalues; they represent observable quantities.

34
Q

What is orthogonality of eigenfunctions?

A

Eigenfunctions of a Hermitian operator are orthogonal: ∫ψₙ*ψₘ dx = δₙₘ

35
Q

How is the expectation value of an operator A in a superposition state calculated?

A

⟨A⟩ = ∑|cₙ|²aₙ, where aₙ are eigenvalues and cₙ are coefficients.

36
Q

What does it mean for two operators to commute?

A

Their commutator is zero: [A, B] = 0, so they can share eigenfunctions.

37
Q

Can non-commuting operators be simultaneously measured?

A

No, their measurements affect one another.

38
Q

What is the commutator of position and momentum?

A

[x, p̂] = iℏ

39
Q

What is the Heisenberg uncertainty principle?

A

Δx Δp ≥ ℏ/2 for position and momentum.

40
Q

Why do non-commuting operators lead to uncertainty?

A

Because their eigenfunctions are not shared.

41
Q

How does Fourier analysis relate to uncertainty?

A

A narrow wavepacket in position has a wide distribution in momentum.

42
Q

What is the 3D time-independent Schrödinger equation?

A

−ℏ²/(2m) ∇²ψ + V(r)ψ = Eψ

43
Q

What is the Laplacian in Cartesian coordinates?

A

∇² = ∂²/∂x² + ∂²/∂y² + ∂²/∂z²

44
Q

What is a separable solution for a 3D box?

A

ψ(x,y,z) = X(x)Y(y)Z(z), where each satisfies a 1D TISE.

45
Q

What is the energy for a particle in a 3D box?

A

E = (ℏ²π²/2m)(n₁²/a² + n₂²/b² + n₃²/c²)

46
Q

What is degeneracy in a 3D box?

A

Different quantum number combinations result in the same energy.

47
Q

What is the classical expression for angular momentum?

A

L = r × p

48
Q

What are the components of the angular momentum operator?

A

L̂ₓ = −iℏ(y∂/∂z − z∂/∂y), etc.

49
Q

Do angular momentum components commute?

A

No: [L̂ₓ, L̂ᵧ] = iℏL̂𝓏 and cyclic permutations.

50
Q

What is the operator for total angular momentum squared?

A

L̂² = L̂ₓ² + L̂ᵧ² + L̂𝓏²

51
Q

Which components of angular momentum can be known simultaneously?

A

L² and one component (usually L̂𝓏)

52
Q

What is the Coulomb potential for hydrogen?

A

V(r) = −Ze²/(4πε₀r)

53
Q

What are the three quantum numbers for hydrogen?

A

n (principal), l (orbital), m (magnetic)

54
Q

What is the energy of the nth level in hydrogen?

A

Eₙ = −13.6 Z² / n² eV

55
Q

What are spherical harmonics?

A

Yₗᵐ(θ, φ) = N Pₗᵐ(cosθ) e^{imφ}, eigenfunctions of angular momentum operators.

56
Q

What determines degeneracy in hydrogen?

A

Energy depends only on n; multiple (l, m) values share the same energy.