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Latin American journal of physics education

Alternative approach to solve the 1-D quantum harmonic oscillator

Jesús García‐Ravelo, A. L. Trujillo, Alfonso Queijeiro, José Juan Peña, Departmento de Física

Published Jan 1, 2010• 1 citation
OpenAlex

Abstract

In standard courses of Quantum Mechanics the harmonic oscillator is frequently resolved through of different techniques. In this paper, we introduce another didactic method to obtain its energy spectrum and wave functions by using directly the Hermite polynomials. To do this we only use arguments of general soundness.

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The goal of Quantum Mechanics I, A Problem Text, is to enable students to solve problems appropriate to their first course in quantum mechanics. Significantly detailed solutions to traditionally posed problems dominate. Theory and rationale are addressed in prescript and postscript narratives and/or within the solved problems to guide students; and clarify vocabulary, symbology, and terminology. Applications of the postulates are presented initially using arguments from linear algebra appropriate to discrete systems with low-dimensional vectors and matrix operators, introducing orthogonality, orthonormality, Hermiticity, eigenvectors, eigenvalues, probability, expectation value, and degeneracy. These arguments blend into infinite-dimensional vectors and operators, and calculus-based arguments for continuous systems where delta functions, theta functions, and Fourier transforms are initially discussed. Dirac notation is fully developed within these first five chapters. Chapter six discusses Ehrenfest’s theorem, the Heisenberg uncertainty relations, and Gaussian wave functions and wave packets. Increasingly sophisticated potential energy functions are then treated to include the free particle, the infinite square well, the one-dimensional scattering state, the simple harmonic oscillator, the finite square well, orbital angular momentum, and the hydrogen atom. Ladder operators are featured in the developments of the simple harmonic oscillator and orbital angular momentum. The diversity of narratives and detailed solutions intend

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Quantum mechanics is one of the branches of physics. In this mechanics, physical problems are solved by algebraic and analytic methods. By applying a simple procedure we can find the general solutions of Schrodinger’s time - independent wave equation of one dimensional quantum mechanical harmonic oscillator without making any approximation. In this paper, we will discuss the Eigenenergy values and Eigenfunctions of one of the most important physical models of quantum mechanics, namely the one-dimensional Quantum mechanical Harmonic Oscillator by modifying the Hermite differential equation.
Harmonic oscillator model,the physical method of which enjoys wide application in other related courses is the simplest but the most important model in quantum mechanics.On one hand,profound understanding of harmonic oscillator model through various ways is crucial to understand the essence of quantum mechanics and research into micro physical models by means of quantum mechanics;on the other hand,the application of algebraic approach to solve the eigenvalues and wave function of mechanics is the main means to solve the actual problems in quantum mechanics.This paper will take harmonic oscillator as an example,and apply algebraic approach to firstly present wave function of one-dimensional harmonic oscillator,and then multi-dimensional harmonic oscillator,and also combine corresponding commutator relations of operator to present Hermite polynomials and its recursion relations,which will avoid the process of using series to solve the equation of Heimite.Meanwhile,it will improve some shortcomings revealed in the same paper.
Mechanical motions of atoms near their equilibrium geometry are approximated by a universal mapping on a collection of independent harmonic oscillators. The respective frequencies are characteristic to the material, for example, lattice phonons or molecular vibrations. The quantum description of atomic motions involves the solution of the Schrödinger equation for the harmonic oscillator in the space of proper wave functions. The energy levels obtained are shown to be equally spaced where the level spacing is proportional to the oscillator frequency. The stationary solutions are identified in terms of Hermite polynomials, demonstrating remarkable differences from the classical harmonic oscillator. The importance of the zero-point energy is emphasized in the context of the stability of chemical bonds, where the Harmonic approximation is shown to be reasonably valid for typical interatomic bonds in standard thermal conditions. This explains the relevance of the harmonic approximation for analyzing the absorption spectrum of infrared radiation by molecules.
Abstract This paper advocates writing the eigenfunctions of the harmonic oscillator without Hermite polynomials, by means of the following recurrence relation: Ψ n = 2 α / n x Ψ n − 1 − ( n − 1 ) / n Ψ n − 2 ( n > 0 ) , with Ψ 0 = ( α / π ) 1 / 4 e − α x 2 / 2 . It is easy to prove that these functions are eigenfunctions of the harmonic oscillator. It is shown that many of the exercises related to the harmonic oscillator found in textbooks can be solved in a simple and elegant way by using this recurrence relation.
The goal of Quantum Mechanics I, A Problem Text, is to enable students to solve problems appropriate to their first course in quantum mechanics. Significantly detailed solutions to traditionally posed problems dominate. Theory and rationale are addressed in prescript and postscript narratives and/or within the solved problems to guide students; and clarify vocabulary, symbology, and terminology. Applications of the postulates are presented initially using arguments from linear algebra appropriate to discrete systems with low-dimensional vectors and matrix operators, introducing orthogonality, orthonormality, Hermiticity, eigenvectors, eigenvalues, probability, expectation value, and degeneracy. These arguments blend into infinite-dimensional vectors and operators, and calculus-based arguments for continuous systems where delta functions, theta functions, and Fourier transforms are initially discussed. Dirac notation is fully developed within these first five chapters. Chapter six discusses Ehrenfest’s theorem, the Heisenberg uncertainty relations, and Gaussian wave functions and wave packets. Increasingly sophisticated potential energy functions are then treated to include the free particle, the infinite square well, the one-dimensional scattering state, the simple harmonic oscillator, the finite square well, orbital angular momentum, and the hydrogen atom. Ladder operators are featured in the developments of the simple harmonic oscillator and orbital angular momentum. The diversity of narratives and detailed solutions intend