next up previous
Next: a) Up: No Title Previous: No Title

(10 pts) Eigenstate ``Expansion''/Why operators are nice

In this problem you will need to use the functional form for the eigenstates of a particle of mass m in a rigid ``box'' (infinite square-well potential) of width W. Properly normalized, these wavefunctions are

with energies

Now imagine a particle of mass m in the ground state, , in an infinite well of width . (You might imagine preparing this state by putting the particle in the well and then waiting a very long time for it to radiate away all of its excess energy.) Suddenly, the right wall of the well is moved from to x=L, and the energy of the particle is measured immediately, before the quantum state of the particle has an opportunity to respond to the sudden change in the environment.





Prof. Tomas Alberto Arias
Thu Oct 12 17:16:14 EDT 1995