Franz Schwabl Quantum Mechanics 4th Edit · Problem 3.10

The Uncertainty Relation

Physics — Quantum Mechanics · wave-packet-expectation-values

Problem

For a general, one-dimensional wave packet ψ(x,t)=∫dp2πℏ g(p) exp⁡{i[px−E(p)t+ℏα(p)]/ℏ} ,\psi(x, t) = \int \frac{dp}{2\pi\hbar}\, g(p)\, \exp\{\mathrm{i}[px - E(p)t + \hbar\alpha(p)]/\hbar\} \ , whose real weighting function g(p)g(p) is symmetric about its maximum at p0p_0 and which differs substantially from zero only in a region ∣p−p0∣≤Δp|p - p_0| \leq \Delta p, calculate the expectation values ⟨p⟩\langle p \rangle, ⟨p2⟩\langle p^2 \rangle, ⟨x⟩\langle x \rangle, and ⟨x2⟩\langle x^2 \rangle. It is advisable to carry out the computation of the positional uncertainty in the momentum representation.

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