Quantum Mechanics: Concepts and Applications · Problem 9.6

Approximation Methods for Stationary States — Nouredine Zettili

Physics — Quantum Mechanics · variational-method-harmonic-oscillator-trial-functions

Problem

Use the variational method to estimate the energy of the ground state of a one-dimensional harmonic oscillator by making use of the following two trial functions: (a) ψ0(x,α)=Ae−α∣x∣\psi_0(x,\alpha) = Ae^{-\alpha|x|}, (b) ψ0(x,α)=A/(x2+α)\psi_0(x,\alpha) = A/(x^2 + \alpha), where α\alpha is a positive real number and where AA is the normalization constant.

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