Probability Current Proof

Ian Perfitt

5/3/2017

For this proof I want to show that the time derivative of the probability of finding a
particle in the range (a < x >b) can be written in the following form:
dPab
= J(a, t) J(b, t)
dt
where,

 
i~
J(x,t) .
2m x x

I start with the equation for the probability of finding a particle at point x and time t:
|(x, t)|2
which can be integrated from a to b to find the probability of finding the particle between
a and b, at time t.
Rb
Pab (t) = a |(x, t)|2 dx
I can then take the time derivative of the integral and use the chain rule to give me:

Z b Z b
dPab(t)
= dx + dx
dt a t a t
Next, I make use of the following equation from the Schrodinger equation:
i~ 2 i
= V
t 2m x2 ~
and also its complex conjugate:
i~ 2 i
= 2
+ V
t 2m x ~

1
 to give me:
i~ 2
Z b Z b 
dPab(t) i~ 2
 
i i
= V dx + + V dx
dt 2m x2 ~ 2m x2 ~
Z ab a
2
dPab(t) 2 i b b
i b
Z Z Z
i~ i~
= dx V dx dx + V dx
dt 2m a x2 ~ a 2m a x2 ~ a

The second and fourth term are the exact same integrals but with opposite signs so
they cancel and the first integral can be integrated by parts with the following
substitutions:
u =

du = dx
x

v=
x
#b Z
b
2
Z b
dPab(t) i~
= dx dx
dt 2m x a x x a x2
a

Now, I can perform integration by parts on the integral in the middle using the following
substitutions:

u=
x

2
du = dx
x2
v=
#b #b
dPab(t) b
2 b
2
Z Z
i~
= + dx dx
dt 2m x x a x2 a x2
a a

The last two integrals are identical and cancel each other out and I am left with the
following:
dPab(t)
 
i~
= +
dt 2m b a b a
dPab(t)
 
i~
= +
dt 2m a a b b

2
 Making use of the following identity:

 
i~
J(x,t)
2m x x
Gives me the following:
dPab
= J(a, t) J(b, t),
dt

which is the difference of the probability current evaluated at a and b and tells you the
difference of the rate at which probability flows past point a and b.