Instructor

MARK RYAN R. TRIPOLE (DoPAC)

 Learning Outcomes

• A deeper understanding of the probability distribution

function through the Born interpretation.
• Normalization and why it needs to be done – physical
significance of the method in relation to the probability
distribution
• Revisit basic calculus and solve for the “normalization
constants” of given wave functions (or proving that a
given wave function is normalized)

Chem 159 – Physical Chemistry 3

 The Born Interpretation
of the wave function (Recap)
What we are essentially doing to solve Schrodinger’s equation is setting up the
Hamiltonian (which is dependent on our system of interest) and obtaining solutions
in the form of wave functions and energy.
CENTRAL PRINCIPLE OF QUANTUM MECHANICS

The wave function contains all dynamical

information about the system it is describing.
So now how do we figure out, from the wave function,
where a particle is located in space?

Chem 159 – Physical Chemistry 3

 The Born Interpretation
of the wave function
Analogous to classical wave theory, how would you find the intensity of a wave?

𝐼 ∝ 𝐴2
By the same token, interpreting wave functions as waves, we apply the same:
x x+dx
𝜓
𝜓(𝑥) 2𝑑𝑥 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑥

𝑃 = 𝜓(𝑥) 2𝑑𝑥

𝑥
Chem 159 – Physical Chemistry 3
 The Born Interpretation
of the wave function
𝑃 = 𝜓(𝑥) 2𝑑𝑥
But we aren’t actually taking the square of the wave function direct per se.

𝑃 = 𝜓∗𝜓 𝑑𝑥
complex conjugate
of the wave function

NOT ALL WAVE FUNCTIONS ARE BORN

EQUAL! 𝑥
Chem 159 – Physical Chemistry 3
 The Probability Distribution

𝑃 𝑥 = 𝜓∗ 𝑥 𝜓 𝑥 = 𝜓(𝑥) 2

What is the probability

of finding a particle
between x and x+dx? 𝑑𝑥

How do we represent 𝑥 𝑥 + 𝑑𝑥
the probability
distribution?
We have to impose boundary conditions.
Chem 159 – Physical Chemistry 3
 The Probability Distribution
𝑃 𝑥 = 𝜓∗ 𝑥 𝜓 𝑥 = 𝜓(𝑥) 2
𝑥1 𝑥1
∗ 2
𝑃𝑥0 <𝑥<𝑥1 = න 𝜓 𝑥 𝜓 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = න 𝜓(𝑥)
𝑥0 𝑥0
Particle may or may 𝑥0 𝑑𝑥 𝑥1 What can we do to
not be there. ensure it’s there?

𝑥 𝑥 + 𝑑𝑥
We have to impose boundary conditions.
Chem 159 – Physical Chemistry 3
 The Probability Distribution
𝑃 𝑥 = 𝜓∗ 𝑥 𝜓 𝑥 = 𝜓(𝑥) 2
∞ ∞
𝑃−∞<𝑥<∞ = න 𝜓 ∗ 𝑥 𝜓 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = න 𝜓(𝑥) 2
−∞ −∞

1 or 100%
−∞ ∞
What is so special about integrating within these infinity boundaries?
We have to impose boundary conditions.
Chem 159 – Physical Chemistry 3
 The Probability Distribution
𝑃 𝑥 = 𝜓∗ 𝑥 𝜓 𝑥 = 𝜓(𝑥) 2
∞ ∞
∞ ∞
∗ 2
𝑃−∞<𝑥<∞ = න 𝜓 𝑥 𝜓 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = න 𝜓(𝑥)
−∞ −∞
What does this have to do with particles?
−∞ ∞
We have to impose boundary conditions.
Chem 159 – Physical Chemistry 3
 The Probability Distribution
For classical particles

𝑃4<𝑥<6 = ?
𝑃4<𝑥<6 = 1

1 𝟒 5 𝟔 10
Chem 159 – Physical Chemistry 3
 The Probability Distribution
For classical particles

𝑃7<𝑥<9 = ?
𝑃7<𝑥<9 = 0

1 5 𝟕 𝟗 10
Chem 159 – Physical Chemistry 3
 The Probability Distribution
For this probability
For quantum particles distribution, where is
the particle likely to
be?

1 5 10
Chem 159 – Physical Chemistry 3
 The Probability Distribution
For quantum particles

𝑃4<𝑥<6 = ?
𝑃4<𝑥<6 ≠ 1

1 𝟒 5 𝟔 10
Chem 159 – Physical Chemistry 3
 The Probability Distribution
For quantum particles We normalize to ensure that
we can have an idea of the
𝑃−∞<𝑥<∞ = ? existence of the particle,
even if we don’t exactly
𝑃−∞<𝑥<∞ = 1 know where it is!

−∞ 𝟒 5 𝟔 ∞
Chem 159 – Physical Chemistry 3
 Normalization of Wave Functions
∞ ∞
𝑃−∞<𝑥<∞ = න 𝜓 ∗ 𝑥 𝜓 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = න 𝜓(𝑥) 2 =1
−∞ −∞
Solutions to Schrodinger’s equation come in the
form of the wave function and of the energy ෡ = 𝐸𝜓
𝐻𝜓
More often than not, solutions to Schrodinger’s equation are not
guaranteed to give a probability density of 1, and so the wave
functions are unnormalized (abnormal?).

Chem 159 – Physical Chemistry 3

 Normalization of Wave Functions
Determine whether the following wave function for a theoretical
particle is normalized or unnormalized.

𝜓(𝑥) = 𝑥2 0 < 𝑥 < 𝑘

Chem 159 – Physical Chemistry 3

 Normalization of Wave Functions
For the previous example, you find that the probability distribution
is k5/5 which is not equal to 1.

How do we normalize the wave function so that the

probability distribution for the particle becomes 1?
WE FIND THE NORMALIZATION CONSTANT!
∞ ∞
∗ 2
𝑃−∞<𝑥<∞ = න 𝜓 𝑥 𝜓 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = න 𝜓(𝑥) =1
−∞ −∞
Chem 159 – Physical Chemistry 3
 Normalization of Wave Functions
For the previous example, you find that the probability distribution
is k5/5 which is not equal to 1.

How do we normalize the wave function so that the

probability distribution for the particle becomes 1?
WE FIND THE NORMALIZATION CONSTANT!

𝑁𝜓(𝑥)
Chem 159 – Physical Chemistry 3
 Normalization of Wave Functions
WE FIND THE NORMALIZATION CONSTANT!
𝑁𝜓(𝑥)
𝑃=න 𝑁𝜓 ∗ 𝑥 𝑁𝜓 𝑥 =1
Determine the normalization constant for the wave function and
write the overall normalized wave function:
𝜓(𝑥) = 𝑥2 0 < 𝑥 < 𝑘
Chem 159 – Physical Chemistry 3
 Normalization of Wave Functions
1. Determine if the following wave function is normalized
or not: 𝜓 = 𝑒−𝛾 𝑥 𝑒−𝑖𝜔𝑡 from −∞ to ∞. If it is not, find
the normalization constant and write the final
normalized wave function.
2. Determine the normalization constant for the
following wave function: 𝜓 = 𝑎2 − 𝑥 2 from −𝑎 to 𝑎.
3. Verify if the following wave function is normalized:
1
𝜓= 𝑒 𝑖(𝜔𝑡−𝑘𝑢) between −𝐿 < x < 𝐿
2𝐿
Chem 159 – Physical Chemistry 3
 What questions do you have for me?

Chem 159 – Physical Chemistry 3