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Schrödinger's Equation

Consider a dynamical system consisting of a single non-relativistic particle of mass $m$ moving along the $x$-axis in some real potential $V(x)$. In quantum mechanics, the instantaneous state of the system is represented by a complex wavefunction $\psi(x,t)$. This wavefunction evolves in time according to Schrödinger's equation:
\begin{displaymath}
{\rm i} \hbar \frac{\partial\psi}{\partial t} = -\frac{\hbar^2}{2 m}\frac{\partial^2\psi}{\partial x^2} + V(x) \psi.
\end{displaymath} (137)

The wavefunction is interpreted as follows: $\vert\psi(x,t)\vert^{ 2}$ is the probability density of a measurement of the particle's displacement yielding the value $x$. Thus, the probability of a measurement of the displacement giving a result between $a$ and $b$ (where $a<b$) is
\begin{displaymath}
P_{x \in  a:b}(t) = \int_{a}^{b}\vert\psi(x,t)\vert^{ 2} dx.
\end{displaymath} (138)

Note that this quantity is real and positive definite.



Richard Fitzpatrick 2010-07-20