Wave Function

Wave Function

Wave Function

A wave function in quantum mechanics describes the quantum state of an isolated system of one or more particles. There is one wave function containing all the information about the entire system, not a separate wave function for each particle in the system. Its interpretation is that of a probability amplitude. Quantities associated with measurements, such as the average momentum of a particle, can be derived from the wave function. It is a central entity in quantum mechanics and is important in all modern theories, like quantum field theory incorporating quantum mechanics, while its interpretation may differ. The most common symbols for a wave function are the Greek letters ψ or Ψ

The image above shows the comparison of classical and quantum harmonic oscillator conceptions for a single spinless particle. The two processes differ greatly. The classical process (A–B) is represented as the motion of a particle along a trajectory. The quantum process (C–H) has no such trajectory. Rather, it is represented as a wave. Panels (C–F) show four different standing wave solutions of the Schrödinger equation. Panels (G–H) further show two different wave functions that are solutions of the Schrödinger equation but not standing waves.

More Posts from Vanderwaalrus and Others

9 years ago

<3

The Gaussian Integral Is A Beautiful Integral For Which The area Between The E^(-x^2) And The X-axis
The Gaussian Integral Is A Beautiful Integral For Which The area Between The E^(-x^2) And The X-axis

The Gaussian Integral is a beautiful integral for which the area between the e^(-x^2) and the x-axis from negative infinity to positive infinity perfectly equals the square root of pi. Image sources: 1, 2.

9 years ago

Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.  It matters that you don’t just give up.

Stephen Hawking, who turns 74 today. Happy birthday! (via astrowhat)

8 years ago
Looking At The Stars From The Inside Of One Of The Keck Domes, At Mauna Kea.

Looking at the stars from the inside of one of the Keck domes, at Mauna Kea.

9 years ago

the last few days has seen me getting into very basic electronics, so here is my small robot son that yells if you get close to them


Tags
10 years ago
Light Behaves Both As A Particle And As A Wave. Since The Days Of Einstein, Scientists Have Been Trying

Light behaves both as a particle and as a wave. Since the days of Einstein, scientists have been trying to directly observe both of these aspects of light at the same time. Now, scientists at EPFL have succeeded in capturing the first-ever snapshot of this dual behavior.  

Read More - http://www.rdmag.com/videos/2015/03/first-ever-photograph-light-both-particle-and-wave

9 years ago

Math Bro sent me this and I didn’t watch it before an exam and that was a huge mistake. Always watch this before math exams. It’s important. 

8 years ago
Http://smbc-comics.com/comic/rocks

http://smbc-comics.com/comic/rocks

10 years ago

When weather.com has advice for chem sophomores

When Weather.com Has Advice For Chem Sophomores
  • uuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
    uuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh liked this · 5 years ago
  • mathlover00
    mathlover00 liked this · 5 years ago
  • mathlover00
    mathlover00 reblogged this · 5 years ago
  • onelittleappoh
    onelittleappoh liked this · 7 years ago
  • the-poet-soul
    the-poet-soul liked this · 7 years ago
  • panzerpaladin-blog
    panzerpaladin-blog liked this · 7 years ago
  • 2000ruben
    2000ruben reblogged this · 7 years ago
  • 2000ruben
    2000ruben liked this · 7 years ago
  • incante
    incante liked this · 7 years ago
  • spamandham
    spamandham liked this · 7 years ago
  • rambling-sunshine-blog
    rambling-sunshine-blog liked this · 7 years ago
  • findx
    findx reblogged this · 7 years ago
  • enrubniws1947
    enrubniws1947 reblogged this · 7 years ago
  • enrubniws1947
    enrubniws1947 liked this · 7 years ago
  • sumikadvalin-blog
    sumikadvalin-blog reblogged this · 7 years ago
  • rosst-n-found
    rosst-n-found reblogged this · 8 years ago
  • my-elles-blog
    my-elles-blog liked this · 8 years ago
  • 57crazylittlethings
    57crazylittlethings liked this · 8 years ago
  • rowechelonform
    rowechelonform reblogged this · 8 years ago
  • asstroalex
    asstroalex reblogged this · 8 years ago
  • ursekpursek
    ursekpursek liked this · 8 years ago
  • rosst-n-found
    rosst-n-found liked this · 8 years ago
  • bozonkwark
    bozonkwark reblogged this · 8 years ago
  • bonnie-tlc
    bonnie-tlc liked this · 8 years ago
  • zeliahoutcast
    zeliahoutcast liked this · 8 years ago
  • rulerofmyownplanet
    rulerofmyownplanet liked this · 8 years ago
  • deus-deceptor
    deus-deceptor liked this · 8 years ago
  • queenofeire
    queenofeire liked this · 8 years ago
  • myjourneyintocoding
    myjourneyintocoding reblogged this · 9 years ago
  • thetrdlostudies
    thetrdlostudies reblogged this · 9 years ago
  • theetoh
    theetoh reblogged this · 9 years ago
  • sleeplessmahogony
    sleeplessmahogony reblogged this · 9 years ago
  • theholychrist
    theholychrist liked this · 9 years ago
  • hickenextenuation
    hickenextenuation liked this · 9 years ago
  • chem-femme
    chem-femme reblogged this · 9 years ago
  • numenclator
    numenclator reblogged this · 9 years ago
  • the-holding-company
    the-holding-company liked this · 9 years ago
  • dbrittany
    dbrittany liked this · 9 years ago
  • 105northtower
    105northtower reblogged this · 9 years ago
vanderwaalrus - van der Waalrus
van der Waalrus

chemistry and physics

26 posts

Explore Tumblr Blog
Search Through Tumblr Tags