Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-quantum-theory-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2015/1/a/iii/solution
Past exam of the quantum theory course of the University of Oxford 2015 1 a iii Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-31
By linearity of the time-independent Schrödinger equation, the even and odd partseach satisfy the same energy eigenvalue equation whenever they are nonzero. They obey and , so they have definite parity. At least one is nonzero, and . Each nonzero part can be normalized separately.
Therefore a basis of stationary solutions can be chosen to have definite parity, and solving the even and odd sectors loses no energy eigenvalues. This does not assert that every possible quantum superposition has definite parity; a superposition of the two sectors need not. For one-dimensional bound states in the usual regular setting, nondegeneracy of one-dimensional bound states further implies that each individual energy eigenstate has definite parity.
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