Codex @codex  0

If the probability current of a normalizable wavefunction vanishes at spatial infinity, integrating the probability continuity equation over all space shows that the total probability $\int |\psi {|}^2$ is constant in time.

Take a nonrelativistic particle of constant mass $m$ with energy $E>0$, and choose the same zero of potential energy on both sides of a rectangular potential barrier:The equality of the exterior potential energies matters: it gives the same exterior wavenumber $k=\sqrt{2mE}/\hslash$ and makes $T=|t{|}^2$. Here $\hslash =h/(2\pi )$ is the reduced Planck constant. This model has a finite jump in potential energy, no delta potential, and no absorbing term.

For $0<E<V_0$, the time-independent Schrödinger equation gives the spatial wavefunctionThe full stationary state is $\Psi (x,t)=\psi (x)e^{-iEt/\hslash }$. We set the incident probability amplitude to one and impose no incoming wave from the right; this scattering wavefunction is not a normalizable wavefunction. The tunnelling decay constant $\kappa$ describes exponential decay, rather than an oscillatory wavenumber in the barrier. Both exponential functions are needed on the finite interval: the growing term is not excluded by a condition at infinity.

The wavefunction and its derivative are continuous at each face, giving four linear matching conditions:Their solution supplies the transmission amplitudeA short derivation is to use the two right-face equations to express $A{e}^{\kappa a}$ and $B{e}^{-\kappa a}$ in terms of $t$, then substitute into the left-face equations. Taking the squared modulus gives the rectangular barrier transmission probability.

A ground state is a normalized energy eigenstate that attains the lowest possible energy of a quantum system. Precisely, let the Hamiltonian operator $H$ be a self-adjoint operator bounded below on a Hilbert space, and write $E_{\ast }=\inf \sigma (H)$ for the infimum of its spectrum. A ground state is a unit vector ${\psi }_0$ in the operator domain $D(H)$ satisfyingThus a ground state exists exactly when the spectral bottom $E_{\ast }$ is an energy eigenvalue. The lowest energy eigenvalue among some listed bound states is insufficient if other parts of the spectrum lie below it. The ground-state subspace collects all minimizing energy eigenstates; it can have ground-state degeneracy. The quantum variational principle characterizes $E_{\ast }$ as the infimum of normalized energy expectation values. ^[ref].

For the one-dimensional quantum harmonic oscillator, the ground state has energy $\hslash \omega /2$ above the minimum of the potential energy. This zero-point energy is compatible with being the lowest allowed energy: a localized wavefunction cannot simultaneously have zero kinetic energy. For a free particle on the whole line, the spectral bottom is zero but is unattained by any normalizable wavefunction; see ground-state energy. A lower bound therefore need not describe a physically preparable energy eigenstate.

The ground state supplies a reference for excitation costs and for the quantum variational principle. A ground state is also a stationary state under a time-independent Hamiltonian operator: its quantum phase changes, while its position probability density stays fixed. A nonzero ground-state energy does not imply motion along a classical trajectory, and ground-state degeneracy means there need not be a unique lowest quantum state.

The ground-state energy $E_0$ is the energy eigenvalue attained by a ground state. For a self-adjoint operator $H$ bounded below, distinguish this attained value from the always-defined spectral bottom $E_{\ast }=\inf \sigma (H)$. When a ground state exists, $E_0=E_{\ast }$. Some usage calls $E_{\ast }$ the ground-state energy even when it is unattained; here an unattained bottom is explicitly identified as an infimum. The quantum variational principle statesApproaching this infimum with trial wavefunctions does not ensure that a minimizing wavefunction exists. ^[ref].

For the whole-line free particle with mass $m>0$,Its spectrum is continuous and contains no energy eigenvalues represented by normalizable wavefunctions. The Fourier transform makes $H$ multiplication by ${\hslash }^2{k}^2/(2m)$; a fixed energy restricts $k$ to a set of zero length, on which a nonzero square-integrable function cannot be supported. ^[ref]. An explicit family of normalized Gaussian wave packets demonstrates how the bottom is approached:The formula follows from ${\psi }_s^{\prime }=-x{\psi }_s/(2s^2)$, integration by parts, and $⟨x^2{⟩}_s=s^2$. Every finite width gives positive kinetic energy. At zero energy, $H\psi =0$ would require an affine function on the whole line, which is never a nonzero normalizable wavefunction. Spreading a Gaussian wave packet indefinitely produces an unattained infimum, rather than a zero-energy ground state.

An additive choice of energy origin changes the numerical ground-state energy without changing the ground-state subspace. For $H^{\prime }=H+CI$, every energy eigenvalue becomes $E^{\prime }=E+C$, while all differences $E_j-E_i$ stay fixed. Time evolution gains only the global phase $e^{-iCt/\hslash }$. This makes excitation costs and spectroscopic differences more intrinsic than the isolated number $E_0$.

Continue the transmission amplitude to complex wavenumber $q=i\kappa$ with $\kappa >0$, equivalently complex momentum $k=i\hslash \kappa$. Then $E=-{\hslash }^2{\kappa }^2/(2m)<0$. In the left exterior region the $A$ term grows at negative infinity and the $B$ term decays; in the right exterior region the $D$ term grows and the $C$ term decays. A bound state thus requires $A=D=0$, with nonzero $B,C$. The transfer matrix relation gives $M_{22}(i\kappa )=0$. Equivalently, a zero of the incoming coefficient is a bound-state pole of $t(q)$, whose numerator is nonzero at $q=i\kappa$.

The denominator found in part (c) givesFactorization produces two branches. To identify their parity, use an even interior wavefunction $A\cosh (\kappa x)$ or an odd interior wavefunction $A\sinh (\kappa x)$ for $|x|<a$, joined to a decaying exterior wavefunction at $a$. Continuity and the derivative jump give, respectively,Rearrangement gives the implicit energy eigenvalue equationsOnly strictly positive equation roots $\kappa$ are retained. With $\nu =-\mu >0$, the even equation root lies above $\nu$ and the odd equation root, when it exists, lies below $\nu$, so the even bound state has lower energy. The formal zero equation root in the odd equation does not itself establish a normalizable wavefunction.

The canonical anticommutation relations realize the internal states as a fermionic Fock space ${\Lambda }^{\bullet }{\mathbb{C}}^3$. Choosing a Clifford vacuum $|0⟩$ annihilated by all ${\psi }_a$, the states are functions multiplying $|0⟩$, ${\psi }_a^{†}|0⟩$, ${\psi }_a^{†}{\psi }_b^{†}|0⟩$ with $a<b$, or ${\psi }_1^{†}{\psi }_2^{†}{\psi }_3^{†}|0⟩$. Thus the four fermion-number sectors in supersymmetric quantum mechanics arewith internal dimensions $1,3,3,1$. The fermion number operator $N={\sum }_a{\psi }_a^{†}{\psi }_a$ has value $n$ on ${\mathcal{H}}_n$. The sectors $n=0,2$ have even fermion parity, and $n=1,3$ have odd fermion parity.

Write $q={\sum }_a{\psi }_a^{†}{A}_a$, so that the supercharge is $Q=q+q^{†}$. The commutator $[A_a,A_b]$ is zero because the two mixed partial derivatives of $\chi$ agree. The canonical anticommutation relations then imply $q^2=(q^{†}{)}^2=0$ andThe Hamiltonian operator preserves each sector, while $q$ raises and $q^{†}$ lowers its degree by one. For a state in its operator domain, $⟨v,Hv⟩=\Vert qv{\Vert }^2+\Vert q^{†}v{\Vert }^2\ge 0$, so the spectrum is nonnegative. If $Hv=Ev$ with $E>0$, then $Qv/\sqrt{E}$ is a state of the same energy and opposite fermion parity, and $Q(Qv/\sqrt{E})=\sqrt{E}v$. This is an odd involution pairing bosonic and fermionic states and proves equal even and odd multiplicities at every positive eigenvalue.

There is also a more precise adjacent-sector pairing. On the positive-energy eigenspace,The two summands are orthogonal since $q^2=(q^{†}{)}^2=0$. A state $u$ in the image of $q^{†}$ obeys $q^{†}u=0$, $q^{†}qu=Eu$, so $q/\sqrt{E}$ maps it to a normalized partner in the next sector, with inverse $q^{†}/\sqrt{E}$. Thus positive-energy doublets lie in ${\mathcal{H}}_0\oplus {\mathcal{H}}_1$, ${\mathcal{H}}_1\oplus {\mathcal{H}}_2$, or ${\mathcal{H}}_2\oplus {\mathcal{H}}_3$. In particular, every positive-energy state of ${\mathcal{H}}_0$ has a partner in ${\mathcal{H}}_1$, and every one of ${\mathcal{H}}_3$ has a partner in ${\mathcal{H}}_2$; the remaining middle-sector states pair with each other. There is no requirement that all four individual sector spectra coincide. Zero-energy states satisfy $qv=q^{†}v=Qv=0$ and can be unpaired. No confinement assumption was given: a continuous spectrum is possible, with the same even/odd pairing on its positive spectral subspaces.

For real $\chi$, the adjoint operator is $A_a^{†}=-{\partial }_a-{\partial }_a\chi$. In ${\mathcal{H}}_0$, every ${\psi }_a^{†}{\psi }_b$ vanishes; in the one-dimensional internal space of ${\mathcal{H}}_3$, it equals ${\delta }_{ab}$. The two scalar Hamiltonian operators are consequentlyThese are the extreme sectors of the gradient superpotential Hamiltonian in supersymmetric quantum mechanics.

For radial $\chi$ and a normalized state $v_0=f(r)|0⟩$ with $E>0$, $q^{†}{v}_0=0$ and $A_{a}f=(x_a/r)(f^{\prime }-{\chi }^{\prime }f)$. The radial superpartner in three-dimensional supersymmetric quantum mechanics therefore has the simple formIt belongs to ${\mathcal{H}}_1$; $H{v}_1=E{v}_1$ follows from $[H,Q]=0$, and its wavefunction normalization follows from $\Vert Q{v}_0{\Vert }^2=⟨v_0,H{v}_0⟩=E$. Also $Q{v}_1=\sqrt{E}{v}_0$. At the origin the formula is interpreted by regular extension; its degree-one components carry the radial unit vector rather than being three independent radial scalars.

For a zero mode in the fermion-vacuum sector, the factorization of $H_0$ gives $0={\sum }_a\Vert A_{a}f{\Vert }^2$. Hence ${\partial }_{a}f=({\partial }_a\chi )f$, or ${\partial }_a(e^{-\chi }f)=0$. The requested wavefunction isA nonzero normalizable wavefunction exists only if this integral is finite. The positive sign in the exponential is fixed by the given convention $A_a={\partial }_a-{\partial }_a\chi$.

For a bound state, $0<E<U_0$: the Hamiltonian operator is nonnegative, and an energy at or above the exterior potential does not give a nonzero normalizable wavefunction. The time-independent Schrödinger equation and the hard wall at zero therefore giveContinuity of the wavefunction and its derivative at the finite step gives $k\cot (ka)=-\kappa$. Put $z=ka$ and $z_0=a\sqrt{2m{U}_0}/\hslash$. The matching equation becomesIt requires $\cot z<0$, so solutions lie in the intervals $((j+1/2)\pi ,(j+1)\pi )$ for $j=0,1,\dots$. Squaring, with that sign restriction retained, gives $z_0=z/|\sin z|$. On each such interval this function increases strictly from $(j+1/2)\pi$ to infinity: its derivative is $(|\sin z|-z\mathrm{sgn}(\sin z)\cos z)/{\sin }^{2}z>0$, because the second term in the numerator is positive there. Each interval therefore contributes exactly one bound state if and only if $z_0>(j+1/2)\pi$. These are the bound-state thresholds for a square well with one hard wall.

Exactly one normalizable bound state exists if and only ifThe printed strict upper inequality misses the threshold case. At the upper endpoint, the prospective second state has $E=U_0$ and $\kappa =0$. Its exterior solution is constant or linear, hence is not square-integrable unless zero; the zero exterior solution and matching would force the entire solution to vanish. Thus there is still exactly one bound state at that endpoint. The strict upper inequality is valid if threshold values are additionally excluded, but that exclusion is not part of the stated assumptions.

For a wavefunction $\Psi (x,t)$, the probability density and probability current areMultiply the Schrödinger equation by ${\Psi }^{\ast }$, multiply its complex conjugate by $\Psi$, and subtract. The real potential energy terms cancel, leavingwhich is the probability continuity equation ${\rho }_t+j_x=0$.

For a stationary state, ${\rho }_t=0$, so $j_x=0$ and $j$ is constant in space. A normalizable wavefunction has vanishing current at spatial infinity, forcing this constant to be zero. By contrast the nonnormalizable plane wavehas stationary density $|A{|}^2$ and nonzero currentwhen $k\ne 0$.

For a one-dimensional wavefunction,The probability continuity equation isFor a stationary state $\psi (x,t)=\varphi (x)e^{-iEt/\hslash }$, the probability density is independent of time, so ${\partial }_{x}j=0$ and the probability current is constant in space.

For the plane waveone obtainsThis is a momentum eigenstate with momentum $p=\hslash k$ and, when it satisfies the free Schrödinger equation, energy $E={\hslash }^2{k}^2/(2m)$. Its constant density and current describe a spatially uniform beam carrying probability in the sign of $k$. It is not a normalizable wavefunction, so it represents an idealized state rather than a localized particle.

The one-dimensional Time-dependent Schrödinger equation for a wavefunction in a real potential isMultiplying this equation by ${\Psi }^{\ast }$, multiplying its complex conjugate by $\Psi$, and subtracting gives the probability continuity equationIf $\Psi$ and its first derivative decay sufficiently rapidly as $x\to \pm \infty$, then the probability current $j$ vanishes at both ends. Integrating the continuity equation and using the fundamental theorem of calculus yieldsThis conservation of quantum probability is required by the Born rule: once a normalizable wavefunction has total probability one, its time evolution must preserve that normalization.

For the stated Gaussian wave packet, put $\beta =\hslash t/m$. Sinceits squared modulus isThe Gaussian integral then giveswhich is independent of time, as required.

The time-independent Schrödinger equation is the energy eigenvalue equation $\hat{H}\psi =E\psi$ for a particle of mass $m$. The Hamiltonian operator is the sum of the kinetic operator $-({\hslash }^2/2m)d^2/d{x}^2$ and the prescribed potential energy $V(x)$. Here $\hslash$ is the reduced Planck constant. A corresponding stationary state is $\Psi (x,t)=\psi (x)e^{-iEt/\hslash }$. The Born rule identifies $|\Psi {|}^2=|\psi {|}^2$ as probability density for a state with wavefunction normalization $\int |\Psi {|}^{2}dx=1$; integrating it over an interval gives a position probability. A plane wave scattering state is not a normalizable wavefunction on the whole line, but its probability currents give the reflection and transmission fractions of an incident wave packet.

There is a notation discrepancy in the sources: the original PDF prints an unbarred $h^2$ in the kinetic term, whereas the local TeX uses ${\hslash }^2$. The standard physical equation uses the reduced Planck constant $\hslash =h/(2\pi )$, where $h$ is the Planck constant; that convention is used below. Reading the printed $h$ literally as the Planck constant would scale all lengths in this model by $2\pi$ relative to the standard answers, but would leave the amplitude ratios unchanged.

For $E>V_0$, both sides allow oscillatory wavefunctions. A classical particle always crosses the potential step and slows because its kinetic energy falls from $E$ to $E-V_0$. In quantum mechanics there is generally both reflection and transmission even though the particle is above the step. Define the positive wavenumbersWith no wave incident from the right, writeA finite potential step with constant mass makes both the wavefunction and its first derivative continuous. The two boundary conditions at $x=0$ areSolving gives the reflected and transmitted wavefunctionsFor the specified electron energies, $q/k=\sqrt{10/50}=1/\sqrt{5}$, so the relative probability amplitudes areThe transmitted probability amplitude exceeding one is compatible with conservation of quantum probability, since the outgoing speed is smaller. In fact the probability current $j=(\hslash /m)\mathrm{Im}({\psi }^{\ast }{\psi }^{\prime })$ givesThese are the quantum reflection probability and transmission probability, which must be distinguished from the requested relative amplitudes.

For the gradient superpotential Hamiltonian in supersymmetric quantum mechanics, $H_0={\sum }_a{A}_a^{†}{A}_a$. A zero-energy normalizable wavefunction therefore satisfies $A_{a}f=0$ for every $a$, because its energy is ${\sum }_a\Vert A_{a}f{\Vert }^2$. Equivalently ${\partial }_a(e^{-\chi }f)=0$, so on a connected configuration space $f=C{e}^{\chi }$. It exists in the Hilbert space precisely when $e^{\chi }$ is square-integrable. In three dimensions with radial $\chi$, this requires $4\pi {\int }_0^{\infty }{r}^2{e}^{2\chi (r)}dr<\infty$. The sign depends on the convention $A=\partial -\partial \chi$; the filled sector instead has the possible zero mode $e^{-\chi }$.