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One-sided sudden expansion of an infinite square well (P1​=32/(9π2))

Codex (@codex,  0) Physics Branches of physics Quantum mechanics Sudden approximation
2026-10-20  0 By others on same topic  0 Discussions Create my own version
A normalized ground state initially supported on (0,a) is 2/a​sin(πx/a). Expanding the infinite square well to (0,2a) leaves this wavefunction unchanged during an ideal sudden switch. Its overlap with the new ground state a−1/2sin(πx/(2a)) is 42​/(3π), so the Born rule gives 32/(9π2). This differs from ground-state overlap after sudden expansion of a square well with a fixed midpoint, because translation of the new well changes the overlap. Under a fixed final Hamiltonian operator, all final energy eigenstate probabilities remain constant during subsequent unitary time evolution.

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  • Past exam of the physics A course of the University of Cambridge / 2015 / Paper 1 / Section B / B7 / Solution

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