Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2023 / ib / Paper 1 / 14D / d / Solution

For $\psi (x)=C{e}^{-\alpha x^2}$,The stationary Schrodinger equation becomesHence, choosing the positive root and a positive normalization constant,The state is even, so $⟨x⟩=⟨p⟩=0$. The Gaussian integrals giveand therefore $\Delta x\Delta p=\hslash /2$. These values are collected in gaussian eigenstate for a quadratic potential.

Finally, equality in the derivation of the uncertainty relation requires the centred vectors to be linearly dependent with a purely imaginary proportionality constant. Thus for some $s>0$,In position space this sayswhose normalizable solutions areThus every saturating state is Gaussian up to translation, a plane-wave factor, and an overall phase, as in the equality case of the Heisenberg uncertainty relation.