Gaussian evolution in an inverted harmonic oscillator Created 2026-10-14 Updated 2026-10-18
For the Hamiltonian , a Gaussian wave packet satisfies and . The displayed solution is normalizable for real exactly when ; its second moments of a complex Gaussian wave packet areBoth grow as , while their difference and hence the mean energy remain constant.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2002 ib Paper 2 18D c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Write with . Normalization of the Gaussian wave packet gives , hence . The supplied Gaussian integral ratio then givesThe momentum operator obeys , and direct second differentiation gives . Taking the expectation value and substituting the first result givessince . These are the second moments of a complex Gaussian wave packet.
For the solution in part (b), the trigonometric identitygives, writing ,Thus normalizability requires , and the exact expectation values areSince ,Their difference is the constant , so the mean energy stays constant despite exponential spreading in both observables.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ib Paper 4 15A iv Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Normalizability requires . Sincethe given Gaussian integral givesAlso , so integration by parts yieldsThereforeThese are the second moments of a complex Gaussian wave packet.