Analytic results for Gaussian wave packets in four model systems: I. Visualization of the kinetic energy

R. W. Robinett, L. C. Bassett

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using Gaussian wave packet solutions, we examine how the kinetic energy is distributed in time-dependent solutions of the Schrödinger equation corresponding to the cases of a free particle, a particle undergoing uniform acceleration, a particle in a harmonic oscillator potential, and a system corresponding to an unstable equilibrium. We find, for specific choices of initial parameters, that as much as 90% of the kinetic energy can be localized (at least conceptually) in the 'front half' of such Gaussian wave packets, and we visualize these effects.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)607-625
Number of pages19
JournalFoundations of Physics Letters
Volume17
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2004

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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