4.I.6B

Quantum Mechanics
Part IB, 2007

A particle moving in one space dimension with wave-function Ψ(x,t)\Psi(x, t) obeys the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. Write down the probability density, ρ\rho, and current density, jj, in terms of the wave-function and show that they obey the equation

jx+ρt=0\frac{\partial j}{\partial x}+\frac{\partial \rho}{\partial t}=0

The wave-function is

Ψ(x,t)=(eikx+Reikx)eiEt/,\Psi(x, t)=\left(e^{i k x}+R e^{-i k x}\right) e^{-i E t / \hbar},

where E=2k2/2mE=\hbar^{2} k^{2} / 2 m and RR is a constant, which may be complex. Evaluate jj.