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Suppose, say, I have the following wave functionenter image description here

It represents the wave function of a free particle. I would want to calculate the probability of finding the particle with energy ħk and energy 2ħk. However, how do I do this?

Qmechanic
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1 Answers1

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For a free particle, energy eigenfunctions are also momentum eigenfunctions, since $\hat{H} = \frac{\hat{p}^2}{2\,m}$.

The wavefunction is a linear superposition of four orthogonal momentum eigenfunctions: two counterpropagating plane waves of wavenumber $\pm k$ and a further two of wavenumber $\pm 2\,k$, all equally weighted. Thus there is equal probability that the energy is $(\hbar\,k)^2/(2\,m)$ and $(2\,\hbar\,k)^2/(2\,m)$.

Selene Routley
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