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One of the simplest examples of non-trivial time-dependent states is that of an equal mix, two-state superposition in the infinite square well.5 The position- and momentum-space wave functions are just
Ψn1n2(x,t) = 2−1/2 [ψn1(x,t) + ψn2(x,t)] , (10.20)
and
Φn1n2(p,t) = 2−1/2 [φn1(p,t) + φn2(p,t)] , (10.21)
where ψn(x,t) = exp(−iEnt/ħ) ψn(x) and φn2(p,t) = exp(−iEnt/ħ) φn(p). We can write these wave functions in a way that stresses their relative phases:
Ψn1n2(x,t) = 2−1/2 exp(−iEn1t/ħ) [ψn1(x,t) + exp(−i(En2 − En1)t/ħ) ψn2 (x,t)] , (10.22)
and
Φn1n2(p,t) = 2−1/2 exp(−iEn1t/ħ) [φn1(p,t) + exp(−i(En2 − En1)t/ħ) φn2(p,t)] . (10.23)
In this case there is a time-dependent relative phase that depends on the difference in energy eigenvalues and an overall time-dependent phase in Eqs. (10.22) and (10.23).
The animation depicts the time dependence of an arbitrary equal-mix two-state superposition. Restart. The time is given in terms of the time it takes the ground-state wave function to return to its original phase, i.e., Δt = 1 corresponds to an elapsed time of 2πħ/E1. You can change n1 and n2, the default values, n1 = 1 and n2 = 2 represent the standard case treated in almost every textbook. Explore the time-dependent form of the position-space and momentum-space wave functions for other n1 and n2.
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5One of the earliest pedagogical visualizations of the time dependence of such a two-state system is by C. Dean, "Simple Schrödinger Wave Functions Which Simulate Classical Radiating Systems," Am. J. Phys. 27, 161-163 (1959).