Does the mod square of the wave function always have to be real?

In summary, the person is seeking help with a worked example in Griffiths' intro to QM and is confused by the disappearance of isin(2πt/h(E2-E1)) in the last line. They suspect it may be due to simplification using trig identities. They are asked to show their work for the product of two expressions in parentheses.
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Plaetean
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Homework Statement


Doing a bit of QM from Griffiths intro to QM and got stuck early on on the following worked example:

http://imgur.com/6aPVGIr

I was under the impression that the mod square of the wave function ψ(x,t) should always be a positive, real number, but I cannot understand where the isin(2πt/h(E2-E1)) has gone in the last line. Perhaps I'm missing some simplification using trig identities perhaps?


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

 
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  • #2
In the next to last equality of the example, there is a product of two expressions in parentheses. Show us what you get when you multiply this out.
 
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FAQ: Does the mod square of the wave function always have to be real?

What is the mod square of a wave function?

The mod square of a wave function is the square of the absolute value of the wave function. It is used to determine the probability of finding a particle in a specific location.

Is the mod square of a wave function always real?

No, the mod square of a wave function can be complex. This means that it has both a real and imaginary component. However, the overall probability must still be a real number.

Why is it important for the mod square of a wave function to be real?

The mod square of a wave function represents the probability of finding a particle in a specific location. This probability must be a real number in order for it to be physically meaningful and measurable.

Can the mod square of a wave function be negative?

No, the mod square of a wave function cannot be negative. Since it represents a probability, it must be a positive real number. A negative value would have no physical significance.

How does the mod square of a wave function relate to quantum mechanics?

The mod square of a wave function is a key concept in quantum mechanics. It is used to calculate the probability of a particle's position and is a fundamental part of the Schrödinger equation, which describes the behavior of quantum systems.

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