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Homework Statement
For a particle of charge ##q## in a potential ##\frac{1}{2}m\omega^2x^2##, the wavefunction of ground state is given as ##\phi_0 = \left( \frac{m\omega }{\pi \hbar} \right)^{\frac{1}{4}} exp \left( -\frac{m\omega}{2\hbar} x^2 \right)##.
Now an external electric field ##E## is applied.
Part (a): Find the new energies and wavefunction of the ground state.
Part (b): Find the probability that the particle will be in the ground state of the new potential.
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
The Hamiltonian now becomes:
[tex]H = \frac{p^2}{2m} + \frac{1}{2} m\omega^2 \left(x - \frac{qE}{m\omega^2} \right)^2 - \frac{q^2E^2}{2m\omega^2} [/tex]
Thus the shift in energy is ## \frac{q^2E^2}{2m\omega^2} ##. New energies are given by: ##E_n = (n+1)\hbar \omega - \frac{q^2E^2}{2m\omega^2} ##.
This represents a displaced harmonic oscillator, with eigenfunction:
[tex]\phi_0 \space ' = \left( \frac{m\omega}{\hbar \pi} \right)^{\frac{1}{4}} e^{-\alpha (x-\frac{qE}{m\omega^2})^2 } [/tex]
Part(b)
Do I overlap this state with the old one and integrate?
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