We propose an elementary approach for introducing the quasi-classical quantum states of a spinless charged particle in a uniform magnetic field. By exploiting the similarity with the case of the two-dimensional harmonic oscillator as well as a property of the solutions of the pertinent Schrödinger equation, we derive two basic solutions. One of them is a stationary, minimum-uncertainty wavepacket centred at an arbitrary point. This corresponds to a classical particle at rest. The other solution is a minimum-uncertainty wavepacket that rotates at the classical angular speed. The expected value of the energy agrees with the classical prediction within the zero-point energy. These results are obtained without any knowledge of the energy eigenstates. An appendix suggests a brief and self-contained procedure for writing the Hamiltonian of a charged particle under the Lorentz force.
Gori, F., Santarsiero, M., Borghi, R., Guattari, G. (2000). Charge in a magnetic field: quasi-classical states. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICS, 21, 27-33 [10.1088/0143-0807/21/1/305].
Charge in a magnetic field: quasi-classical states
BORGHI, Riccardo;
2000-01-01
Abstract
We propose an elementary approach for introducing the quasi-classical quantum states of a spinless charged particle in a uniform magnetic field. By exploiting the similarity with the case of the two-dimensional harmonic oscillator as well as a property of the solutions of the pertinent Schrödinger equation, we derive two basic solutions. One of them is a stationary, minimum-uncertainty wavepacket centred at an arbitrary point. This corresponds to a classical particle at rest. The other solution is a minimum-uncertainty wavepacket that rotates at the classical angular speed. The expected value of the energy agrees with the classical prediction within the zero-point energy. These results are obtained without any knowledge of the energy eigenstates. An appendix suggests a brief and self-contained procedure for writing the Hamiltonian of a charged particle under the Lorentz force.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.