- #1
arunma
- 927
- 4
I have a question on complex analysis. Given a differential equation,
[tex]\dfrac{d^2 \psi}{dx^2} + k ^2 \psi = 0[/tex]
we know that the general solution (before imposing any boundary conditions) is,
[tex]\psi (x) = A cos(kx)+B sin(kx)[/tex].
Now here's something I don't quite understand. The solution,
[tex]\psi (x) = A'e^i ^k ^x + B'e^-^i ^k ^x[/tex]
also works. I'm told that there's a way to rewrite one solution in terms of the other, and solve for the coefficients A and B in terms of A' and B'. But when I write the sines and cosines in terms of imaginary exponentials, I find that one set of coefficients must be complex valued. Is there any way to write [tex]\psi (x)[/tex] in both ways, but keep all the coefficients real?
In case anyone's wondering, I'm asking because this expression is the solution to the differential equations that pop up on quantum mechanics problems on my PhD qualifier (which is in a month and a half).
[tex]\dfrac{d^2 \psi}{dx^2} + k ^2 \psi = 0[/tex]
we know that the general solution (before imposing any boundary conditions) is,
[tex]\psi (x) = A cos(kx)+B sin(kx)[/tex].
Now here's something I don't quite understand. The solution,
[tex]\psi (x) = A'e^i ^k ^x + B'e^-^i ^k ^x[/tex]
also works. I'm told that there's a way to rewrite one solution in terms of the other, and solve for the coefficients A and B in terms of A' and B'. But when I write the sines and cosines in terms of imaginary exponentials, I find that one set of coefficients must be complex valued. Is there any way to write [tex]\psi (x)[/tex] in both ways, but keep all the coefficients real?
In case anyone's wondering, I'm asking because this expression is the solution to the differential equations that pop up on quantum mechanics problems on my PhD qualifier (which is in a month and a half).