Friday, October 14, 2016

quantum mechanics - Gauge transformation of vector potential multiplies wavefunction by phase


Consider an electron in an electromagnetic field with scalar and vector potentials ϕ,A. Suppose for simplicity that A is time independent. Suppose also that we know the wavefunction ψ of this electron. Then ψ satisfies


iψt=[12m(ˆpeAc)2+eϕ]ψ=ˆHψ


The question concerns showing that if you perform a gauge transformation of the potentials:



AA=A+Λ

ϕϕ=ϕ1cΛt=ϕ


for some scalar Λ(t,x), the wavefunction transforms as ψψ=exp(ieΛc)ψ

i.e. it is multiplied by a phase. It is easy to show that ψ satisfies the transformed Schroedinger equation: iψt=ˆHψ


However, I would like to know if there are other possible solutions to the above equation. If so, what are they? Or, is ψ the only solution?


I tried to find other solutions by supposing ψ=fψ, where f is unknown, and then plugging this into the new Schroedinger equation. This gives a new differential equation for f. However, so far my attempts at solving this differential equation have failed.


There is probably another way (perhaps via path integrals?) of showing this that I am not aware of. Could you give me a clue, please?




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