I am trying to proof explicitly that Schrodinger equation: iℏ∂tψ=[−12m(ℏi∇−q→A)2+qV]ψ
remains the same under the following gauge transformation:
ψ→eiqΛ/ℏψ
where ∂t stands for the time derivative operator.
However, I am having problems with the algebra, so I will show my procedure with the hopes that someone point to an error:
Left side of equation iℏ∂t(eiqΛ/ℏψ)=ih(eiqΛ/ℏ∂tψ+iqℏeiqΛ/ℏψ∂tΛ)=iheiqΛ/ℏ∂tψ−qeiqΛ/ℏψ∂tΛ
Right side of equation [12m(ℏi∇−q(→A+∇Λ))2+q(V−∂tΛ)]=
It is possible to observe that the last term in both (the right and left) sides cancel each other. Then, using:
∇(eiqΛ/ℏψ)=eiqΛ/ℏ∇ψ+iqhψ∇Λ
∇2(eiqΛ/ℏψ)=eiqΛ/ℏ∇2ψ+2iqℏeiqΛ/ℏ(∇Λ)(∇ψ)+ψiqℏeiqΛ/ℏ∇2Λ−q2ℏ2ψeiqΛ/ℏ(∇Λ)2
we then obtain (by applying operators and canceling all the eiqΛ/ℏ ):
iℏ∂tψ=12m[−ℏ2∇2ψ−2iqh(∇Λ)(∇ψ)−iqℏψ∇2Λ+q2ψ(∇Λ)2+iqℏ(∇⋅→A)ψ+iqℏ∇2Λψ+iqℏ(→A⋅∇ψ)−q2ψ(→A⋅∇Λ)+iqℏ(∇Λ)(∇ψ)−q2ψ(∇Λ)2+q2→A2+2q2(→A⋅∇Λ)ψ+q2(∇Λ)2ψ]+qVψ
cancelling some terms, and rearranging:
iℏ∂tψ=12m[−ℏ2∇2ψ+iqℏ(∇⋅→A)ψ+iqℏ(→A⋅∇ψ)+q2→A2−2iqh(∇Λ)(∇ψ)+q2ψ(∇Λ)2−q2ψ(→A⋅∇Λ)+iqℏ(∇Λ)(∇ψ)+2q2(→A⋅∇Λ)ψ]+qVψ
after more reordering:
iℏ∂tψ=12m[(ℏi∇−q→A)2]+qVψ+12m[−iqh(∇Λ)(∇ψ)+q2ψ(∇Λ)2+q2(→A⋅∇Λ)ψ]
It is possible to observe that the original schrodinger equation is up there, but with an extra part in the right side, this extra part is: 12m[−iqh(∇Λ)(∇ψ)+q2ψ(∇Λ)2+q2(→A⋅∇Λ)ψ]
So am wondering, is this extra part some how 0, or am I making a mistake. Also I don't know how to make the algebra "nicer" to follow, if there is anything I can do please comment.
Answer
Actually, Schroedinger equation −iℏ∂tψ+[−12m(ℏi∇−q→A)2+qV]ψ=0
ψ→ψ′=eiqΛ/ℏψ
does not remain invariant, but the left-hand side of (0) gives rise to −iℏ∂tψ′+[−12m(ℏi∇−q→A′)2+qV′]ψ′=eiqΛ/ℏ{−iℏ∂tψ+[−12m(ℏi∇−q→A)2+qV]ψ}.
In summary, since eiqΛ/ℏ≠0,
gauge transformed quantities satisfy Schroedinger equation if untranformed quantities do.
To prove it, avoid brute force computations as yours which give rise to unavoidable mistakes almost certainly and go on as follows. First rewrite the initial equation as −[iℏ∂t−qV]ψ−12m(ℏi∇−q→A)2ψ=0
[iℏ∂t−qV′]ψ′=[iℏ∂t−q(V−∂tΛ)]eiqΛ/ℏψ=eiqΛ/ℏ[iℏ∂t−qV]ψ
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