What is wrong with the following argument? We know that the functions n (x) = 2/a

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What is wrong with the following argument? We know that the functions ψ n (x) = √2/a sin(nπ x/a) are eigenfunctions of the total energy operator for the particle in the infinitely deep box. We also know that in the box, E = P2x/2m + V(x) = P2x/2m. Therefore, the operator for E total is proportional to the operator for p2x. Because the operators for p2x and px commute as you can easily demonstrate, the functions ψ n (x) = √2/a sin (nπ x/a) are eigenfunctions of both the total energy and momentum operators.

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Physical Chemistry

ISBN: 978-0321812001

3rd edition

Authors: Thomas Engel, Philip Reid

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