The Variational Method: Solved Problems

1. Compute the variational upper bounds for the ground state energy of a particle in the linear
potential

V (x) = α | x |

and in the quartic potential

V (x) = α x4

using the Gaussian trial wavefunction

2
ψ(x) = A e−bx .
1
(a) Calculate the normalization constant A. You should find A = (2b/π) 4 .

(b) Calculate the expectation value of the kinetic energy < T > for the Gaussian trial wavefunc-
tion. Explain why this calculation is the same for the linear and quartic potentials. You
should find < T > = (h̄2 b/2m).

(c) Calculate the expectation value of the potential energy < V >√for the Gaussian trial wave-
function in the linear potential. You should find < V > = (α/ 2πb).

(d) Calculate the expectation value of the total energy < H > for the Gaussian trial wavefunction
in the linear potential by adding the expectation values of the kinetic and potential energy
< H > = < T > + < V >. Then find the value √ of b that minimizes the expectation value of
2
the total energy. You should find b = (mα/ 2πh̄2 ) 3 .

(e) Calculate the minimum of the expectation value of the total energy < H > for the Gaussian
1
trial wavefunction in the linear potential. You should find < H >min = 32 (α2 h̄2 /2πm) 3 .

(f) Calculate the expectation value of the potential energy < V > for the Gaussian trial wave-
function in the quartic potential. You should find < V > = (3α/16b2 ).

(g) Calculate the expectation value of the total energy < H > for the Gaussian trial wavefunction
in the quartic potential by adding the expectation values of the kinetic and potential energy
< H > = < T > + < V >. Then find the value of b that minimizes the expectation value of
1
the total energy. You should find b = (3αm/4h̄2 ) 3 .

(h) Calculate the minimum of the expectation value of the total energy < H > for the Gaussian
1
trial wavefunction in the quartic potential. You should find < H >min = 34 (3αh̄4 /4m2 ) 3 .

1
This problem involves the linear and quartic potentials and the Gaussian trial wavefunction:
2
V (x) = α|x|, V (x) = αx4 and ψ(x) = Ae−bx .

1.(a) First, calculate the normalization constant:

Z ∞ ³ ´∗ Z ∞
r
−bx2 −bx2 2 −2bx2 2 π
< ψ|ψ > = 1 = Ae Ae dx = |A| e dx = |A|
−∞ −∞ 2b

µ ¶1/4
2b
⇒ A= .
π

1.(b) Next, calculate the expectation value of the kinetic energy. Note that this will be exactly the
same for both potentials, so we only need to do it once:
Z ∞ ³ ´∗ µ h̄2 d2
¶
h̄2
Z ∞
d2 −bx2
−bx2 −bx2 2 2
hT i = hψ|T |ψi = Ae − Ae dx = −|A| e−bx e dx.
−∞ 2m dx2 2m −∞ dx2

We need the second derivative, so calculating we find

d −bx2 2
e = −2bxe−bx
dx

d2 −bx2 d ³ −bx2
´ ³
−bx2 −bx2
´ 2 2
⇒ 2
e = −2bxe = −2b e + x(−2bx)e = −2be−bx + 4b2 x2 e−bx .
dx dx
So, the expectation value of the kinetic energy becomes
Z ³ ´
h̄2 2
∞
2 2 2
hT i = −|A| e−bx −2be−bx + 4b2 x2 e−bx dx
2m −∞
2 · Z ∞ Z ∞ ¸
2 h̄ −2bx2 2 2 −bx2
= −|A| −2b e dx + 4b x e dx
2m −∞ −∞
µ ¶1/2 2 · r r ¸
2b h̄ π 2 1 π
=− −2b + 4b
π 2m 2b 2(2b) 2b
" r r r r #
2
h̄ 2b π 2b π h̄2
= 2b −b = [2b − b]
2m π 2b π 2b 2m

h̄2 b
⇒ hT i = .
2m

2
Note that the second integral can be evaluated using form 15.3.1.26 on page 249 of Handbook of
Mathematical Formulas and Integrals by Jeffrey,
Z ∞ r
2n −px2 (2n − 1) · · · 5 · 3 · 1 π
x e dx = for p > 0, and n = 0, 1, 2, 3, . . .
0 2(2p)n p

For our integral, we have n = 1 and p = 2b.

1.(c) Now consider the expectation value of the potential energy for V (x) = α|x|. We must calculate
Z ∞ ³ ´∗ Z ∞ Z ∞
−bx2 −bx2 2 −2bx2 2 2
hV i = hψ|V |ψi = Ae (α|x|) Ae dx = αA |x|e dx = 2αA xe−2bx dx.
−∞ −∞ 0

Form 15.3.1.27 on page 249 of Handbook of Mathematical Formulas and Integrals by Jeffrey, is
Z ∞
2 n!
x2n+1 e−px dx = for p > 0, and n = 0, 1, 2, 3, . . . ,
0 2pn+1

which has the form of our < V > integral with n = 0 and p = 2b. So, we obtain
Z ∞
r
2 −2bx2 2αA2 (0!) 2α 2b
2αA xe dx = =
0 2(2b) 4b π

α
⇒ hV i = √ .
2πb

1.(d) The expectation value of the total energy is the sum of the expectation values of the kinetic
energy and the potential energy, so we have

h̄2 b α
hHi = hT i + hV i = +√ .
2m 2πb

The variational parameter in the trial wavefunction is b. We will find the value of b which minimizes
the total energy by taking the partial derivative with respect to b, and then solving for the value
of b which makes the derivative equal to zero:
µ ¶
∂ h̄2 α h̄2 1 α 1
b + √ b−1/2 = − √ =0
∂b 2m 2π 2m 2 2π b3/2

3/2 α 2m αm
⇒ b0 = √ 2 =
√
2 2π h̄ 2πh̄2

µ ¶2/3
αm
⇒ b0 = √ .
2πh̄2

3
Here b0 denotes the value of b which minimizes the total energy.
1.(e) Now that we have b0 , we can substitute it into the total energy expression to obtain the
minimum energy hHi:

h̄2 b0 α
hHi = hT i + hV i = +√
2m 2πb0
2 µ ¶2/3
h̄ αm α
= √ +·
2m 2πh̄2 ³ ´2/3 ¸1/2
αm
2π √
2πh̄2

h̄2 α2/3 m2/3 α21/6 π 1/6 h̄2/3

= +
m24/3 π1/3 h̄4/3 21/2 π1/2 α1/3 m1/3
1 h̄2/3 α2/3 h̄2/3 α2/3
= +
2 21/3 π1/3 m1/3 21/3 π 1/3 m1/3

µ ¶1/3
3 h̄2 α2
⇒ hHimin = .
2 2πm

1.(f) Now we will go through the analogous procedure for the quartic potential. The expectation
value of the potential energy V (x) = αx4 , is given by
Z ∞³ ´∗ ¡ Z ∞
−bx2 4
¢ −bx2 2 2
hV i = hψ|V |ψi = Ae αx Ae dx = αA x4 e−2bx dx
−∞ −∞
Z ∞
2
= 2αA2 x4 e−2bx dx .
0

Form 15.3.1.26 on page 249 of Jeffrey is

Z ∞ r
2n −px2 (2n − 1) · · · 5 · 3 · 1 π
x e dx = for p > 0, and n = 0, 1, 2, 3, . . .
0 2(2p)n p

This is the form of our < V > integral, with n = 2 and p = 2b. So our integral is given by
Z ∞ r r r
2
2 2αA 3 · 1 π 3α 2b π
2αA2 x4 e−2bx dx = 2
= 2
0 2(2 · 2b) 2b 16b π 2b

3α
⇒ hV i = .
16b2

1.(g) Now the expectation value of the total energy is given by

h̄2 b 3α
hHi = hT i + hV i = + .
2m 16b2

4
Minimizing the total energy by taking the partial derivative with respect to b, and then finding
the value of b that makes the derivative equal to zero, we find
µ ¶
d h̄2 3α −2 h̄2 3α 1
b+ b = −2 =0
db 2m 16 2m 16 b3

3α 2m
⇒ b30 =
8 h̄2

µ ¶1/3
3αm
⇒ b0 = .
4h̄2

1.(h) Now, using b0 to obtain the minimum value of hHi, we find

h̄2 b0 3α
hHimin = hT i + hV i = +
2m 16b20
µ ¶1/3 µ ¶2/3
h̄2 3αm 3α 4h̄2
= +
2m 4h̄2 16 3αm
h̄2 31/3 α1/3 m1/3 3α 42/3 h̄4/3
= +
2m 41/3 h̄2/3 16 32/3 α2/3 m2/3
1 h̄4/3 31/3 α1/3 1 h̄4/3 31/3 α1/3
= +
2 m2/3 41/3 4 m2/3 41/3

µ ¶1/3
3 3αh̄4
⇒ hHimin = .
4 4m2

5
2. Compute the variational upper bound for the ground state energy of a particle in a harmonic
oscillator using the trial wavefunction

ψ(x) = A [x2 + b2 ]−1 .

1
(a) Calculate the normalization constant A. You should find A = (2b3 /π) 2 .

(b) Calculate the expectation value of the kinetic energy < T > for this trial wavefunction. You
should find < T > = (h̄2 /4mb2 ).

(c) Calculate the expectation value of the potential energy < V > for this trial wavefunction in
the harmonic oscillator potential. You should find < V > = 12 mω 2 b2 .

(d) Calculate the expectation value of the total energy < H > for this trial wavefunction in the
harmonic oscillator potential by adding the expectation values of the kinetic and potential
energy < H > = < T > + < V >. Then find the √ value of b that minimizes the expectation
value of the total energy. You should find b2 = (h̄/ 2 mω).

(e) Calculate the minimum of the expectation value of the total energy < H > for
√ this wavefunc-
tion in the harmonic oscillator potential. You should find < H >min = ( 2 h̄ω/2). Note
that this upper bound is about 40 percent larger than the true ground state energy 12 h̄ω.

2.(a) First, calculate the normalization constant for the wave function
¡ ¢−1
ψ(x) = |ψ(x)> = A x2 + b2

using < ψ|ψ > = 1

Z ∞ µ ¶∗ µ ¶ Z ∞ Z ∞
A A 2 dx 2 dx
⇒ dx = |A| 2 = 2|A| 2 = 1.
−∞ (x + b2 )
2 (x + b2 )
2
−∞ (x2 + b2 ) 0 (x2 + b2 )

Form 15.1.1.16 on page 244 of Jeffrey is

Z ∞
dx π
=
0 (x2 + a2 ) (x2 + c2 ) 2ac (a + c)

which is our integral with a = c = b. Here b is the variational parameter in the trial wave function,
and our integral is given by
Z ∞
2 dx 2|A|2 π |A|2 π 2 2b3
2|A| 2 = = = 1 ⇒ |A| =
0 (x2 + b2 ) 2b · b (b + b) 2b3 π

µ ¶1/2
2b3
⇒ A= .
π

6
2.(b) Next, find the expectation value of the kinetic energy
Z ∞ µ ¶µ ¶µ ¶
A h̄2 d2 A
hT i = hψ|T |ψi = − dx.
−∞ (x2 + b2 ) 2m dx2 (x2 + b2 )

Calculate the second derivative

d ¡ 2 ¢−1 ¡ ¢−2 ¡ ¢−2
x + b2 = −1 x2 + b2 2x = −2x x2 + b2
dx

d2 ¡ 2 ¢
2 −1 d ³ ¡ 2 ¢ ´
2 −2
¡ ¢−2 ¡ ¢−3
2
x + b = −2x x + b = −2 x2 + b2 − 2x x2 + b2 (−2)(2x)
dx dx
d2 ¡ 2 ¢
2 −1 −2 8x2
⇒ x + b = 2 + 3 .
dx2 (x2 + b2 ) (x2 + b2 )
Then our integral becomes
Z µ ¶Ã !
A2 h̄2 ∞ 1 −2 8x2
hT i = − 2 + 3 dx
2m −∞ (x2 + b2 ) (x2 + b2 ) (x2 + b2 )
" Z Z ∞ #
A2 h̄2 ∞
x2 dx dx
= −8 4 +2 3
2m −∞ (x2 + b2 ) −∞ (x2 + b2 )
" Z ∞ Z ∞ #
A2 h̄2 x2 dx dx
= −16 4 +4 3 . (1)
2m 0 (x2 + b2 ) 0 (x2 + b2 )

Form 3.241.4 on page 292 of Table of Integrals, Series, and Products by Gradshteyn and Ryzhik is
Z µ ¶µ/ν ¡ µ ¢ ¡ ¢
∞
xµ−1 dx 1 p Γ ν Γ 1 + n − µν µ
n+1 = n+1 for 0< < n + 1, p 6= 0, and q 6= 0.
0 (p + qxν ) νp q Γ(1 + n) ν

We can use this form to evaluate both of the integrals in equation (1). For the first integral, the
parameters are µ = 3, ν = 2, n = 3, q = 1, and p = b2 , so we obtain
Z " µ 2 ¶3/2 ¡ 3 ¢ ¡ ¢#
A2 h̄2 ∞ x2 dx A2 h̄2 1 b Γ 2 Γ 1 + 3 − 32
−16 = −16
2m 0 (x2 + b2 )4 2m 2 · b2(3+1) 1 Γ(1 + 3)
¡ ¢ ¡ ¢ ¡ ¢ ¡ ¢
A2 h̄2 b3 Γ 32 Γ 52 4A2 h̄2 Γ 32 Γ 52
= −4 · 8 · =− · .
m b Γ (4) mb5 Γ (4)

To evaluate the Γ functions, remember that

µ ¶ µ ¶ µ ¶
1 √ 1 (2n − 1) · · · 5 · 3 · 1 1
Γ = π, Γ (1) = Γ (2) = 1, Γ (n + 1) = n!, and Γ n+ = Γ ,
2 2 2n 2

so we obtain
³ √ ´³ √ ´
¡3¢ ¡5¢ 1· π 3·1· π
2 2
4A h̄ Γ 2 Γ 2 4A2 h̄2 2 4 πA2 h̄2
− · =− · =− . (2)
mb5 Γ (4) mb5 3·2·1 4mb5

7
We could also evaluate the second integral in equation (1) using the same form, but it is actually
a simpler integral, and there is a simpler form in Gradshteyn and Ryzhik, namely form 3.249.1 on
page 294, which is Z ∞
dx (2n − 3)!! π
2 + a2 )n
= .
0 (x 2(2n − 2)!! a2n−1
Here the double factorial means the product of only the odd factors, so for example (2n + 1)!! =
1 · 3 · 5 · · · (2n + 1). Our second integral becomes
Z
A2 h̄2 ∞ dx 2A2 h̄2 3 · 1 π 3πA2 h̄2
4 = · = .
2m 0 (x2 + b2 )3 m 2(4 · 2) b5 8mb5
Adding these two integrals, we obtain the expectation value of the kinetic energy
· ¸ · ¸
πA2 h̄2 3πA2 h̄2 2b3 πh̄2 3πh̄2 3 2 2 3
hT i = − + = − + = 2b h̄ − +
4mb5 8mb5 π 4mb5 8mb5 8mb5 8mb5

h̄2
⇒ hT i = .
4mb2

1 2 2
2.(c) Now we must calculate the expectation value of the potential energy for V (x) = 2 mω x ,
which is given by
Z ∞µ ¶µ ¶µ ¶
A 1 2 2 A
hV i = hψ|V |ψi = mω x dx
−∞ (x2 + b2 ) 2 (x2 + b2 )
Z
A2 mω 2 ∞ x2 dx
=
2 2 2 2
−∞ (x + b )
Z ∞
x2 dx
= A2 mω 2 2.
0 (x2 + b2 )
We can evaluate this integral using form 3.241.4 from Gradshteyn and Ryzhik, with the parameters
µ = 3, ν = 2, n = 1, q = 1, and p = b2 . Then we obtain
Z ∞ µ 2 ¶3/2 ¡ 3 ¢ ¡ ¢
2 2 x2 dx A2 mω 2 b Γ 2 Γ 1 + 1 − 32
A mω 2 =
0 (x2 + b2 ) 2 · b2(1+1) 1 Γ(1 + 1)
¡3¢ ¡1¢
¡ ¢ b3 Γ 2 Γ 2
= mω 2 A2
2 · b4 Γ(2)
µ 3¶ 3 ¡ ¢ ¡ ¢
2 2b b Γ 32 Γ 12
= mω
π 2 · b4 Γ(2)
√ √
π
mω 2 b2 2 π
=
π 1

1
⇒ hV i = mω 2 b2 .
2

8
2.(d) Now find the value of b that minimizes the expectation value of the total energy:
µ ¶
∂ h̄2 1 h̄2
2
+ mω 2 b2 =− + mω 2 b = 0
∂b 4mb 2 2mb3

h̄2
⇒ b40 =
2m2 ω 2

h̄
⇒ b20 = √ .
2 mω

2.(e) The minimum expectation value of the total energy is given by

h̄2 1
hHimin = 2 + mω 2 b20
4mb0 2
h̄2 1 √
= √ + mω 2 (h̄/ 2mω)
4m(h̄/ 2mω) 2
√
2h̄ω h̄ω
= + √
4 2 2
Ã√ √ ! √
2 2 2 2
= + h̄ω = h̄ω
4 4 4

√
2
⇒ hHimin = h̄ω .
2

We know that the ground state energy of the SHO is h̄ω/2 = 0.5 h̄ω. From this problem, we see
that the variational method only gives us an upper bound on the ground state energy, specifically
in this case hHimin = 0.71 h̄ω. Note, however, that if we used a Gaussian trial wave function, we
would have obtained hHimin = 0.5 h̄ω.

9
3. Generalize the ground state variational method to allow computation of variational upper bounds
for the first excited state energy by using a trial wavefunction that is orthogonal to the ground
state wavefunction.
(a) Modify the proof for the ground state case. First, expand the trial wavefunction | ψ > in
energy eigenstates

∞
X
|ψ>= cn | ψn > .
n=0

Then use the fact that the trial wavefunction | ψ > is orthogonal to the exact ground state
wavefunction | ψ0 >, i.e., that

< ψ | ψ0 > = 0,

to rewrite the energy sum omitting the n = 0 ground state term—i.e., since c0 = 0,

∞
X
<H >= En c2n .
n=1

Finally, modify the derivation of the ground state variational principle.

(b) Calculate the normalization constant A for the first excited state trial wavefunction

2
ψ(x) = A x e−bx .

h p i1/2 £ ¤1/4
You should find A = 4b (2b/π) = 32b3 /π .

(c) Calculate the expectation value of the kinetic energy < T > for this trial wavefunction. You
should find < T > = (3h̄2 b/2m).

(d) Calculate the expectation value of the potential energy < V > for this trial wavefunction in
the harmonic oscillator potential. You should find < V > = (3mω 2 /8b).

(e) Calculate the expectation value of the total energy < H > for this trial wavefunction in the
harmonic oscillator potential by adding the expectation values of the kinetic and potential
energy < H > = < T > + < V >. Then find the value of b that minimizes the expectation
value of the total energy. You should find b = (mω/2h̄).

(f) Calculate the minimum of the expectation value of the total energy < H > for this wavefunc-
tion in the harmonic oscillator potential. You should find < H >min = 32 h̄ω. Note that you
obtain the exact energy of the first excited state because you “guessed” the exact excited state
wavefunction!

10
3.(a) Any wave function can be expressed as a linear combination of the energy eigenstates, i.e.,
∞
X
|ψ > = cn|ψn > = c0 |ψ0 > +c1 |ψ1 > +c2 |ψ2 > + · · · .
n=0

If we pick our trial wave function orthogonal to the ground state wave function, we have

<ψ|ψ0 > = 0, and c0 = 0.

Because they are orthogonal, the projection is zero. To show this, assume that the trial wave
function is normalized, then we have
à ∞ !Ã∞ ! ∞ X∞
X X X
1 = < ψ|ψ > = h cm hψm | cn |ψn i = c∗m cn < ψm |ψn > .
m=0 n=0 m=0 n=0

Next consider the inner product of the ground state and the first excited state trial wavefunction
∞
X
< ψ|ψ0 > = 0 ⇒ cn hψn|c0 ψ0 i = 0.
n=0

Then, using the orthonormality, we find

∞
X ∞
X
c∗n c0 < ψn|ψ0 > = c∗n c0 δn0 = c∗0 c0 = |c0 |2 = 0
n=0 n=0

⇒ c0 = 0.
This means that the general expansion of our trial wavefunction can be written as usual, except
that the sum starts at n = 1 instead of n = 0. For example, the normalization equation becomes
∞ X
X ∞ ∞ X
X ∞ ∞ X
X ∞ ∞
X ¯ ¯2
c∗m cn < ψm |ψn > = c∗m cn < ψm |ψn > = c∗m cn δmn = ¯cn ¯ = 1.
m=0 n=0 m=1 n=1 m=1 n=1 n=1

Now we are ready to derive the inequality for the first excited state energy. Write down the
expectation value of the energy:
à ∞ ! Ã∞ !
X X
hHi = < ψ|H|ψ > = cm hψm | H cn |ψn i
m=1 n=1
∞ X
X ∞ ∞ X
X ∞
= c∗m cn En <ψm |ψn > = c∗m cn En δmn
m=1 n=1 m=1 n=1
X∞ ∞
X
= |cn |2 En ≥ E1 |cn|2 = E1 .
n=1 n=1

⇒ hHi ≥ E1 .

11
3.(b) Calculate the normalization constant for the first excited state trial wave function
Z ∞ ³ ´∗ ³ ´ Z ∞ Z ∞
−bx2 −bx2 2 2 −2bx2 2 2
< ψ|ψ > = 1 ⇒ Axe Axe dx = |A| x e dx = 2|A| x2 e−2bx dx.
−∞ −∞ 0

One easy way to evaluate this integral is using form 15.3.1.26 from page 249 of Jeffrey, which we
have encountered previously in Problem 1. Then we have
Z ∞ r
2 (2n − 1) · · · 5 · 3 · 1 π
x2n e−px dx = for p > 0, and n = 0, 1, 2, 3, . . . .
0 2(2p)n p

For our integral, the parameters are n = 1 and p = 2b, so we obtain

Z ∞ r r
2 2 −2bx2 2 (2(1) − 1)!! π |A|2 π
2|A| x e dx = 2|A| = =1
0 2(2 · 2b)1 2b 4b 2b

r r µ ¶1/4
2 2b 2b3 2b3
⇒ |A| = 4b =4 or A=2 .
π π π

3.(c) Calculate the expectation value for the kinetic energy

³ Z ´∗ µ h̄2 d2 ¶ ³
∞ ´
−bx2 −bx2
hT i =< ψ|T |ψ(x) > = Axe − Axe dx
−∞ 2m dx2
Z µ ¶
|A|2 h̄2 ∞ ³ −bx2 ´∗ d2 −bx2
=− xe (xe ) dx.
2m −∞ dx2

Again, we need the second derivative of the trial wave function. This is given by
µ ¶
d2 2 d d −bx2 d ³ −bx2 2
´
2
(xe−bx ) = (xe ) = e − 2bx2 e−bx
dx dx dx dx
2 2 2
= −2bxe−bx − 4bxe−bx + 4b2 x3 e−bx
2 2
= −6bxe−bx + 4b2 x3 e−bx .

So, the expectation value of kinetic energy is given by

Z
|A|2 h̄2 ∞ ³ −bx2 ´∗ ³ 2 2
´
hT i = − xe −6bxe−bx + 4b2 x3 e−bx dx
2m −∞
2 2
· Z ∞ Z ∞ ¸
|A| h̄ 2 −2bx2 2 4 −2bx2
= 6b x e dx − 4b x e dx
2m −∞ −∞
· Z ∞ Z ∞ ¸
|A|2 h̄2 2 2
= 6b x2 e−2bx dx − 4b2 x4 e−2bx dx .
m 0 0

12
We can evaluate both integrals using the same general integral from Jeffrey used in part b. For
the first integral, n = 1 and p = 2b, and for the second integral, n = 2 and p = 2b. Then the
expectation value of the kinetic energy becomes
" Ã r ! µ r ¶#
|A|2 h̄2 (2(1) − 1)!! π 2 (2(2) − 1)!! π
hT i = 6b − 4b
m ˙ · 2b)1
2(2 2b 2 · (2 · 2b)2 2b
· µ r ¶ µ r ¶¸
h̄2 ¡ 2 ¢ 1 π 3·1 π
= |A| 6b − 4b2
m 8b 2b 32b2 2b
à r !r · ¸
h̄2 2b π 3 3
= 4b −
m π 2b 4 8

3h̄2 b
⇒ hT i = .
2m

3.(d) Next, calculate the expectation value of the potential energy

Z ³
∞ ´∗ µ 1 ¶³ ´
−bx2 2 2 2
hV i =< ψ|V |ψ(x) > = Axe mω x Axe−bx dx
−∞ 2
2 2 Z ∞
|A| mω 2
= x4 e−2bx dx
2 −∞
Z ∞
2
= |A|2 mω 2 x4 e−2bx dx
0
µ r ¶
2 2 (2(2) − 1)!! π
= |A| mω
2 · (2 · 2b)2 2b
r µ r ¶
2 2b 3 · 1 π 12
= mω · 4b = mω 2 ·
π 32b2 2b 32b

3mω 2
⇒ hV i = .
8b

3.(e) The expectation value of the total energy is the sum of the kinetic and potential energies, so

3h̄2 b 3mω 2
hHi = hT i + hV i = + .
2m 8b
To find the value of b that minimizes the expectation value of total energy, we differentiate with
respect to the variational parameter, set the resulting expression equal to zero, and solve for b0 as
before, i.e., µ ¶
∂ 3h̄2 3mω 2 −1 3h̄2 3mω 2 −2
b+ b = − b =0
∂b 2m 8 2m 8

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 3mω 2 2m m2 ω 2
⇒ b20 = =
8 3h̄2 4h̄2

mω
⇒ b0 = .
2h̄

3.(f) The minimum value of the total energy is obtained by substituting b0 into the equation for
hHi. We find
3h̄2 3mω 2
hHimin = b0 +
2m 8b0
2
3h̄ mω 3mω 2 3 3
= + = h̄ω + h̄ω
2m 2h̄ 8 (mω/2h̄) 4 4

3
⇒ hHimin = h̄ω .
2

Note that this is the exact energy of the first excited state of the quantum mechanical SHO because
we have successfully “guessed” the exact first excited state wavefunction.

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