In one of the problems in 8.04 problem set, the wave function given (29) has both growing exponential and a decaying exponential which is an even function by itself. But they are splitting it into odd and even function again using $\cosh(x)$ and $\sinh(x)$? They say $\cosh(x)$ and $\sinh(x)$ are the odd and even combination for real exponentials (which is true). but how is it possible to split combination real exponentials as $\cosh(x)$ and $\sinh(x)$?
-
Related: https://physics.stackexchange.com/q/44003/2451 , https://physics.stackexchange.com/q/13980/2451 and links therein. – Qmechanic Feb 26 '20 at 07:05
-
Does this answer your question? Time-independent Schrödinger function: If the potential $V$ is even, then the wave function $\psi$ can always be taken to be either even or odd – Sam Feb 26 '20 at 07:18
-
Actually the fact that if V is even then Psi can be even or odd is fine for me. But only for this specific function how they say even function is cosh(kx) and odd function is sinh(kx) for exp(kx) + exp(-kx) – Niranjan M Feb 26 '20 at 07:26
-
Because that’s how they are defined. You can look at the plots of the hyperbolic functions and see that cosh (sum) is even and sinh (difference) is odd. – Superfast Jellyfish Feb 26 '20 at 07:30
-
@FellowTraveller That's true. but in the original wave function we only have the sum. right? – Niranjan M Feb 26 '20 at 08:33
-
@NiranjanSD, yes but the coefficient D can be negative. – Superfast Jellyfish Feb 26 '20 at 08:41
-
@FellowTraveller Thanks thats what I missed. So there can be two solutions based on the coefficients where one is odd and other is even – Niranjan M Feb 26 '20 at 09:52
-
Yup. That’s right. Now if you normalise them you’ll see that it’s nothing but the hyperbolic functions. – Superfast Jellyfish Feb 26 '20 at 10:00
-
Which book? Which page? – Qmechanic Feb 26 '20 at 17:32
-
@Qmechanic are asking about the original problem? – Niranjan M Feb 27 '20 at 09:35
2 Answers
No. Arbitrary combinations of the two functions is not even or odd. $$f(x)=Ae^{\kappa x}+B e^{-\kappa x} $$ $$f(-x)= Ae^{-\kappa x}+B e^{\kappa x}$$ Now if we impose $f(x)=\pm f(-x)$, we get the condition: $$A=\pm B$$ This is nothing but the combinations for the hyperbolic trigonometric functions. $$\cosh(x)=\frac{e^x+e^{-x}}{2}$$ $$\sinh(x)=\frac{e^x-e^{-x}}{2}$$

- 9,348
Take your (29) and replace $x\to -x$ to get \begin{align} \psi(x)=\left\{\begin{array}{l} Ae^{-\kappa x} \\ Ce^{-\kappa x} +De^{\kappa x}\\ F e^{\kappa x}\end{array}\right. \end{align} and compare with your initial (29).
Clearly to get $+\psi(x)$ back you need $A=F$ and $C=D$: this produces an even function since by construction $\psi(x)=\psi(-x)$.
To get $-\psi(x)$ you need $A=-F$ and $C=-D$, which produces an odd function since $\psi(x)=-\psi(-x)$.

- 45,515