Time evolution of wave packets in eletromagnetism and quantum mechanics

• Grant number: 16/10336-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2016
• End date: September 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - General Physics
• Principal Investigator: Gustavo Garcia Rigolin
• Grantee: Diego Flórez Ablan
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

We intend to study the postulates and the key concepts of quantum mechanicsby investigating the time evolution of Gaussian wave packets. Firstly, we willstudy the evolution of a Gaussian wave packet whose dynamics is governed bythe wave equation derived from the Maxwell's electromagnetism. Subsequently,we will compare this time evolution with that arising from a dynamics governedby the Schrödinger equation. We want with this study highlight the fundamentaldifferences in the dynamics of wave packets introduced by quantum mechanicswhen compared to the classical dynamics.