On the Time-Dependent Analysis of Gamow Decay

Details On the Time-Dependent Analysis of Gamow Decay On the Time-Dependent Analysis of Gamow Decay

2010-11-24

arxiv.org/abs/1011.6084v3

Eur. J. Phys. 32 (2011) 1311

Physics

Quantum Physics

10 pages, 4 figures; heuristic argument simplified, different example discussed, calculation of decay rate added

Scientific paper

10.1088/0143-0807/32/5/019

Gamow's explanation of the exponential decay law uses complex "eigenvalues" and exponentially growing "eigenfunctions". This raises the question, how Gamow's description fits into the quantum mechanical description of nature, which is based on real eigenvalues and square integrable wave functions. Observing that the time evolution of any wave function is given by its expansion in generalized eigenfunctions, we shall answer this question in the most straightforward manner, which at the same time is accessible to graduate students and specialists. Moreover the presentation can well be used in physics lectures to students.

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