[Physics] A misunderstanding regarding infinite square well

quantum mechanicsschroedinger equationwave-particle-dualitywavefunctionwaves

Here is a picture of the energy states of infinite potential well.

Energy levels

We can see That the first level have a half wavelength which fittes with a full wave of the second level. enter image description here

$$\frac{ \lambda _{1} }{2} = \lambda _{2}$$

$$ \Rightarrow \lambda _{1} =2 \lambda _{2}$$

$$ \Rightarrow \frac{1}{E_{1} } = \frac{2}{E_{2} } $$

$$\Rightarrow E_{2} = 2E_{1} $$

We have used the formula:$$E=h \nu $$

$$\Rightarrow E= \frac{hc}{ \lambda } $$

We started with our conception of classical waves, we used Planck's relation $E=h \nu $ and we have concluded $E_{2} = 2E_{1} $. Which we used to know wrong.

We know that $$E_{n}= n^{2} E_{1}$$

Now we start from here:

$$E_{2}= 4 E_{1}$$

$$ \Rightarrow \frac{1}{ E_{1} } = \frac{4}{ E_{2} } $$

$$ \Rightarrow \lambda _{1} = 4 \lambda _{2} $$

$$\Rightarrow \frac{ \lambda _{1} }{2} =2 \lambda_{2} $$

We can represent the last line with a picture

enter image description here

Here two waves fittes in a half wavelength of the first level.

Now my question is why our concept of classical waves doesn't reconcile with the energy level wave functions? Is there any other difference between classical and quantum wave? What's wrong in my analysis?

Best Answer

The quantum wavefunction is not a wave in the classical sense. In particular, it is not a wave obeying $E = \hbar \omega$, as electromagnetic waves do.

The term wavefunction is, in this sense, just a bad naming decision. It is no wave, there is nothing oscillating, and it has no connection whatsoever except the mathematical form to physical waves.