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Quantum Mechanics Formula Sheet

1. Wavefunctions & Probability

ConceptFormulaNotes
Wavefunction Ψ(r, t) Contains all measurable information.
Probability density ρ = |Ψ|² Born rule.
Probability current j = (ħ/m) Im(Ψ* ∇Ψ) Conservation of probability.
Momentum‑space wavefunction Φ(p) = (1/(2πħ)³/²) ∫ e^{-ip·r/ħ} Ψ(r) d³r Fourier transform.

2. Schrödinger Equations

ConceptFormulaNotes
Time‑dependent Schrödinger equation iħ ∂Ψ/∂t = ĤΨ Fundamental evolution law.
Time‑independent Schrödinger equation ĤΨ = EΨ Stationary states.
Free particle (1D) −ħ²/(2m) d²Ψ/dx² = EΨ Second‑order ODE.

3. Operators & Commutation Relations

ConceptFormulaNotes
Position operator x̂ f(x) = x f(x) Acts by multiplication.
Momentum operator p̂ f(x) = −iħ (df/dx) Generator of translations.
Canonical commutation [x̂, p̂] = iħ Core quantization rule.

4. Angular Momentum

ConceptFormulaNotes
Commutation relations [Jᵢ, Jⱼ] = iħ εᵢⱼₖ Jₖ SU(2) algebra.
Eigenvalues J² |j m⟩ = ħ² j(j+1)|j m⟩ Total angular momentum.
z‑component Jz |j m⟩ = ħ m |j m⟩ Magnetic quantum number.
Clebsch–Gordan expansion |j m⟩ = Σ C^{j m}_{j₁ m₁ j₂ m₂} |j₁ m₁⟩|j₂ m₂⟩ Adding angular momenta.

5. Harmonic Oscillator

ConceptFormulaNotes
Hamiltonian H = p²/(2m) + (1/2)mω²x² Quadratic potential.
Energy levels Eₙ = ħω (n + 1/2) Equally spaced.
Creation/annihilation operators a = √(mω/2ħ)(x + i p/(mω)) Algebraic solution.

6. Relativistic & Special Formulas

ConceptFormulaNotes
de Broglie wavelength λ = h/p Wave–particle duality.
Compton shift Δλ = (h/(mₑ c))(1 − cos θ) Photon scattering.
Dirac equation (β m c² + c α·p)Ψ = iħ ∂Ψ/∂t Relativistic fermions.

7. Perturbation Theory

ConceptFormulaNotes
First‑order energy shift Eₙ^(1) = ⟨n⁽⁰⁾| H' |n⁽⁰⁾⟩ Non‑degenerate.
Second‑order shift Eₙ^(2) = Σₘ |⟨m|H'|n⟩|² / (Eₙ⁽⁰⁾ − Eₘ⁽⁰⁾) Corrections from other states.