Probability current

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In quantum mechanics, the probability current (sometimes called probability flux) is a mathematical quantity describing the flow of probability. Specifically, if one thinks of probability as a heterogeneous fluid, then the probability current is the rate of flow of this fluid. It is a real vector that changes with space and time. Probability currents are analogous to mass currents in hydrodynamics and electric currents in electromagnetism. As in those fields, the probability current (i.e. the probability current density) is related to the probability density function via a continuity equation. The probability current is invariant under gauge transformation.

The concept of probability current is also used outside of quantum mechanics, when dealing with probability density functions that change over time, for instance in Brownian motion and the Fokker–Planck equation.^[1]

The relativistic equivalent of the probability current is known as the probability four-current.

In non-relativistic quantum mechanics, the probability current j of the wave function Ψ of a particle of mass m in one dimension is defined as^[2] $${\displaystyle j={\frac {\hbar }{2mi}}\left(\Psi ^{*}{\frac {\partial \Psi }{\partial x}}-\Psi {\frac {\partial \Psi ^{*}}{\partial x}}\right)={\frac {\hbar }{m}}\Re \left\{\Psi ^{*}{\frac {1}{i}}{\frac {\partial \Psi }{\partial x}}\right\}={\frac {\hbar }{m}}\Im \left\{\Psi ^{*}{\frac {\partial \Psi }{\partial x}}\right\},}$$ where

• ${\displaystyle \hbar }$ is the reduced Planck constant;
• ${\displaystyle \Psi ^{*}}$ denotes the complex conjugate of the wave function;
• ${\displaystyle \Re }$ denotes the real part;
• ${\displaystyle \Im }$ denotes the imaginary part.

Note that the probability current is proportional to a Wronskian ${\displaystyle W(\Psi ,\Psi ^{*}).}$

In three dimensions, this generalizes to $${\displaystyle \mathbf {j} ={\frac {\hbar }{2mi}}\left(\Psi ^{*}\mathbf {\nabla } \Psi -\Psi \mathbf {\nabla } \Psi ^{*}\right)={\frac {\hbar }{m}}\Re \left\{\Psi ^{*}{\frac {\nabla }{i}}\Psi \right\}={\frac {\hbar }{m}}\Im \left\{\Psi ^{*}\nabla \Psi \right\}\,,}$$ where ${\displaystyle \nabla }$ denotes the del or gradient operator. This can be simplified in terms of the kinetic momentum operator, $${\displaystyle \mathbf {\hat {p}} =-i\hbar \nabla }$$ to obtain $${\displaystyle \mathbf {j} ={\frac {1}{2m}}\left(\Psi ^{*}\mathbf {\hat {p}} \Psi -\Psi \mathbf {\hat {p}} \Psi ^{*}\right)\,.}$$

These definitions use the position basis (i.e. for a wavefunction in position space), but momentum space is possible.

The above definition should be modified for a system in an external electromagnetic field. In SI units, a charged particle of mass m and electric charge q includes a term due to the interaction with the electromagnetic field;^[3] $${\displaystyle \mathbf {j} ={\frac {1}{2m}}\left[\left(\Psi ^{*}\mathbf {\hat {p}} \Psi -\Psi \mathbf {\hat {p}} \Psi ^{*}\right)-2q\mathbf {A} |\Psi |^{2}\right]}$$ where A = A(r, t) is the magnetic vector potential. The term qA has dimensions of momentum. Note that ${\displaystyle \mathbf {\hat {p}} =-i\hbar \nabla }$ used here is the canonical momentum and is not gauge invariant, unlike the kinetic momentum operator ${\displaystyle \mathbf {\hat {P}} =-i\hbar \nabla -q\mathbf {A} }$.

In Gaussian units: $${\displaystyle \mathbf {j} ={\frac {1}{2m}}\left[\left(\Psi ^{*}\mathbf {\hat {p}} \Psi -\Psi \mathbf {\hat {p}} \Psi ^{*}\right)-2{\frac {q}{c}}\mathbf {A} |\Psi |^{2}\right]}$$ where c is the speed of light.

If the particle has spin, it has a corresponding magnetic moment, so an extra term needs to be added incorporating the spin interaction with the electromagnetic field.

According to Landau-Lifschitz's Course of Theoretical Physics the electric current density is in Gaussian units:^[4] $${\displaystyle \mathbf {j} _{e}={\frac {q}{2m}}\left[\left(\Psi ^{*}\mathbf {\hat {p}} \Psi -\Psi \mathbf {\hat {p}} \Psi ^{*}\right)-{\frac {2q}{c}}\mathbf {A} |\Psi |^{2}\right]+{\frac {\mu _{S}c}{s\hbar }}\nabla \times (\Psi ^{*}\mathbf {S} \Psi )}$$

And in SI units: $${\displaystyle \mathbf {j} _{e}={\frac {q}{2m}}\left[\left(\Psi ^{*}\mathbf {\hat {p}} \Psi -\Psi \mathbf {\hat {p}} \Psi ^{*}\right)-2q\mathbf {A} |\Psi |^{2}\right]+{\frac {\mu _{S}}{s\hbar }}\nabla \times (\Psi ^{*}\mathbf {S} \Psi )}$$

Hence the probability current (density) is in SI units: $${\displaystyle \mathbf {j} =\mathbf {j} _{e}/q={\frac {1}{2m}}\left[\left(\Psi ^{*}\mathbf {\hat {p}} \Psi -\Psi \mathbf {\hat {p}} \Psi ^{*}\right)-2q\mathbf {A} |\Psi |^{2}\right]+{\frac {\mu _{S}}{qs\hbar }}\nabla \times (\Psi ^{*}\mathbf {S} \Psi )}$$

where S is the spin vector of the particle with corresponding spin magnetic moment μ_S and spin quantum number s.

It is doubtful if this formula is valid for particles with an interior structure.^{[citation needed]} The neutron has zero charge but non-zero magnetic moment, so ${\displaystyle {\frac {\mu _{S}}{qs\hbar }}}$ would be impossible (except ${\displaystyle \nabla \times (\Psi ^{*}\mathbf {S} \Psi )}$ would also be zero in this case). For composite particles with a non-zero charge – like the proton which has spin quantum number s=1/2 and μ_S= 2.7927·μ_N or the deuteron (H-2 nucleus) which has s=1 and μ_S=0.8574·μ_N ^[5] – it is mathematically possible but doubtful.

The wave function can also be written in the complex exponential (polar) form: $${\displaystyle \Psi =Re^{iS/\hbar }}$$ where R, S are real functions of r and t.

Written this way, the probability density is $${\displaystyle \rho =\Psi ^{*}\Psi =R^{2}}$$ and the probability current is: $${\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}\mathbf {j} &={\frac {\hbar }{2mi}}\left(\Psi ^{*}\mathbf {\nabla } \Psi -\Psi \mathbf {\nabla } \Psi ^{*}\right)\\[5pt]&={\frac {\hbar }{2mi}}\left(Re^{-iS/\hbar }\mathbf {\nabla } Re^{iS/\hbar }-Re^{iS/\hbar }\mathbf {\nabla } Re^{-iS/\hbar }\right)\\[5pt]&={\frac {\hbar }{2mi}}\left[Re^{-iS/\hbar }\left(e^{iS/\hbar }\mathbf {\nabla } R+{\frac {i}{\hbar }}Re^{iS/\hbar }\mathbf {\nabla } S\right)-Re^{iS/\hbar }\left(e^{-iS/\hbar }\mathbf {\nabla } R-{\frac {i}{\hbar }}Re^{-iS/\hbar }\mathbf {\nabla } S\right)\right].\end{aligned}}}$$

The exponentials and R∇R terms cancel: $${\displaystyle \mathbf {j} ={\frac {\hbar }{2mi}}\left[{\frac {i}{\hbar }}R^{2}\mathbf {\nabla } S+{\frac {i}{\hbar }}R^{2}\mathbf {\nabla } S\right].}$$

Finally, combining and cancelling the constants, and replacing R² with ρ, $${\displaystyle \mathbf {j} =\rho {\frac {\mathbf {\nabla } S}{m}}.}$$Hence, the spatial variation of the phase of a wavefunction is said to characterize the probability flux of the wavefunction. If we take the familiar formula for the mass flux in hydrodynamics: $${\displaystyle \mathbf {j} =\rho \mathbf {v} ,}$$

where ${\displaystyle \rho }$ is the mass density of the fluid and v is its velocity (also the group velocity of the wave). In the classical limit, we can associate the velocity with ${\displaystyle {\tfrac {\nabla S}{m}},}$ which is the same as equating ∇S with the classical momentum p = mv however, it does not represent a physical velocity or momentum at a point since simultaneous measurement of position and velocity violates uncertainty principle. This interpretation fits with Hamilton–Jacobi theory, in which $${\displaystyle \mathbf {p} =\nabla S}$$ in Cartesian coordinates is given by ∇S, where S is Hamilton's principal function.

The de Broglie-Bohm theory equates the velocity with ${\displaystyle {\tfrac {\nabla S}{m}}}$ in general (not only in the classical limit) so it is always well defined. It is an interpretation of quantum mechanics.

The definition of probability current and Schrödinger's equation can be used to derive the continuity equation, which has exactly the same forms as those for hydrodynamics and electromagnetism.^[6]

For some wave function Ψ, let:

$${\displaystyle \rho (\mathbf {r} ,t)=|\Psi |^{2}=\Psi ^{*}(\mathbf {r} ,t)\Psi (\mathbf {r} ,t).}$$be the probability density (probability per unit volume, * denotes complex conjugate). Then,

${\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}{\frac {d}{dt}}\int _{\mathcal {V}}dV\,\rho &=\int _{\mathcal {V}}dV\,\left({\frac {\partial \psi }{\partial t}}\psi ^{*}+\psi {\frac {\partial \psi ^{*}}{\partial t}}\right)\\&=\int _{\mathcal {V}}dV\,\left(-{\frac {i}{\hbar }}\left(-{\frac {\hbar ^{2}}{2m}}\nabla ^{2}\psi +V\psi \right)\psi ^{*}+{\frac {i}{\hbar }}\left(-{\frac {\hbar ^{2}}{2m}}\nabla ^{2}\psi ^{*}+V\psi ^{*}\right)\psi \right)\\&=\int _{\mathcal {V}}dV\,{\frac {i\hbar }{2m}}[(\nabla ^{2}\psi )\psi ^{*}-\psi (\nabla ^{2}\psi ^{*})]\\&=\int _{\mathcal {V}}dV\,\nabla \cdot \left({\frac {i\hbar }{2m}}(\psi ^{*}\nabla \psi -\psi \nabla \psi ^{*})\right)\\&=\int _{\mathcal {S}}d\mathbf {a} \cdot \left({\frac {i\hbar }{2m}}(\psi ^{*}\nabla \psi -\psi \nabla \psi ^{*})\right)\\\end{aligned}}}$

where V is any volume and S is the boundary of V.

This is the conservation law for probability in quantum mechanics. The integral form is stated as:

$${\displaystyle \int _{V}\left({\frac {\partial |\Psi |^{2}}{\partial t}}\right)\mathrm {d} V+\int _{V}\left(\mathbf {\nabla } \cdot \mathbf {j} \right)\mathrm {d} V=0}$$where$${\displaystyle \mathbf {j} ={\frac {1}{2m}}\left(\Psi ^{*}{\hat {\mathbf {p} }}\Psi -\Psi {\hat {\mathbf {p} }}\Psi ^{*}\right)=-{\frac {i\hbar }{2m}}(\psi ^{*}\nabla \psi -\psi \nabla \psi ^{*})={\frac {\hbar }{m}}\operatorname {Im} (\psi ^{*}\nabla \psi )}$$is the probability current or probability flux (flow per unit area).

Here, equating the terms inside the integral gives the continuity equation for probability:$${\displaystyle {\frac {\partial }{\partial t}}\rho \left(\mathbf {r} ,t\right)+\nabla \cdot \mathbf {j} =0,}$$and the integral equation can also be restated using the divergence theorem as:

${\displaystyle {\frac {\partial }{\partial t}}\int _{V}|\Psi |^{2}\mathrm {d} V+}$ ${\displaystyle \scriptstyle S}$ ${\displaystyle \mathbf {j} \cdot \mathrm {d} \mathbf {S} =0}$.

In particular, if Ψ is a wavefunction describing a single particle, the integral in the first term of the preceding equation, sans time derivative, is the probability of obtaining a value within V when the position of the particle is measured. The second term is then the rate at which probability is flowing out of the volume V. Altogether the equation states that the time derivative of the probability of the particle being measured in V is equal to the rate at which probability flows into V.

By taking the limit of volume integral to include all regions of space, a well-behaved wavefunction that goes to zero at infinities in the surface integral term implies that the time derivative of total probability is zero ie. the normalization condition is conserved.^[7] This result is in agreement with the unitary nature of time evolution operators which preserve length of the vector by definition.

In regions where a step potential or potential barrier occurs, the probability current is related to the transmission and reflection coefficients, respectively T and R; they measure the extent the particles reflect from the potential barrier or are transmitted through it. Both satisfy: $${\displaystyle T+R=1\,,}$$ where T and R can be defined by: $${\displaystyle T={\frac {|\mathbf {j} _{\mathrm {trans} }|}{|\mathbf {j} _{\mathrm {inc} }|}}\,,\quad R={\frac {|\mathbf {j} _{\mathrm {ref} }|}{|\mathbf {j} _{\mathrm {inc} }|}}\,,}$$ where j_inc, j_ref, j_trans are the incident, reflected and transmitted probability currents respectively, and the vertical bars indicate the magnitudes of the current vectors. The relation between T and R can be obtained from probability conservation: $${\displaystyle \mathbf {j} _{\mathrm {trans} }+\mathbf {j} _{\mathrm {ref} }=\mathbf {j} _{\mathrm {inc} }\,.}$$

In terms of a unit vector n normal to the barrier, these are equivalently: $${\displaystyle T=\left|{\frac {\mathbf {j} _{\mathrm {trans} }\cdot \mathbf {n} }{\mathbf {j} _{\mathrm {inc} }\cdot \mathbf {n} }}\right|\,,\qquad R=\left|{\frac {\mathbf {j} _{\mathrm {ref} }\cdot \mathbf {n} }{\mathbf {j} _{\mathrm {inc} }\cdot \mathbf {n} }}\right|\,,}$$ where the absolute values are required to prevent T and R being negative.

For a plane wave propagating in space: $${\displaystyle \Psi (\mathbf {r} ,t)=\,Ae^{i(\mathbf {k} \cdot {\mathbf {r} }-\omega t)}}$$ the probability density is constant everywhere; $${\displaystyle \rho (\mathbf {r} ,t)=|A|^{2}\rightarrow {\frac {\partial |\Psi |^{2}}{\partial t}}=0}$$ (that is, plane waves are stationary states) but the probability current is nonzero – the square of the absolute amplitude of the wave times the particle's speed; $${\displaystyle \mathbf {j} \left(\mathbf {r} ,t\right)=\left|A\right|^{2}{\hbar \mathbf {k} \over m}=\rho {\frac {\mathbf {p} }{m}}=\rho \mathbf {v} }$$

illustrating that the particle may be in motion even if its spatial probability density has no explicit time dependence.

For a particle in a box, in one spatial dimension and of length L, confined to the region ${\displaystyle 0<x<L}$, the energy eigenstates are $${\displaystyle \Psi _{n}={\sqrt {\frac {2}{L}}}\sin \left({\frac {n\pi }{L}}x\right)}$$ and zero elsewhere. The associated probability currents are $${\displaystyle j_{n}={\frac {i\hbar }{2m}}\left(\Psi _{n}^{*}{\frac {\partial \Psi _{n}}{\partial x}}-\Psi _{n}{\frac {\partial \Psi _{n}^{*}}{\partial x}}\right)=0}$$ since $${\displaystyle \Psi _{n}=\Psi _{n}^{*}}$$

For a particle in one dimension on ${\displaystyle \ell ^{2}(\mathbb {Z} ),}$ we have the Hamiltonian ${\displaystyle H=-\Delta +V}$ where ${\displaystyle -\Delta \equiv 2I-S-S^{\ast }}$ is the discrete Laplacian, with S being the right shift operator on ${\displaystyle \ell ^{2}(\mathbb {Z} ).}$ Then the probability current is defined as ${\displaystyle j\equiv 2\Im \left\{{\bar {\Psi }}iv\Psi \right\},}$ with v the velocity operator, equal to ${\displaystyle v\equiv -i[X,\,H]}$ and X is the position operator on ${\displaystyle \ell ^{2}\left(\mathbb {Z} \right).}$ Since V is usually a multiplication operator on ${\displaystyle \ell ^{2}(\mathbb {Z} ),}$ we get to safely write $${\displaystyle -i[X,\,H]=-i[X,\,-\Delta ]=-i\left[X,\,-S-S^{\ast }\right]=iS-iS^{\ast }.}$$

As a result, we find: $${\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}j\left(x\right)\equiv 2\Im \left\{{\bar {\Psi }}(x)iv\Psi (x)\right\}&=2\Im \left\{{\bar {\Psi }}(x)\left((-S\Psi )(x)+\left(S^{\ast }\Psi \right)(x)\right)\right\}\\&=2\Im \left\{{\bar {\Psi }}(x)\left(-\Psi (x-1)+\Psi (x+1)\right)\right\}\end{aligned}}}$$

• Resnick, R.; Eisberg, R. (1985). Quantum Physics of Atoms, Molecules, Solids, Nuclei and Particles (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-87373-X.