Quantum particle

for the one dimensional

infinite potential well

Tutorial – Quantum mechanics

R.Zus Infinite potential well 1

I. Infinite potential well – asymmetric, one dimensional case

Tasks:
1) Determine the energy levels and the normalized wave functions of a
particle in the one-dimensional infinite potential well:

 0, for 0  x  a
V (x)   .
 , for x  0 and x  a

1’) Graphic representation of the wave function and its squared modulus for
the first 3 levels of the energy.

2) The statistics of the operators

2 2
Qx, Qx , Px , Px

using their coordinate representation.

3) Discussion on Heisenberg uncertainty relation as a function of n.

R.Zus Infinite potential well 2
1) Determine the energy levels and the normalized wave functions of a
particle in the one-dimensional infinite potential well:
2
•Hamiltonian (energy operator) Px
H   V (x)
2m
in the coordinates representation:
2 2
d
H   2
 V (x)
2m dx

Solve the time-independent Schrӧdinger equation: H E

(x)  E E
(x)

Step 1: Determine the analytical form of the wave function.

Step 2: Impose the continuity conditions. Determine the energy.
Step 3: Impose the normalization relation. Obtain the final form of
the wave function.

R.Zus Infinite potential well 3

 Step 1: Determine the analytical form of the wave function.
From lecture - step potential (for simplicity in one-dimensional):

 0 for x  0
V (x)  
 V 0 for x  0

d  (x)
2 2

 2
 V ( x ) ( x )  E  ( x )
2m dx
Solve the equation and eventually pass to limit V0  

d  (x)
2 2

x  0:  2
 E  ( x )   ( x )  A sin  x  B cos  x
2m dx
d  (x)
2 2
 x x
x  0:  2
 ( E  V 0 ) ( x )   ( x )  Ce  De
2m dx
2 mE 2 m (V 0  E )
Here   2
;   2
and we consider E  V0
 

R.Zus Infinite potential well 4

 Step 1: Determine the analytical form of the wave function.

d  (x)
2 2

 2
 V ( x ) ( x )  E  ( x )
2m dx

• Outside the well:

V ( x )  x     
 0 si x  a ext
(x)  0

• Inside the well: 

2

d  (x)
2
2m
2
 2
E (x)  0
dx 

The analytical form of the wave function for the infinite well:

 A sin  x  B cos  x , for 0  x  a

 (x)   ;
 0, for x  0 and x  a

2 mE
where   2
(E  0) .

R.Zus Infinite potential well 5
 Step 2: Impose the continuity conditions. Determine the energy.

  ( 0  0 )   ( 0  0 ), for x  0
 .
 ( a  0 )   ( a  0 ), for x  a

The wave function inside the well should be:

 ( x )  A sin  x .

The energy eigenstates  

2 2

En  n  1 , 2 ,...
2
2
n ,
2 ma

R.Zus Infinite potential well 6

 Step 3: Impose the normalization relation. Obtain the final form of
the wave function.


 2 2
 | 1    (r , t) d r  1   ( x ) dx  1
3


3


n
 E
( x )   n ( x )  A s in x
a

2 n
 n
(x)  sin x.
a a

 2
 ( r , t ) d r  the probabilit
3 3
y to find the particle located in the volume element d r
 2

  r  the probabilit
3
( r , t ) d y to find the particle inside the region D
D

R.Zus Infinite potential well 7

1’) Graphic representation of the wave function and its squared modulus for
the first 3 levels of the energy. Interpretation.

 2 n
 sin x, for 0  x  a
 (x)   a a ; n  1, 2 , 3
 for x  0 and x  a
 0,

2 2 n
2  sin x, for 0  x  a
 (x)  a a ; n  1, 2 , 3
 for x  0 and x  a
0,

R.Zus Infinite potential well 8

2) The statistics of the operators

a a a
2 2
Qx   Qx    ( x ) x  n ( x ) dx   x ( x ) dx  x x  dx 
*
n n n n n
0 0 0
a 2

Qx   Qx    x  dx 
2 2 2
n n
x n
0
a
d
Px   Px     n ( x ') d x ' 
*
n n n
(x)
0
i dx '
a 2 2
  d
Px   Px     n ( x ') d x ' 
2 2 *
n n n
( x ')   2
0  i  dx '

 
2

 
2
( Q x )  Q x  Q x 
2 2
(  Px )  Px  Px 
2 2

R.Zus Infinite potential well 9

3) Discussion on Heisenberg uncertainty relation as a function of n.

1
 (A) 
2
 (B ) 
2
 |   A , B  |
2

4
1
 ( Q x )   (  Px )  
2 2 2

4

•Discuss (  Q x ) (  Px ) ,
2 2
as a function of n.

R.Zus Infinite potential well 10

II. Infinite potential well – symmetric, one dimensional case

Tasks:
1) Determine the energy levels and the normalized wave functions of a
particle in the one-dimensional infinite potential well:
l l
 0,   x 
 2 2
V (x)   , l 
l l
 , x   si x 

2 2
1’) Graphic representation of the wave function and its squared modulus for
the first 3 levels of the energy.

2) The statistics of the operators

2 2
Qx, Qx , Px , Px

using their coordinate representation.

3) Discussion on Heisenberg uncertainty relation as a function of n.

R.Zus Infinite potential well 11