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Chapter2 3

This document summarizes the quantum mechanical model of a particle in a one-dimensional infinite square well potential between x=0 and x=L. It describes how the boundary conditions require the wavefunction and its derivative to be zero at the walls, leading to allowed energy levels of En=n^2E0 where E0 is the minimum nonzero energy. This minimum or "zero point" energy arises from the uncertainty principle since the particle is localized within the box. Energy levels are illustrated for the cases of n=1,2,3.

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91 views1 page

Chapter2 3

This document summarizes the quantum mechanical model of a particle in a one-dimensional infinite square well potential between x=0 and x=L. It describes how the boundary conditions require the wavefunction and its derivative to be zero at the walls, leading to allowed energy levels of En=n^2E0 where E0 is the minimum nonzero energy. This minimum or "zero point" energy arises from the uncertainty principle since the particle is localized within the box. Energy levels are illustrated for the cases of n=1,2,3.

Uploaded by

apoorva_ranjan
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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PHY4604 R. D.

Field

The Infinite Square Well (1) ∞ ∞


One Dimensional Box

Particle in a One-Dimensional Box: Consider the n=1

solution of
h 2 d 2ψ ( x )
n=2

− + V ( x )ψ ( x ) = Eψ ( x ) , 0 0.5 1

2m dx 2
n=3

where
Ψ ( x, t ) = ψ ( x )e − iEt / h , 0 L

for the case V(x) = ∞ if x ≤ 0 and V(x) = ∞ if x ≥ L and V(x) = 0 for 0 < x <
L. For x ≤ 0 and x ≥ L we have
h2 d 2ψ ( x ) E
− 2
+ψ ( x) = ψ ( x ) V→ψ ( x ) = 0 .
→∞
2 mV ( x ) dx V ( x)
For 0 < x < L we have
d 2ψ ( x ) 2mE 2mE
= − ψ ( x ) = − k 2
ψ ( x ) where k = .
dx 2 h2 h2
The most general solution is
ψ ( x ) = Ae ikx + Be − ikx where A and B are constants.
Bounday Conditions: We require that ψ(x) be “square-integrable” and
that it be continuous and “single valued”. Thus at x = 0
ψ ( x = 0) = A + B = 0 and hence ψ ( x ) = A(e ikx − e − ikx ) = 2iA sin( kx ) .
At x = L we have
ψ ( x = L ) = 2iA sin( kL ) = 0 which implies that kL = nπ with n = 1, 2, 3,...
Energy Levels: We see that only certain values of k are allowed which
means that only the following energies are allowed: Energy Levels
h 2 k 2 h 2π 2 n 2 h 2π 2 n=3 E = 9E 3 0

En = = = n 2
E 0 where E 0 = .
2m 2mL2 2mL2
Zero Point Energy: Classically a particle in a box can have any n=2 E = 4E 2 0

velocity (including zero) and therefore zero energy (i.e. zero n=1 E =E 1 0

kinetic energy). However, in quantum mechanics the energies are


quantized and the lowest allowed energy is E0! This is a manifistation of the
uncertainty principle since the particle is localized within ∆x = L we have
∆px ≈ h /(2 L) and hence
p x2 h2
E= ≈
2m 8mL2
This is only an estimate the exact answer for the zero point energy is E0.

Department of Physics Chapter2_3.doc University of Florida

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