1

Questions:
What are the boundary conditions for tunneling problem?
How do you figure out amplitude of wave function in
different regions in tunneling problem?
How do you determine probability of tunneling through a
barrier?
Today: Answer these question for step potential:




HW after spring break: You answer it for barrier potential
(tunneling problem):
w
2
Big Picture:
So far weve talked a lot about wave functions
bound in potential wells:








Here, generally looking at energy eigenstates
fixed energy levels.
Finite Square Well/
Non-Rigid Box/
Electron in Wire
Infinite Square Well/
Rigid Box/
Electron in wire with work
function thermal energy
Coulomb Potential/
Hydrogen Atom/
Hydrogen-like Atom
+
- - -
E
E
E
3
Big Picture:
Can also look at free electrons
moving through space or
interacting with potentials:
Plane wave spread through space:

Wave packet localized in space:


In these cases (tunneling,
reflection/transmission from step,
etc.) just pick some initial state,
and see how it changes in time.
) / exp( ) , ( iEt ikx A t x = +

= +
n
n n n
t iE x ik A t x ) / exp( ) , (
E
w
4
Tunneling
Particle can tunnel through barrier even though it
doesnt have enough energy.
Visualize with wave packets show sim:
http://phet.colorado.edu/new/simulations/sims.php?sim=QuantumTunneling
Applications: alpha decay, molecular bonding,
scanning tunneling microscopes, single electron
tunneling transistors, electrons getting from one wire
to another in your house wiring, corona discharge, etc.
So far weve talked about how to determine general
solutions in certain regions, wavelengths, decay
constants, etc.
Next step: How do you determine amplitudes of
waves, probability of reflection and transmission?
Boundary conditions!
Start with an easier problem
5
An electron is traveling through a very long
wire, approaching the end of the wire:

The potential energy of this electron as a
function of position is given by:

>
<
=
0
0 0
) (
0
x V
x
x V
e
-

6
A. stop.
B. be reflected back.
C. exit the wire and keep moving to the right.
D. either be reflected or transmitted with some probability.
E. dance around and sing, I love quantum mechanics!
If the total energy E of the electron is GREATER
than the work function of the metal, V
0
, when the
electron reaches the end of the wire, it will
e
-

7
At this point you may be saying
You said it would either be reflected or
transmitted with some probability, but in the
simulation it looks like part of it is reflected and
part of it is transmitted. Whats up with that?
Can anyone answer this question?
Wave function splits into two pieces
transmitted part and reflected part but when
you make a measurement, you always find a
whole electron in one place or the other.
Will talk about this more on Friday.
8
Region I: Region II:
) ( ) (
) (
2
0
2
2 2
x E x V
dx
x d
m

= +

Electron will either be
reflected or transmitted with
some probability.
Why? How do we know?
Solve Schro. equation
) (
) (
2
2
2 2
x E
dx
x d
m

=

) (
2 ) (
2 2
2
x
mE
dx
x d

= ) (
) ( 2 ) (
2
0
2
2
x
V E m
dx
x d

=
k
1
2
k
2
2
) exp( ) exp( ) (
1 1 1
x ik B x ik A x + = ) exp( ) exp( ) (
2 2 2
x ik D x ik C x + =
Solve time-independent Schrodinger equation:
where ) ( ) ( ) (
) (
2
2
2 2
x E x x V
dx
x d
m

= +

) / exp( ) ( ) , ( iEt x t x = +
)) / ( exp(
)) / ( exp( ) , (
1
1 1

Et x k i B
Et x k i A t x
+ +
= +
)) / ( exp(
)) / ( exp( ) , (
2
2 2

Et x k i D
Et x k i C t x
+ +
= +
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Note that general solutions are plane waves:
Wave packets are more
physical




But its easier to solve for
plane waves!
)) / ( exp( )) / ( exp( ) , (
1 1 1
Et x k i B Et x k i A t x + + = +
)) / ( exp( )) / ( exp( ) , (
2 2 2
Et x k i D Et x k i C t x + + = +
And you can always add up a bunch of
plane waves to get a wave packet.
10
In region I, the general solution is:



What do the A and B terms represent physically?
A. A is the kinetic energy, B is the potential
energy.
B. A is a wave traveling to the right, B is a wave
traveling to the left.
C. A is a wave traveling to the left, B is a wave
traveling to the right.
D. A and B are both standing waves.
E. These terms have no physical meaning.
) exp( ) exp( ) (
1 1 1
x ik B x ik A x + =
)) / ( exp( )) / ( exp( ) / exp( ) ( ) , (
1 1 1
Et x k i B Et x k i A iEt x t x + + = = +
11
x
Real((x,t=0))
A
If (x,t) = Aexp(i(kx-t)), which way is this wave
moving?
Recall from HW: exp(i)=cos()+isin(), so:
Real() = Acos(kx-t)
Imaginary() = Asin(kx-t)
Real & imaginary parts of just differ by phase.
Usually we just plot the real part:




Increase t a little, same as a little bit to the left.
(x,t+t) = (x-x,t).
Textbook is sloppy: sometimes
says (x) when it means Re((x))
Wave moves to right.
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Region I: Region II:
) (
2 ) (
2 2
2
x
mE
dx
x d

= ) (
) ( 2 ) (
2
0
2
2
x
V E m
dx
x d

=
k
1
2
k
2
2
) exp( ) exp( ) (
1 1 1
x ik B x ik A x + = ) exp( ) exp( ) (
2 2 2
x ik D x ik C x + =
Wave traveling right Wave traveling right Wave traveling left Wave traveling left
What do each of these waves represent?
a) A = reflected, B = transmitted, C = incoming, D = incoming from right
b) A = transmitted, B = reflected, C = incoming, D = incoming from right
c) A = incoming, B = reflected, C = transmitted, D = incoming from right
d) A = incoming, B = transmitted, C = reflected, D = incoming from right
e) A = incoming from right, B = reflected, C = transmitted, D = incoming
e
-

A
B
C
D
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Region I: Region II:
) exp( ) exp( ) (
1 1 1
x ik B x ik A x + = ) exp( ) exp( ) (
2 2 2
x ik D x ik C x + =
Wave traveling right
Incoming
Wave traveling right
Transmitted
Wave traveling left
Incoming
from Right
Wave traveling left
Reflected
Use initial/boundary conditions to determine constants:
Initial Conditions:
Boundary Conditions:

) 0 ( ) 0 ( . 1
2 1
= BC
dx
d
dx
d
BC
) 0 (

) 0 (
. 2
2 1

=
Electron coming in from left D = 0
0
A
B
C
D
e
-

A + B = C
ik
1
(A B) = ik
1
C
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Region I: Region II:
) exp( ) exp( ) (
1 1 1
x ik B x ik A x + = ) exp( ) (
2 2
x ik C x =
Wave traveling right
Incoming
Wave traveling right
Transmitted
Wave traveling left
Reflected
If an electron comes in with an amplitude A, whats the probability
that its reflected? Whats the probability that its transmitted?
a) P(reflection) = B, P(transmission) = 1 B
b) P(reflection) = B/A, P(transmission) = 1 B/A
c) P(reflection) = B
2
, P(transmission) = 1 B
2
d) P(reflection) = B
2
/A
2
, P(transmission) = 1 B
2
/A
2
e) P(reflection) = |B|
2
/|A|
2
, P(transmission) =1 |B|
2
/|A|
2
A
B
C
e
-

15
Region I: Region II:
) exp( ) exp( ) (
1 1 1
x ik B x ik A x + = ) exp( ) (
2 2
x ik C x =
Wave traveling right
Incoming
Wave traveling right
Transmitted
Wave traveling left
Reflected
If an electron comes in with an amplitude A, whats the probability
that its reflected? Whats the probability that its transmitted?
P(reflection) = Reflection Coefficient
= R = |B|
2
/|A|
2
,
P(transmission) = Transmission Coefficient
= T = 1 |B|
2
/|A|
2
A
B
C
e
-

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Wave Functions: Boundary Conditions:



Write down the equations for Bound. Conds:
(1) A+B=C (2) ik
1
(AB) = ik
2
C
Solve for B and C in terms of A:
B = A*(k
1
k
2
)/(k
1
+k
2
)
C = A*2k
1
/(k
1
+k
2
)
Find R and T:
R = |B|
2
/|A|
2
= (k
1
k
2
)
2
/(k
1
+k
2
)
2

T = 1 |B|
2
/|A|
2
= 4k
1
k
2
/(k
1
+k
2
)
2
) exp( ) exp( ) (
1 1 1
x ik B x ik A x + =
) exp( ) (
2 2
x ik C x =
) 0 ( ) 0 ( . 1
2 1
= BC
dx
d
dx
d
BC
) 0 (

) 0 (
. 2
2 1

=
To find R and T, use boundary conditions:
Note that you cant
determine A from
boundary conditions. Its
the initial condition must
be given. But you dont
need it to find R & T.
17
Once you have amplitudes,
can draw wave function:
Real( )
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A. stop.
B. be reflected back.
C. exit the wire and keep moving to the right.
D. either be reflected or transmitted with some probability.
E. dance around and sing, I love quantum mechanics!
If the total energy E of the electron is
LESS than the work function of the metal,
V
0
, when the electron reaches the end of
the wire, it will
19
Region I (same as before): Region II:
) ( ) (
) (
2
0
2
2 2
x E x V
dx
x d
m

= +

) (
) (
2
2
2 2
x E
dx
x d
m

=

) (
2 ) (
2 2
2
x
mE
dx
x d

= ) (
) ( 2 ) (
2
0
2
2
x
V E m
dx
x d

=
k
1
2

2
) exp( ) exp( ) (
1 1 1
x ik B x ik A x + = ) exp( ) exp( ) (
2
x D x C x o o + =
Solve time-independent Schrodinger equation:
where ) ( ) ( ) (
) (
2
2
2 2
x E x x V
dx
x d
m

= +

) / exp( ) ( ) , ( iEt x t x = +
)) / ( exp(
)) / ( exp( ) , (
1
1 1

Et x k i B
Et x k i A t x
+ +
= +
) / exp(
) / exp( ) , (
2

Et x D
iEt x C t x
+
= +
o
o
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Region I: Region II:
) exp( ) exp( ) (
1 1 1
x ik B x ik A x + = ) exp( ) exp( ) (
2
x D x C x o o + =
Wave traveling right
Incoming
Wave traveling left
Reflected
Use boundary conditions to determine constants:
Boundary Conditions:

) 0 ( ) 0 ( . 1
2 1
= BC
dx
d
dx
d
BC
) 0 (

) 0 (
. 2
2 1

=
0
A
B
C
D
e
-

Note: no transmitted wave
appears in equations
x x BC as 0 ) ( . 0
2

Exponential decay Exponential growth

A + B = C
ik(A B) = C
1
| A |
| B |
R
2
2
= =
Solve for B in terms of A
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Once you have amplitudes,
can draw wave function:
Real( )
Electron may go part of the
way into barrier, may be
reflected from inside barrier
rather than surface, but it
always gets reflected
eventually.
22
Tunneling Problem in HW
Same as above but now 3 regions!
Real( )
w
w
23
Tunneling Problem in HW
Find in 3 regions:

Solve for B,C,D,F,G in terms of A
Find probability of transmission/reflection:

Final Result: T = ~ e
2w


w = width of barrier
= 1/q = decay constant =

E) 2m(V
0

1
1 4
e e
1
0 0
V
E
V
E
w w

(
(
(
(

+

) (
) exp( ) exp( ) (
1 1 3
x ik G x ik F x + =
) exp( ) exp( ) (
2
x D x C x o o + =
) exp( ) exp( ) (
1 1 1
x ik B x ik A x + =