Quantum Mechanics (PHYS621)

Module III: Approximation Methods

Session 6: WKB Approximation

WKB (Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin) Approximation Method:

-useful in the systems with slowly varying potentials (the potentials which remain at most
constant over a region of the order of the de Broglie wavelengths)

-WKB method can be considered as a semi classical approximation method

Let us consider that a particle is moving in a time-independent potential ( ). The Schrodinger

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

( ) ( ( )) ( )

( )
( ) ( ) .................(1)

⁄
wherein, ( ) { ( ( ))} classical momentum of particle at

If ( ) is constant then the solution of Eq. 1 will be of the form:

( ⁄ )
( )

However, if ( ) is not constant but slowly varying functions of ‘r’ then WKB method can be
used to approximately treat such systems. The solution of Eq. 1 will be of the form:

( )⁄
( ) ( ) .............(2)

wherein ( ) and ( ) denote the amplitude and phase and both are real functions.

Now substituting Eq. 2 into Eq. 1, we would have:

1
 ⁄
[ { ( ) ( )} { ( )( ) }] ...........(3)

⁄ ⁄
[ ( ) ] [ ( )( ) ]

To satisfy Eq. 3, the real and imaginary parts of this equation must separately.

( ) ( )

We can neglect the first term ( ) as it is very small as compared to ( ) and ( ).

( ) ( ) ( ( )) .................(4)

and ( )( ) .............(5)

If the motion of the particle is one-dimensional then Eq. 4 and Eq. 5 will be written as:

⁄
( ) { ( ( ))} ( ) ...........(6)

and ( ) ( ) ( ) .............(7)

The solution of Eq. 6 will be:

⁄
∫ ∫ ( ) ∫{ ( ( ))}

 The phase of WKB approximation would be:

( ) ∫ ( ) ..............(8)

The Eq. 7 could be written as:

[ ( )]

The solution will be:

( ) .............(9)
√| ( )|

2
where C and A(x) demote the arbitrary constant and amplitude of WKB wave function.

Now substituting ( ) and ( ) values into Eq. 2 we would have the approximate solutions:

( ) [ ∫ ( ) ].............(10)
√| ( )|

(1) ( ) [Classically allowed region]

The most general solution will be combination of ( ) and ( ):

( ) ( ) ( )

( ) [ ∫ ( ) ] [ ∫ ( ) ] ............(11)
√| ( )| √| ( )|

(2) ( ) [Classically forbidden region]

⸪ The momentum ( ) is imaginary therefore the exponents of Eq. 10 will become real.

( ) [ ∫ | ( )| ] [ ∫ ( ) ] ...........(12)
√| ( )| √| ( )|

(3) ( ) or ( ) will be dealt separately because at this case wave function becomes
infinite since ( ) = 0. The points are defined as classical turning points.

Validity of WKB (Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin) Approximation Method:

We have

⁄
[ { ( ) ( )} { ( )( ) }]

Under classical limit; the quantities of the order of are too small. Therefore, the semi-classical
region can be given by the following condition:

| | ( )

In one dimensional motion of particles we could write:

| | or | ( )| ..............(1)

3
 wherein, and | |

⸪ ( )

 Now Eq. 1 could be written as:

| ( ( )
)| | ( ( )
)|

( )
| ( )|  | ( ̅ ( ))| ..............(2)

( )
wherein, ̅ ( ) and ( ) ( )
is the de Broglie wavelength.

The Condition given by Eq. 2 suggests that the rate of change of de Broglie wavelength is small.
That means the of particle must vary only slightly over distances of the order of its size.
However, this condition is always satisfied for classical systems.

Therefore, WKB’s validity condition is:

̅( )
| | | ( ( )
)| ..............(3)

This condition breaks down at classical turning points ( ); ( ); since ( ) .

Classically, at , particle will stop and then moves in the opposite direction. If ( ) is small
then wavelength ̅ will become very large and which violates the requirement of WKB
approximation. If ( ) is too small then also condition given by Eq. 3 breaks down.

Therefore, WKB approximation is valid in both allowed and forbidden regions but not at
classical turning points.

Text and References

 L. I. Schiff, Quantum Mechanics, 3rd Edition (McGraw Hill Book Co., New York 1968).

 E. Merzbacher, Quantum Mechanics, 3rd Edition (John Wiley and Sons, Inc1997).

4
 A. K. Ghatak and S. Lokanathan, Quantum Mechanics: Theory and Applications, 5th
Edition, (Macmillan India, 2004).

 Arno Bohm, Quantum Mechanics: Foundations and Applications, 3rd Edition (New York:
Springer-Verlag, 2003).

 Quantum Mechanics by V. Devanathan. (Narosa Publishing House).

 Nouredine Zettili, Quantum Mechanics: Concepts and Applications (John-Wiley,

 J.L. Powell and B. Crasemann, Quantum Mechanics (Addison-Wesley Pubs. Co., 1965).

 P. A. M. Dirac, The Principles of Quantum Mechanics (Oxford University Press,

 J.J. Sakurai, Modern Quantum Mechanics (Pearson Education, Inc., 1994).