AIN SHAMS UNIVERSITY

Faculty of Engineering
Engineering Physics & Mathematics
Department

Modern Physics & Quantum Prof. Wael Fikry

Mechanics Dr. Michael Gad
Problem Set 4
Quantum Mechanics
Constants in SI units: Electron charge (e) = 1.6×10-19, Electron rest mass (mo) = 9.1×10-31,
Speed of light = 3×108, Planck’s constant (h) = 6.62×10-34
Part I: State whether the following statements are true or false, and if false state the reason.
Statement
T or F If wrong, write the reason or the correction below the statement
number
1 The wave function (
) must be a continuous function.
The function (
  .   
) can represent a proper wave function of a
2 particle between (  ) and (  ∞), where () represents the position of the
particle.
3 Schrödinger’s equation applies for tiny particles moving with (speed > 0.2c).
The number of states (degeneracy) at the energy level E123 for a 3D potential
4
energy box is 3.
If the wave function of particles is ψ( x) = A e−kx where A and k are real positive
5 constants, the associated probability current density is A2v where v is the particles
velocity.
An electron of energy (E) impinges a potential barrier of potential energy (U>E)
6 and width (L). The probability that the electron gets to the other side of the barrier
is zero according to classical physics.
The continuity equation means that the number of stored particles in a certain
7 volume increases with time, if the flow rate of particles into this volume is greater
than the flow rate out.

Part II: Choose the BEST answer in the following. Only one answer is allowed.
For the numerical problems, write the steps of the solution. The answer will not be evaluated
unless the steps are shown.

Question
Choice Question
number
The wave function of a particle ():
1
(a) can be negative.
 (b) equals the wavelength of the matter wave.
(c) can be discontinuous.
(d) has no relation with momentum of the particle.
(e) can have two different values at the same position.
The probability density function (|| ) versus the
position () for an electron is approximated by the |
|  
relation shown in the next figure. If one thousand
.
electrons exist in the region (−2 ≤  ≤ 2), what
2 is the number of electrons in the region (−1 ≤  ≤
2)?
(a) 250 (b) 125 (c) 500
  
-2 -1 1 2
(d) 750 (e) 875

The wave function of a particle in a one-dimensional infinite well of width (2 ) is given
by    , where (x) is given in () . If the particle energy is 98 eV, the energy of
3
the particle in the ground state is:
(a) 24.5 eV (b) 392 eV (c) 196 eV (d) zero (e) 49 eV
The concept of energy quantization of a particle in a box follows from:
(a) the wave nature of the particle. (b) the confinement of the particle.
4 (c) the zero energy level. (d) the degeneracy
(e) answers (a) and (b) (f) answers (a) and (c)
(g) answers (c) and (d) (h) answers (a), (b), (c) and (d)
A beam of electrons is incident on a barrier of 5eV height and 0.1 nm width. If 70% of the
5 electrons are reflected, the energy of an electron in this beam should be:
(a) zero (b) 0.02 eV (c) 1.32 eV (d) 2.3 eV (e) 3.6 eV

Part III: Problems

1) Find the expectation value  x of the position and the expectation value  p  of the momentum of a particle
trapped in an infinite box that is L wide for a level (n). Comment on your results.
ℏ
2) Show that the expectation values  px and  xp  are related by px − xp = . This result is described by saying
i
that p and x do not commute and it is intimately related to the uncertainty principle.

3) A particle of mass m moves in a potential well of length 2L. Its potential energy is infinite for x < –L and for x >
+L. Inside the region –L < x <L, its potential energy is given by:
−ℏ2 x 2
U ( x) =
mL2 ( L2 − x 2 )
In addition, the particle is in a stationary state that is described by the wave function ψ(x) = A(1 – x2/L2) for –L <x <
+L, and by ψ(x) = 0 elsewhere.
(a) Determine the energy of the particle in terms of ħ, m, and L.
(b) Show that A = (15/16L)1/2.
(c) Determine the probability that the particle is located between x = –L/3 and x = +L/3.
4) In the next figure, the potential well and the corresponding wave
function are shown Explain why the wavelength and amplitude of ψ vary
as they do.

5) Assume that \  and \  are solutions to the one-dimensional time-independent Schrodinger wave
equation with the same energy E. Show that \ + !\ is a solution of the Schrodinger’s equation in general for
any values of the constants A and B.

6) A particle has a wave function

 2 −x a
 e for x > 0
ψ ( x) =  a
0 for x < 0


(a) Find the probability density function for this particle.

(b) Find the probability that the particle will be at any point where x < 0.
(c) Show that ψ is normalized, and then find the probability that the particle will be found between x = 0 and x = a.
2
L2
7) In a region of space, a particle with zero total energy has a wave function ψ ( x) = Axe− x
(a) Sketch ψ(x) and the probability density function.
(b) What is the most probable location at which to find the particle?
(c) Find the potential energy U as a function of x.
(d) Make a sketch of U(x) versus x.
(e) Find (A) in terms of (L).
(f) Calculate  x and  x 2  .
+∞ +∞ +∞
1 π 1 3 π
  
2 − az 2 3 − az 2 2
[Hint: ze dz = & ze dz = 2 & z 4e − az dz = ]
0
4 a3 0
2a 0
8 a5

8) For the step potential function, shown in the next figure, assume that " >
$% and that particles incident from the +x direction are traveling in the -x
direction.
(a) Write the wave solutions for each region.
(b) Derive expressions for the transmission and reflection coefficients.

9) An electron is found in region II of the semi-infinite potential well as shown

in the next figure. If the electron energy (E) is less than the potential energy Uo, the wave functions in regions I and
II are given as:
 Be k1 x + Ce − k1 x x<0 U(x) ∞
ψ =
 A sin ( k2 x + ϕ ) 0< x<L Region I Region III

2m(U o − E ) 2mE Region II

Where k1 = 2
and k2 = Uo
ℏ ℏ2 E
x
0 L
(a) Which of constants B or C is zero and why ? What is the wave function in region III?
(b) Apply the boundary conditions to find numerical values for the angle φ and the width L if the given first energy
level E is 1 eV and "  $& /2.
(c) Sketch the wave function under the conditions mentioned in (b).

10) The state of a particle of mass () in one dimension is

described approximately by the following quantum wave function:

C (ax − x 2 ) 0<x <a

ψ (x ) = 
0 elsewhere

Where (C) is a positive constant.  D D 


a
2 a n +5
A useful integral: ∫ x n (ax − x 2 ) 2 dx =
0 ( n + 3)(n + 4)( n + 5)

(a) Sketch () using the next graph.

(b) Find the value of the constant (C) in terms of (a).
(c) Find the most probable location for this particle.
(d) Calculate the average value of the position <p>. Comment on your result.
(e) Calculate the value of the average of the square of the momentum <p2>.

11) A particle with energy E < U1 < Uo exists inside the potential well ;
shown in the next figure.
;G
√*+ /*01 + /*02 +
Let: ( ; .&  ; .  II ;
ℏ ℏ ℏ
I @
III

(a) Will the particle penetrate more in the region x < 0 or in the region
x>b? Explain. 0 b
(b) Find the wave functions of the particle in the three regions.
(c) State the equations for the boundary conditions.
78 98 
(d) By applying the boundary conditions to the wave functions, show that: tan(6  7 : 18 82
1 2

Part III: MATLAB exercise (Optional)

Let the transmission through a potential barrier, of height (;) and width (<), be given by (=  − ><),

where (>  ? ℏ ; − @ and (@) is the energy of the incident electron. Plot the relation (= − <) using:
@   A; < B  .   , < D  . 
Draw the relation with ;   A, then with ;  E A
Which has a stronger effect on the tunneling transmission, < or ;? Why?