PHYS234_W25_lecture_29_20250324
Particle in an infinite potential well (1D), contd.
In the class, we played with a python simulation of a particle prepared in the superposition of two
energy eigenstates in the infinite well (of length L=1).
Copy the code and play with the simulation in Google colab -
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1j7AabKI4X6vbuI_9bUGXTLzBtlwWhJ3-?usp=sharing
Here, the particle is prepared in the energy eigenstate |𝐸1 ⟩ . The particle's probability density,
2
|𝜓 ( 𝑥, 𝑡 ) | looks like the above plot at time 𝑡 = 0. Note that this provides a concrete
visualization of a Dirac ket in real space. If we were to image the particle, i.e., where the particle
is, we will find it more probable to find the particle near the center of the potential well.
Since the particle is prepared in an energy eigenstate, the state is stationary, i.e., the
wavefunction only changes by a global phase. Hence, the probability density is independent of
time.
1
If we prepare the state in a superposition of the energy states, |𝜓⟩ = ( | 𝐸1 ⟩ + | 𝐸2 ⟩ ), the
√2
particle's wavefunction looks like this:
It is more probable to find the particle on the left half of the well than the right half. Since the
particle is not in an energy eigenstate, its wavefunction will change over time. For example, at a
later time, it will look like:
(Here, the time is expressed in a relative unit, w.r.t. the energy, see the code. It is not absolute
time in seconds.)
1
At a later time, the superposition turns into |𝜓 ( 𝑡 ) ⟩ = ( | 𝐸1 ⟩ − | 𝐸2 ⟩ ), and hence the
√2
wavefunction is more concentrated in the right half of the well.
The particle oscillating back and forth in the well with time. This is the Bohr's oscillation arising
from the difference in energy eigenvalues.
In the tutorial this week, we will work out the problem of a particle in a finite potential well.
Here is the recipe:
