Infinite (and finite) square well potentials

Announcements:
Homework set #8 is posted this afternoon and due on
Wednesday. Note I received an email from a student
that problem 5c had a typo and should say exp(-iEt/
hbar). I corrected the homework set this morning.

Second Midterm is Thursday, Nov. 7 – 7:30 – 9:00 pm in

this room.

http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 1

 Some wave function rules
ψ(x) and dψ(x)/dx must be continuous

These requirements are used to match boundary conditions.

|ψ(x)|2 must be properly normalized

This is necessary to be able to interpret

|ψ(x)|2 as the probability density

This is required to be able to normalize ψ(x)

http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 2

 Infinite square well (particle in a box) solution
After applying boundary conditions we found
and which gives us an energy of

Things to notice:
Energies are quantized. Energy

Minimum energy E1 is not zero. 16E1 n=4

Consistent with uncertainty principle.
x is between 0 and a so Δx~a/2.
Since ΔxΔp≥ħ/2, must be uncertainty 9E1 n=3
in p. But if E=0 then p=0 so Δp=0,
violating the uncertainty principle.
4E1 n=2
When a is large, energy levels get E1 n=1
closer so energy becomes more like
0 V=0 a x
continuum (like classical result).
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 3
 Finishing the infinite square well
We need to normalize ψ(x). That is, make sure that

For the region x<0 and x>a the probability |ψ

(x)|2 is zero so we just need to ensure that
Putting in and doing the integral we find
Therefore But we also know

So we can write the solution as

Adding in the time

dependence:
Is it still normalized? is not a function of x so can pull
out of the integral and find
So the time dependent piece is already normalized.
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 4
 Clicker question 1 Set frequency to DA

Am I more likely to find the particle close to a/2 in the n=2 or n=3 state?
A. n=2 state
B. n=3 state
C. No difference
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 5
 Clicker question 1 Set frequency to DA

Am I more likely to find the particle close to a/2 in the n=2 or n=3 state?
A. n=2 state
For n=2 state:
B. n=3 state
C. No difference For n=3 state:
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 6
 Be careful to understand everything we plot…
Energy V(x)
Total energy
E (n=3)

E (n=2)

E (n=1)
V=0 eV
0 a
x
ψ(x)
Potential Energy V(x)
Sometimes plot three
0 things on the same graph! Total Energy E
Wave Function ψ(x)
http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.php?sim=Quantum_Bound_States
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 7
 Comparing classical and quantum results

Note: time dependence depends on energy

Classical physics Quantum physics

Particle can only have
Particle can have any energy
particular energies (quantized)
Lowest kinetic energy is 0 Lowest energy state in box has
(particle is at rest) kinetic energy (zero point motion)
How small would a box need to be for E1 to be 4.7 eV?

About the size of an atom so our model wouldn’t work anyway

http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 8
 Reading Quiz 1 Set frequency to DA
Please answer this question on your own.
No discussion until after.
Q. Classically forbidden regions are where…
A. a particle’s total energy is less than its kinetic energy
B. a particle’s total energy is greater than its kinetic energy
C. a particle’s total energy is less than its potential energy
D. a particle’s total energy is greater than its potential energy
E. None of the above.

http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 9

 Reading Quiz 1 Set frequency to DA
Please answer this question on your own.
No discussion until after.
Q. Classically forbidden regions are where…
A. a particle’s total energy is less than its kinetic energy
B. a particle’s total energy is greater than its kinetic energy
C. a particle’s total energy is less than its potential energy
D. a particle’s total energy is greater than its potential energy
E. None of the above.

This would imply that the kinetic energy is

negative which is forbidden (at least classically).

http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 10

 Motivation for a finite square well
V(x) Infinite square well approximation
assumes that electrons never get
V(x) out of the well so V(0)=V(a)=∞
and ψ(0)=ψ(a)=0.
Energy

A more accurate potential

function V(x) gives a chance
of the electron being outside
0
0 a x
What if the particle
E
energy is higher?
What about two wires very close together?

These scenarios require the more accurate potential

http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 11
 Need to solve the finite square well
wire Need to solve TISE:
V(x) 4.7 eV
Energy

x < 0: V(x) = 4.7 eV

Work function x > a: V(x) = 4.7 eV
0 0 < x < a: V(x) =0
0 a x

This will be used to understand quantum tunneling which

provides the basis for understanding
Radioactive decay
Scanning Tunneling Microscope which is used to study surfaces
Binding of molecules

http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 12

 Analyzing the finite square well
wire TISE:
V(x) 4.7 eV
Energy

We rewrite the TISE as

Eparticle

0
0 a x
Region I Region II Region III Consider three regions

In Region II: total energy E > potential energy V so V − E < 0

Replace with −k2 to get (k is real)

Same as infinite square well so sin(kx) and cos(kx) or eikx and e-ikx

Region II:
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 13
 Clicker question 2 the finiteSet
Analyzing square well to DA
frequency
wire TISE:
V(x) 4.7 eV
In Region I & III: E < V
Energy

Eparticle so V − E > 0

0 Replace with
0 a x
Region I Region II Region III α2 to get
(α is real)
Which functional forms of ψ(x) work?
A.
B. A,B,D give a minus sign so
C. This is not what we want.
D.
E. More than one Both and give
us what we want
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 14
 Analyzing the finite square well
wire Rewritten TISE:
V(x) 4.7 eV
Energy

Eparticle
In Region I & III solutions
0 are of the form and .
0 a x
Region I Region II Region III

Assume α > 0. Then for Region III, gives exponential growth

and gives exponential decay

Region III:

http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 15

 Clicker question 3 the finiteSet
Analyzing square well to DA
frequency
V(x) wire 4.7 eV
Energy

Eparticle

0
x
0 a
Region I Region II Region III

What will the wave function in Region III look like? What can we
say about the constants C and D (assuming α>0)?
A. C = 0
B. D = 0
C. C = D
D. C = D = 0
E. C & D can be anything; need more information
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 16
 Clicker question 3 the finiteSet
Analyzing square well to DA
frequency
V(x) wire 4.7 eV
Energy

Eparticle

0
x
0 a
Region I Region II Region III

What will the wave function in Region III look like? What can we
say about the constants C and D (assuming α>0)?
A. C = 0 If C ≠ 0 then as
B. D = 0 Makes it impossible to normalize
C. C = D
D. C = D = 0 For D ≠ 0 as so it is OK.
E. C & D can be anything; need more information
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 17
 Clicker question 4 the finiteSet
Analyzing square well to DA
frequency
V(x) wire 4.7 eV
Energy

Eparticle

0
x
0 a
Region I Region II Region III

What will the wave function in Region I look like? What can we
say about the constants E and F (assuming α>0)?
A. E = 0
B. F = 0
C. E = F
D. E = F = 0
E. E & F can be anything; need more information
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 18
 Clicker question 4 the finiteSet
Analyzing square well to DA
frequency
V(x) wire 4.7 eV
Energy

Eparticle

0
x
0 a
Region I Region II Region III

What will the wave function in Region I look like? What can we
say about the constants E and F (assuming α>0)?
A. E = 0 If F ≠ 0 then as
B. F = 0 Makes it impossible to normalize
C. E = F
D. E = F = 0 For E ≠ 0 as so it is OK.
E. E & F can be anything; need more information
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 19
 Matching boundary conditions
wire
V(x) 4.7 eV
Energy

0
x
a
Region I Region II Region III

Matching boundary conditions at x=0 and x=a requires:

ψ(x) is continuous so and

is continuous so and

http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 20

 Matching boundary conditions
wire
V(x) 4.7 eV
Energy

0
x
a
Region I Region II Region III

We won’t actually work out the math; we’ll just look at results.
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 21
 Evaluating results

Outside well: E < V Inside well: E > V Outside well: E < V

V(x) 4.7 eV
Energy

Eparticle

0
x
a

Potential well is not infinite so Particle location extends into

particle is not strictly contained classically forbidden region

In the classically forbidden regions, the particle

has total energy less than the potential energy!

http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 22

 Comparison of infinite and finite potential wells
Electron in finite square well Infinite potential well
(a=2 nm and V=1.0 eV) (a = 2 nm and V = ∞)

http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2170/ Physics 2170 – Fall 2013 23