One-dimensional Dynamics of

Quantum Particle
I. Infinite potential well
II. Gaussian wave packet
III. Finite potential well
IV. Rectangular potential barrier
V. Delta-potential barrier
Finite potential well

Quantum particle
for the one dimensional
finite potential well

May2015
Finite potential well

Finite potential well

Task:
Determine the energy levels and the normalized wave functions of a particle
in the one-dimensional finite asymmetrical potential well:
V1 ,

V ( x) 0,
V ,
2

x 0

for

0 x a,

for

x a

for

Hamiltonian (energy operator)

V1 , V 2 , a 0 .

Px

V (x)

2m

in the coordinates representation:

2

2m dx

V (x)

Solve the time-independent Schrdinger equation:

Finite potential well

(x) E

(x)

Solve the time-independent Schrdinger equation:

(x) E

(x)

Step 1: Determine the analytical form of the wave function.

Step 2: Impose the continuity conditions. Determine the energy.
Step 3: Impose the normalization relation. Obtain the final form of
the wave function.
Step 1: Determine the analytical form of the wave function.
The stationary Schrodinger equation on each domain:
Introduce the notations:

d
2

2 m dx

( E V1 ) 0

( x 0 ) reg. I

k1

2 m (V 1 E )

2 m dx

E 0

( 0 x a ) reg. II

k2

2 m dx

(E V2 ) 0

( x a ) reg. III

Finite potential well

k3

2 mE

E min( V 1 , V 2 )

2 m (V 2 E )

,
.

The associated general solutions in each region

(independent solutions) are:
d I
2

dx

d II

I ( x ) A1 e

k1 I 0
2

dx

d III

II ( x ) A 2 e

k 2 II 0
2

ik 2 x

k1 x

B1e

B2e

k1 x

, x 0

ik 2 x

0 x a

A 2 sin( k 2 x ) B 2 cos( k 2 x ) A sin( k 2 x )

'

'

dx

k 3 III 0
2

III ( x ) A 3 e

k3x

B 3e

k3x

x a

Since in the regions I and III the solutions decay and growth exponentially
and since the physical requirement imposes a finite wave function
A1 0

B3 0

Finite potential well

Step 2: Impose the continuity conditions. Determine the energy.

I ( 0 0 ) II ( 0 0 ),

II ( a 0 ) III ( a 0 ),

I ' ( 0 0 ) II ' ( 0 0 ),

II ' ( a 0 ) III ' ( a 0 ).

The difference between the right derivatives and the left derivatives should be zero if the
discontinuity of the potential is finite.

The conditions of continuity of the wave function

derivative

and of the

(x)

can be written conveniently as conditions of the

dx

continuity of logarithmic derivative

k1

cot

k3
k2

d (x)

(x)

dx

sin

k2
2 mV 1

k2

cot( ka )

sin( k 2 a )

Finite potential well

k2
2 mV

sin

k2

arcsin

2 mV 1
sin( k 2 a )

k2
2 mV 1

k2
2 mV

n 1

k 2 a arcsin

k2
2 mV

n 2
2

From this system of equations the task is to find k which provides the value of the
2
energy.

Taking into account that the values of the function arcsin lie between 0 and
and
2
eliminating we arrive to the transcendental equation whose solutions form the
discrete spectrum:
k 2 a n arcsin

k2

arcsin

2 mV 1

k2
2 mV

, n 1, 2 ,
2

The solutions can be obtained by a graphical method from the intersection points of
y ka

y n arcsin

k2
2 mV 1

Finite potential well

arcsin

k2
2 mV

.
2

k 2 a n arcsin

k2

arcsin

2 mV 1

k2
2 mV

, n 1, 2 ,
2

The maximum value:

k2

2 m min( V 1 , V 2 )

k 2 m ax

2 m min( V 1 , V 2 )

The condition for the existence of at least one level:

k 2 m ax a

arcsin

k 2 m ax
2 m min( V 1 , V 2 )

The condition for the existence of n levels:

a

1
k 2 m ax

n
arcsin

2 m min( V 1 , V 2 )
k 2 m ax

Finite potential well

Step 3: Impose the normalization relation. Obtain the final form of

the wave function.

2
3
(r , t) d r 1

2
3
( r , t ) d r the probabilit

(x)

dx 1

2
3
( r , t ) d r the probabilit

y to find the particle

y to find the particle

Finite potential well

located
inside

in the volume
the region

element

d r