PHYS201 Assignment 2 Christopher Bagnall 40607860

Q1

a)

n 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Detection 1 39 127 255 374 467 498 459 382 239 131 28
s
P(x)dx 0.000 0.01 0.04 0.08 0.12 0.15 0.16 0.15 0.12 0.08 0.04 0.00
3 3 2 5 5 6 6 3 7 0 4 9

b)

For the mean, we can calculate:

11
x= ni P ( x i ) dx
i=0

Giving a result of

x=5.97 nm
For standard deviation:

2
( Std . Dev )= (nx)
So that:
11
(Std . Dev)2= (ni x)2 P ( x i ) dx
i=0

Giving the result

( Std . Dev )=2.178 nm

Histogram of n against dN(x)

Normal
600 Mean 5.972
StDev 2.178
N 3000
500

400
Frequency

300

200

100

0
0 2 4 6 8 10
n

This histogram (produced in Minitab) plots number of detections against position, and shows the statistics calculated above.
PHYS201 Assignment 2 Christopher Bagnall 40607860
Q1

c)

In this case, dx can be set to 1, so the quantity dN(x)/N is equal to dN(x)/Ndx.

Histogram of dN(x)/Ndx against x

0.18

0.16

0.14

0.12
dN(x)/Ndx

0.10

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
x

Histogram produced using Minitab

PHYS201 Assignment 2 Christopher Bagnall 40607860
Q1

d)

For the wave function:

( x )=
2
L
x
sin ( )
L
The probability distribution is:

| ( x )| = 2L sin2 ( x
2
)
L
The plot below (made using Wolfram Alpha) shows this function for L=12 and 0<x<12

This histogram is the plot from part c) with the function plotted onto it.

Histogram of dN(x)/Ndx against x

Normal
0.20 Mean 5.972
StDev 2.178
N 3000

0.15
dN(x)/Ndx

0.10

0.05

0.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
x
PHYS201 Assignment 2 Christopher Bagnall 40607860

Q1

e)
L
2 x
x = x sin2
L 0 ( )
L
dx

L
1 2 x
x (1cos
L0 L ( )
) dx

L L
1

L0
xdx 1L (1cos 2 Lx )dx
( )
0

L
L 1 2 x
(1cos
2 L0 L
)dx ( )
Integrate by parts for the remaining integrand:

2 x
1cos ( ) dx
L

xLsin ( 2Lx ) + L cos ( 2Lx )
2

2 4 2
Evaluating from 0 to L:
L

(1cos ( 2 Lx ))dx=0
0

L
x = =6 nm
2
This suggests that the 5.97nm estimate from part b) was a fairly good estimate.
PHYS201 Assignment 2 Christopher Bagnall 40607860
Q1

e) Continued

x= x x
2 2

2
x2 = x 2 x

L2
x2
4
Need to find x2 :
L
x = 2 x 2 sin 2 x dx
2
( )
L0 L

( 2Lx )
1cos dx

x2
L
1

L0
L
L2 1 2 x
3 L0
2
x cos
L
dx ( )
Integrate by parts for the remaining integrand:

x 2 cos ( 2 Lx ) dx=
x 2 Lsin ( 2Lx ) xLsin ( 2Lx ) dx
2

Integrate by parts again:

x 2 Lsin ( 2Lx ) + x L cos ( 2Lx ) + L cos( 2Lx ) dx
2 2

2 2 2 22

x 2 Lsin ( 2Lx ) + x L cos ( 2Lx ) + L sin ( 2Lx )
2 3

2 2 2 4 3
Evaluating from 0 to L:
L
2 x L3
x 2 cos
0
( ) L
dx= 2
2

L2 L2
x2=
3 2 2

L2 L2 L2
x2 = =4.7
3 2 2 4
x=2.17
PHYS201 Assignment 2 Christopher Bagnall 40607860
This is very close to the estimate of 2.178 from part b).
PHYS201 Assignment 2 Christopher Bagnall 40607860
Q2

a)
2
If P =0 then ( P ) = P2

2 2
P implies ( P )
2 x 4 x2

2
P2 >
4 x 2 x2
2

For kinetic energy:

P2
K=
2m
2
From above: P
2

4 x2

P2

2
K=
2 m 8 m x2

2
K
8 m x 2
PHYS201 Assignment 2 Christopher Bagnall 40607860
Q2

b)

i)

Note:
2 2
d d
2
= 2 2 k 3 /2 x ekx=2 k 5 /2 ekx (kx2)
dx dx
kx
As all terms have an e term in them, it shall be cancelled immediately.

Substituting:

2 5 /2 (
k kx2 )2 q2 k 3 /2=2 E k 3 /2
m
Expanding:

2 7 /2 2 2 5 /2
k x+ k 2 q2 k 3 /2=2 E k 3 / 2 x
m m
Cancelling:
2 2
2
k x + k q2=Ex
2m m
Substituting:
2 4
m q
2
x + q 2 q2=Ex
2
Cancelling:

m 2 q4
E=
2 2
PHYS201 Assignment 2 Christopher Bagnall 40607860
Q2

b)

ii)

2
x = x | ( x , t )|

2
x = x ( 2 k 3 /2 x ekx )
0

The new boundaries are 0 and because the function vanishes below 0.
2 kx 3 3 2 2
kx 2 e (4 k x +6 k x +6 kx +3)
x(2k 3/ 2
xe )=
2k
2 kx
Evaluating this at infinity, e goes to zero, sending the whole function to zero.
2 kx
Evaluating at zero, e goes to 1, and all x terms inside the brackets go to zero.

3
This leaves
2k
3
x =
2k

iii)

The probability distribution is:

2
| ( x , t )|
When k=1, this becomes:
2
( 2 x ex )

2
Plot of ( 2 x e x )

Plot made with Wolfram Alpha

PHYS201 Assignment 2 Christopher Bagnall 40607860
Q2

b)

iv)

The uncertainty in the particles position is:

2
x 2= x 2 x
3
We have x = , we need x2
2k

2
x2 = x2| ( x , t )|

3 2
(
x 2 = x 2 2 k 2 x ekx = ) 3
0 k2
So:
2
3 3
x 2=
k 2
( )
2 k
3 9 3
x2 = 2
2= 2
k 4k 4 k

x=
3
2k

Plot from Wolfram Alpha, x drawn on in MSPaint

PHYS201 Assignment 2 Christopher Bagnall 40607860
Q2

b)

v)

From part a):

2

K 2
8m x
Substitute in x, then k:

2 k 2 q 2
K =
6m 6

vi)

q 2
V=
x
2
V = q ( 2 k 3/ 2 x ekx )
2

0 x

m 2 q 4
k q 2=

vii)

E=V + K
2 4 2 4
m q m q
= +K
2 2
2 4 2 4 2 4
m q m q m q
K= 2
=
2 2
Comparing to v):
2 4 2
m q q
K=
2 6
PHYS201 Assignment 2 Christopher Bagnall 40607860
Q3

a)

Subsitute (x,t) into the left and right hand sides of the Schrodinger equation separately, and check for equality.

RHS:

( ))
i E1 t i E2 t
(
2 2 2 2
( x ,t ) 1
2
= 2
1 ( x )e + 2 ( x ) e
2m x 2 m x 2
Note that:

n ( x) =
2
L
sin
nx
L ( )
, En =
2 n2 2
2m L
2

Substitute in and expand:

( ( ))
i E1 t i E2 t
2 2 1
2 m x 2 2
2
L
sin
x
( )
L
e
+
2
L
sin
2 x
L
e ( )

i E1 t i E 2 t

( ( ) )
2 1 2 2 x 2 2 x

2m 2 L x 2
sin
L
e ( )
+ 2 sin
x L
e

i E1 t i E 2 t

( ( ) )
2 1 2 2 x 4 2 2 x

2m 2 L L 2
sin
L
e ( )
2 sin
L L
e

i E1 t i E2 t

( )
1 2 2 2 2 4 2 2

2 2m L (
2
L
sin
x
L
e )
+
2mL 2
L
sin
2 x
L
e ( )

i E1 t i E2 t

1
2
(
E1 1 ( x)e
+ E2 2 ( x) e
)
LHS:
i E1 t i E 2t

i
( x , t ) i
t
=
2 t
1 (x ) e(
+ 2 ( x ) e
)
i E t i E t

(
i i E1 iE
)
1 2

1 (x ) e 2 2 ( x )e
2
i E1 t i E2 t

1
2
(
E1 1 ( x ) e
+ E2 2 ( x ) e
)
i E 1 t i E2 t
So LHS and RHS are equal and ( x , t )= 1 1 ( x ) e
2
(
+ 2 ( x ) e
) is a solution to the equation.
PHYS201 Assignment 2 Christopher Bagnall 40607860
Q3

b)
2

| ( )|
i E1 t i E2 t

P (x , t)=
1
2
2
L
sin
x
( )
L
e
+
2
L
sin
2 x
( )
L
e

|( ( ( 2Lx ) e )|
i E1 t i E 2 t
1 x

L
sin
L
e )
+sin

Note:
2
|z| =z z
So:
i E1 t i E 2t i E1 t i E2 t
1
L ( ( )
sin
x
L
e
+sin( ) )( ( )
2 x
L
e
sin
x
L
e
+ sin ( ) )
2 x
L
e

E
( 2E1 ) 2 x
it

+sin 2
L ( )
i t (E2 E1)
x x 2 x 2 x x
sin2
L ( ) ( ) ( )
+ sin
L
sin
L
e
+sin (
L ) sin ( ) e
L

1

L
Note:

Z + Z =2 Re(Z)

So:

E
( 2E1 )

it

it (E2E 1)

e +e

x x 2 x 2 2 x
sin2( )
L
+ 2sin
L ( ) ( )
sin
L
( + sin
L ( ) )

1

L

1
L( ( ) ( ) ( ) (
sin
2 x
L
+2 sin
x
L
sin
2 x
L
cos
t ( E2E 1 )

+sin
2 2 x
L ) ( ))
PHYS201 Assignment 2 Christopher Bagnall 40607860
Q3

c)
L

( ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ))
2
1 x x 2 x t ( E 2E1 ) 2 x
PLHS ( t )= sin2 +2 sin sin cos + sin2 dx
0 L L L L L
L L L
2 2 2
t ( E2E 1 )
1
sin 2
L0
x
L ( ) 1
dx + sin2
L0
2 x
L
2
dx+ cos
L ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
0
sin
x
L
sin
2 x
L
dx

L L L
2 2 2
t ( E2E1 )

1

2L 0
1cos
2 x
L
1
( )
dx + 1cos
2L 0
4 x
L
4
dx + cos
L ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
0
sin 2
x
L
cos
x
L
dx

L L L
2 2 2
t ( E 2E1 )
1 1
cos
4 2L 0
2 x
L
1 1
( )
dx + cos
4 2L 0
4 x
L
4
dx+ cos
L ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
0
sin 2
x
L
cos
x
L
dx

The two cosine integrals will become functions with sin() in them and will vanish.
L
2
t ( E2E1 )
1 4
+ cos
2 L ( ) ( ) ( )
0
sin2
x
L
cos
x
L
dx

For the final integral, let:

u=sin( xL )
x
du= cos ( ) dx
L L

Then:
L
2 1

sin x
L
2
cos
x
L
L
( ) ( )
dx= u 2 du
0
0

L

3
PHYS201 Assignment 2 Christopher Bagnall 40607860
Q3

c) Continued

So that:
L
2
t ( E2E1 ) t ( E 2E1 )
1 4
+ cos
2 L ( ) ( ) ( )
0
sin 2
x
L
cos
x
L
1 4
dx= +
2 3
cos ( )
This means that the probability of finding the particle on the LHS of the well oscillates. It has a maximum probability
at:

t ( E2E 1)
cos ( ) =1

Giving:

1 4
+ 0.924
2 3
The minimum probability is at:

t E2E 1)
cos (( )=1

Giving:

1 4
0.076
2 3
The period of the probability function is:

2
E 2E1

Alternatively:

( E2E 1)
Let =

Then the period is: