Quantum particle

for the one dimensional

infinite potential well

Tutorial Quantum mechanics

R.Zus Infinite potential well 1

I. Infinite potential well asymmetric, one dimensional case

Tasks:
1) Determine the energy levels and the normalized wave functions of a
particle in the one-dimensional infinite potential well:

0, for 0 xa
V ( x) .
, for x 0 and x a

1) Graphic representation of the wave function and its squared modulus for
the first 3 levels of the energy.

2) The statistics of the operators

Qx , Qx2 , Px , Px2
using their coordinate representation.

3) Discussion on Heisenberg uncertainty relation as a function of n.

R.Zus Infinite potential well 2
1) Determine the energy levels and the normalized wave functions of a
particle in the one-dimensional infinite potential well:

Hamiltonian (energy operator) Px2

H V ( x)
2m
in the coordinates representation:
2
d2
H 2
V ( x)
2m dx
Solve the time-independent Schrdinger equation: H E ( x) E 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.

R.Zus Infinite potential well 3

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

2 d 2 ( x)
2
V ( x) ( x) E ( x)
2m dx
Outside the well:

V ( x) x ext( x) 0
0 si x a

Inside the well: 2

d 2 ( x) 2m
2
2 E ( x) 0
dx
The analytical form of the wave function for the infinite well:

A sin x B cos x, for 0 xa

( x) ;
0, for x 0 and x a
2mE
where ( E 0) .
2
R.Zus Infinite potential well 4
 Step 2: Impose the continuity conditions. Determine the energy.

(0 0) (0 0), for x 0
.
(a 0) (a 0), for x a

The wave function inside the well should be:

( x) A sin x.

The energy eigenstates 2 2

En 2
n2 , n 1,2,...
2ma

R.Zus Infinite potential well 5

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

2 3
| 1 (r , t ) d r 1 ( x) dx 1
2

n
E ( x) n ( x) A sin x
a
2 n
n ( x) sin x.
a a
2 3
( r , t ) d r the probability to find the particle located in the volume element d 3r
2 3
, t ) d r the probability to find the particle inside the region D
D
( r

R.Zus Infinite potential well 6

1) Graphic representation of the wave function and its squared modulus for
the first 3 levels of the energy. Interpretation.

2 n 0 xa
sin x, for
( x) a a ; n 1,2,3
for x 0 and x a
0,

2 2 n 0 xa
sin x, for
( x) a ; n 1,2,3
2
a
0, for x 0 and x a

R.Zus Infinite potential well 7

 2) The statistics of the operators

a a a
Qx n Qx n ( x) x n ( x) dx x n ( x) dx x x n dx
* 2 2
n
0 0 0
a 2

Qx2 n Qx2 n x 2 x n dx
0
a
d
Px n Px n n ( x) *
n ( x ')dx '
0
i dx '
2
d
a 2
P n P n
x
2
x
2
n ( x ')
*
n (x ')dx '
i dx '
2
0

2 2
(Qx ) Q Qx
2 2
x (Px ) P Px
2
x
2

R.Zus Infinite potential well 8

3) Discussion on Heisenberg uncertainty relation as a function of n.

( A) ( B ) | A, B |2
2 1 2

4
1
(Qx ) 2 (Px ) 2 2
4

Discuss (Qx ) ( Px ) , as a function of n.

2 2

R.Zus Infinite potential well 9

II. Infinite potential well symmetric, one dimensional case

Tasks:
1) Determine the energy levels and the normalized wave functions of a
particle in the one-dimensional infinite potential well:
0, l l
x
2 2 , l
V ( x)
l l
, x si x
2 2
1) Graphic representation of the wave function and its squared modulus for
the first 3 levels of the energy.

2) The statistics of the operators

Qx , Qx2 , Px , Px2
using their coordinate representation.

3) Discussion on Heisenberg uncertainty relation as a function of n.

R.Zus Infinite potential well 10