Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

The WKB approximation

Quantum mechanics 2 - Lecture 4

Igor Lukačević

UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

29. listopada 2012.

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

1 General remarks

2 The “classical” region

3 Tunneling

4 The connection formulas

5 Literature

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Contents

1 General remarks

2 The “classical” region

3 Tunneling

4 The connection formulas

5 Literature

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

WKB = Wentzel, Kramers, Brillouin

in Holland it’s KWB
in France it’s BKW
in England it’s JWKB (for Jeffreys)

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

WKB = Wentzel, Kramers, Brillouin

in Holland it’s KWB
in France it’s BKW
in England it’s JWKB (for Jeffreys)

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

WKB = Wentzel, Kramers, Brillouin

in Holland it’s KWB
in France it’s BKW
in England it’s JWKB (for Jeffreys)

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

WKB = Wentzel, Kramers, Brillouin

in Holland it’s KWB
in France it’s BKW
in England it’s JWKB (for Jeffreys)

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Basic idea:
1 particle E
potential V (x) constant p
±ikx 2m(E − V )
if E > V ⇒ ψ(x) = Ae , k=
~

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Basic idea:
1 particle E
potential V (x) constant p
2m(E − V )
if E > V ⇒ ψ(x) = Ae ±ikx , k=
~

A question
What’s the character of A and λ = 2π/k here?

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Basic idea:
1 particle E
potential V (x) constant p
2m(E − V )
if E > V ⇒ ψ(x) = Ae ±ikx , k=
~
2 suppose V (x) not constant, but varies slowly wrt λ

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Basic idea:
1 particle E
potential V (x) constant p
2m(E − V )
if E > V ⇒ ψ(x) = Ae ±ikx , k=
~
2 suppose V (x) not constant, but varies slowly wrt λ

A question
What can we say about ψ, A and λ now?

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Basic idea:
1 particle E
potential V (x) constant p
2m(E − V )
if E > V ⇒ ψ(x) = Ae ±ikx , k=
~
2 suppose V (x) not constant, but varies slowly wrt λ

A question
What can we say about ψ, A and λ now?

We still have oscillating ψ, but with slowly changable A and λ.

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Basic idea:
1 particle E
potential V (x) constant p
±ikx 2m(E − V )
if E > V ⇒ ψ(x) = Ae , k=
~
2 suppose V (x) not constant, but varies slowly wrt λ
3 if E < V , the reasoning is analogous

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Basic idea:
1 particle E
potential V (x) constant p
±ikx 2m(E − V )
if E > V ⇒ ψ(x) = Ae , k=
~
2 suppose V (x) not constant, but varies slowly wrt λ
3 if E < V , the reasoning is analogous

A question
What if E ≈ V ?

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Basic idea:
1 particle E
potential V (x) constant p
±ikx 2m(E − V )
if E > V ⇒ ψ(x) = Ae , k=
~
2 suppose V (x) not constant, but varies slowly wrt λ
3 if E < V , the reasoning is analogous

A question
What if E ≈ V ? Turning points

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Contents

1 General remarks

2 The “classical” region

3 Tunneling

4 The connection formulas

5 Literature

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

S.E.
~2 p2 p
− ∆ψ + V (x)ψ = E ψ ⇐⇒ ∆ψ = − 2 ψ , p(x) = 2m [E − V (x)]
2m ~

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

S.E.
~2 p2 p
− ∆ψ + V (x)ψ = E ψ ⇐⇒ ∆ψ = − 2 ψ , p(x) = 2m [E − V (x)]
2m ~

“Classical” region

99K E > V (x) , p real

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

S.E.
~2 p2 p
− ∆ψ + V (x)ψ = E ψ ⇐⇒ ∆ψ = − 2 ψ , p(x) = 2m [E − V (x)]
2m ~

“Classical” region

99K E > V (x) , p real

99K ψ(x) = A(x)e iφ(x)

A(x) and φ(x) real

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Putting ψ(x) into S.E. gives two equations:

p2
 
A00 = A (φ0 )2 − 2 (1)
~
 0
2 0
A φ = 0 (2)

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Putting ψ(x) into S.E. gives two equations:

p2
 
A00 = A (φ0 )2 − 2 (1)
~
 0
A2 φ0 = 0 (2)

Solve (2)

C
A= √ 0, C ∈R
φ

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Putting ψ(x) into S.E. gives two equations:

p2
 
A00 = A (φ0 )2 − 2 (1)
~
 0
2 0
A φ = 0 (2)

Solve (2) Solve (1)

Assumption: A varies slowly

C
A= √ 0, C ∈R ⇒ A00 ≈ 0
φ
Z
1
φ(x) = ± p(x)dx
~

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Solve (2) Solve (1)

Assumption: A varies slowly

C
A= √ 0, C ∈R ⇒ A00 ≈ 0
φ
Z
1
φ(x) = ± p(x)dx
~

Resulting wavefunction
C i R
ψ(x) ≈ p e ± ~ p(x)dx
p(x)
Note: general solution is a linear combination of these.

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Solve (1) Solve (2)

Assumption: A varies slowly

C
A= √ 0, C ∈R ⇒ A00 ≈ 0
φ
Z
1
φ(x) = ± p(x)dx
~

Resulting wavefunction
C i R
ψ(x) ≈ p e ± ~ p(x)dx
p(x)
Note: general solution is a linear combination of these.

Probability of finding a particle at x

|C |2
|ψ(x)|2 ≈
p(x)

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: potential well with two vertical walls


some function , 0 < x < a
V (x) =
∞, otherwise

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: potential well with two vertical walls


some function , 0 < x < a
V (x) =
∞, otherwise

Again, assume E > V (x) =⇒

1 h i 1
ψ(x) ≈ p C+ e iφ(x) + C− e −iφ(x) = p [C1 sin φ(x) + C2 cos φ(x)]
p(x) p(x)
where Z x
1
φ(x) = p(x 0 )dx 0
~ 0

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example (cont.)
Boundary conditions: ψ(0) = 0, ψ(a) = 0 ⇒ φ(a) = nπ , n = 1, 2, 3, . . . ⇒
Z a
p(x)dx = nπ~
0

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example (cont.)
Boundary conditions: ψ(0) = 0, ψ(a) = 0 ⇒ φ(a) = nπ , n = 1, 2, 3, . . . ⇒
Z a
p(x)dx = nπ~
0

Take, for example, V (x) = 0 ⇒

n 2 π 2 ~2
En =
2ma2
We got an exact result...is this strange?

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example (cont.)
Boundary conditions: ψ(0) = 0, ψ(a) = 0 ⇒ φ(a) = nπ , n = 1, 2, 3, . . . ⇒
Z a
p(x)dx = nπ~
0

Take, for example, V (x) = 0 ⇒

n 2 π 2 ~2
En =
2ma2
p
We got an exact result...is this strange? No, since A = 2/a = const.

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Contents

1 General remarks

2 The “classical” region

3 Tunneling

4 The connection formulas

5 Literature

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Now, assume E < V :

C 1 R
ψ(x) ≈ p e ± ~ |p(x)|dx
|p(x)|

where p(x) is imaginary.

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Now, assume E < V :

C 1 R
ψ(x) ≈ p e ± ~ |p(x)|dx
|p(x)|

where p(x) is imaginary.

Consider the potential:


some function , 0 < x < a
V (x) =
0, otherwise

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

x <0

ψ(x) = Ae ikx + Be −ikx

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

x <0 x >a

ψ(x) = Ae ikx + Be −ikx ψ(x) = Fe ikx

|F |2
Transmission probability: T =
|A|2

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

x <0 0≤x ≤a x >a

1 Rx 0 0
ψ(x) = Ae ikx + Be −ikx ψ(x) ≈ √ C e ~ 0 |p(x )|dx ψ(x) = Fe ikx
|p(x)|
−~1 R x |p(x 0 )|dx 0
+√ D e 0
|p(x)|

|F |2
Transmission probability: T =
|A|2

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

x <0 0≤x ≤a x >a

1 Rx 0 0
ψ(x) = Ae ikx + Be −ikx ψ(x) ≈ √ C e~ 0 |p(x )|dx ψ(x) = Fe ikx
|p(x)|
1 R x 0 0
−~ 0 |p(x )|dx
+√ D e
|p(x)|

Transmission probability:
|F |2
T =
|A|2
High, broad barrier 1st term
goes to 0
Why?

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

x <0 0≤x ≤a x >a

1 Rx 0 0
ψ(x) = Ae ikx + Be −ikx ψ(x) ≈ √ C e ~ 0 |p(x )|dx ψ(x) = Fe ikx
|p(x)|
1 R x 0 0
−~ 0 |p(x )|dx
+√ D e
|p(x)|

Transmission probability:
|F |2 2 Ra 0 0
T = ∼ e − ~ 0 |p(x )|dx
|A| 2

High, broad barrier 1st term

goes to 0
Why?
Z a
1
T ≈ e −2γ , γ= |p(x)|dx
~ 0

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: Gamow’s theory of alpha decay

first time that quantum

mechanics had been
applied to nuclear
physics

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: Gamow’s theory of alpha decay (cont.)

first time that quantum

mechanics had been
applied to nuclear
physics
turning points:
1 r1 7−→ nucleus radius
(6.63 fm for U238 )
2 r2 −
7 →
1 2Ze 2
=E
4π0 r2

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: Gamow’s theory of alpha decay (cont.)

Z s √
1 r2 2mE r2 r2
  Z r
1 2Ze 2
γ= 2m − E dr = − 1dr
~ r1 4π0 r2 ~ r1 r

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: Gamow’s theory of alpha decay (cont.)

Z s √
1 r2 2mE r2 r2
  Z r
1 2Ze 2
γ= 2m − E dr = − 1dr
~ r1 4π0 r2 ~ r1 r

Substituting r = r2 sin2 u gives

√   r  
2mE π r1
− sin−1
p
γ= r2 − r1 (r2 − r1 )
~ 2 r2

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: Gamow’s theory of alpha decay (cont.)

Z s √
1 r2 2mE r2 r2
  Z r
1 2Ze 2
γ= 2m − E dr = − 1dr
~ r1 4π0 r2 ~ r1 r

Substituting r = r2 sin2 u gives

√ (  r  )
2mE π −1 r1 p
γ= r2 − sin − r1 (r2 − r1 )
~ 2 r2 | {z }
| {z } √ r1 r2 √
r1 r2 √ r1 r2 −r12 −−−→ r1 r2
−−−→ r1 /r2
| {z }
π r −2√r r
2 2 1 2

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: Gamow’s theory of alpha decay (cont.)

Substituting r = r2 sin2 u gives
√ (  r  )
2mE π −1 r1 p
γ= r2 − sin − r1 (r2 − r1 )
~ 2 r2 | {z }
| {z } √ r1 r2 √
r1 r2 √ r1 r2 −r1 −−−→ r1 r2
2
−− −→ r1 /r2
| {z }
π r −2√r r
2 2 1 2

√
2mE h π √ i Z √
γ≈ r2 − 2 r1 r2 = K1 √ − K2 Zr1
~ 2 E
where
 √
e2

π 2m
K1 = = 1.980 MeV1/2
4π0 ~
 2 1/2 √
e 4 m
K2 = = 1.485 fm−1/2
4π0 ~

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: Gamow’s theory of alpha decay (cont.)

v average velocity
2r1 /v average time
between “collisions”
with the nucleus
potential “wall”
v /2r1 average
frequancy of “collisions”
e −2γ “escape”
probability
(v /2r1 )e −2γ
“escape” probability per
unit time

Lifetime:
2r1 2γ
τ = e
v

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: Gamow’s theory of alpha decay (cont.)

v average velocity
2r1 /v average time
between “collisions”
with the nucleus
potential “wall”
v /2r1 average
frequancy of “collisions”
e −2γ “escape”
probability
(v /2r1 )e −2γ
“escape” probability per
unit time

Lifetime:
2r1 2γ 1
τ = e ⇒ ln τ ∼ √
v E

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

HW
Solve Problem 8.3 from Ref. [2].

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Contents

1 General remarks

2 The “classical” region

3 Tunneling

4 The connection formulas

5 Literature

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Let us repeat:
h i
p(x 0 )dx 0 p(x 0 )dx 0
 i R0 i R0
 √1 Be ~ x + Ce − ~ x , if x < 0
p(x)
ψ(x) ≈ 1 Rx 0 0
 √1 De − ~ 0 |p(x )|dx , if x > 0
p(x)

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Let us repeat:
h i
p(x 0 )dx 0 p(x 0 )dx 0
 i R0 i R0
 √1 Be ~ x + Ce − ~ x , if x < 0
p(x)
ψ(x) ≈ 1 Rx 0 0
 √ 1 De − ~ 0 |p(x )|dx , if x > 0
p(x)

Our mission: join these two solutions at the boundary.

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Let us repeat:
h i
p(x 0 )dx 0 p(x 0 )dx 0
 i R0 i R0
 √1 Be ~ x + Ce − ~ x , if x < 0
p(x)
ψ(x) ≈ 1 Rx 0 0
 √1 De − ~ 0 |p(x )|dx , if x > 0
p(x)

Our mission: join these two solutions at the boundary.

A problem
What happens with the w.f. when
E ≈ V?

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Let us repeat:
h i
p(x 0 )dx 0 p(x 0 )dx 0
 i R0 i R0
 √1 Be ~ x + Ce − ~ x , if x < 0
p(x)
ψ(x) ≈ 1 Rx 0 0
 √ 1 De − ~ 0 |p(x )|dx , if x > 0
p(x)

Our mission: join these two solutions at the boundary.

A problem
What happens with the w.f. when
E ≈ V?

E ≈ V ⇒ p(x) → 0 ⇒ ψ → ∞ !

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Let us repeat:
h i
p(x 0 )dx 0 p(x 0 )dx 0
 i R0 i R0
 √1 Be ~ x + Ce − ~ x , if x < 0
p(x)
ψ(x) ≈ 1 Rx 0 0
 √ 1 De − ~ 0 |p(x )|dx , if x > 0
p(x)

Our mission: join these two solutions at the boundary.

A problem
A solution
What happens with the w.f. when
E ≈ V? Construct a “patching”
wavefunction ψp .
E ≈ V ⇒ p(x) → 0 ⇒ ψ → ∞ !

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Approximation: we linearize the potential

V (x) ≈ E + V 0 (0)x

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Approximation: we linearize the potential

V (x) ≈ E + V 0 (0)x

From S.E. we get 99K

1
d2 ψp

2m 0 3
= zψp , z = αx , α= V (0)
dz 2 ~2

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Approximation: we linearize the potential

V (x) ≈ E + V 0 (0)x

From S.E. we get 99K

1
d2 ψp

2m 0 3

2
= zψp , z = αx , α= V (0)
|dz {z } ~2
Airy’s equation

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Approximation: we linearize the potential

V (x) ≈ E + V 0 (0)x

From S.E. we get 99K

1
d2 ψp

2m 0 3

2
= zψp , z = αx , α= V (0)
|dz {z } ~2
Airy’s equation

ψp = a Ai(αx) +b Bi(αx)
| {z } | {z }
Airy function Airy function

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

a delicate double constraint has to be satisfied

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

a delicate double constraint has to be satisfied

we need WKB w.f. and ψp for both overlap regions (OLR)

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

p 3√
p(x) = 2m(E − V ) ≈ ~α 2 −x

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

3 √
p(x) ≈ ~α 2 −x

OLR 2 (x > 0)
Z x
2 3
|p(x 0 )|dx 0 ≈ ~(αx) 2
0 3

D 2 3/2
ψWKB ≈ √ e − 3 (αx)
~α3/4 x 1/4
a 2 3/2
ψpz0 ≈
√ e − 3 (αx)
2 π(αx)1/4
b 2 3/2
+√ e 3 (αx)
π(αx)1/4
r
4π
⇒a=D , b=0
α~

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

OLR 2 (x > 0) OLR 1 (x < 0)

Z x
2 3
Z 0
2
|p(x 0 )|dx 0 ≈ ~(αx) 2 p(x 0 )dx 0 ≈
3
~(−αx) 2
0 3 3
x

D 2 3/2
1
e − 3 (αx)
h 2 3/2
ψWKB ≈ √ ψWKB ≈ √ Be i 3 (−αx)
~α3/4 x 1/4 3/4
~α (−x) 1/4
a 2 3/2
ψpz0 ≈
√ e − 3 (αx) 2 3/2
i
2 π(αx)1/4 +Ce −i 3 (−αx)
b 2 3/2 a 1 h iπ/4 i 23 (−αx)3/2
+√ 1/4
e 3 (αx) ψpz0 ≈ √ 1/4
e e
π(αx) π(−αx) 2i
2 3/2
i
−e −iπ/4 e −i 3 (−αx)
r
4π
⇒a=D , b=0
α~
a B
√ e iπ/4 = √
⇒ 2i π ~α
a −iπ/4 C
− √ e = √
2i π ~α

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

The connection formulas

B = −ie iπ/4 · D , C = ie −iπ/4 · D

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

The connection formulas

B = −ie iπ/4 · D , C = ie −iπ/4 · D

WKB w.f.
 Z x2 
2D 1 π


 p sin p(x 0 )dx 0 + , if x < x2


 p(x) ~ x 4
ψ(x) ≈
1 x
 Z 
D

0 0

exp − |p(x )|dx , if x > x2


 p
|p(x)| ~ x2

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: Potentail well with one vertical wall

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: Potentail well with one vertical wall

Boundary condition: ψ(0) = 0, gives for ψWKB

Z x2  
1
p(x)dx = n − π~ , n = 1, 2, 3, . . .
0 4

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: Potentail well with one vertical wall (cont.)

For instance, consider the “half-harmonic oscillator”:
1

 mω 2 x 2 , x > 0

V (x) = 2

0 otherwise


Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: Potentail well with one vertical wall (cont.)

For instance, consider the “half-harmonic oscillator”:
1

 mω 2 x 2 , x > 0

V (x) = 2

0 otherwise


Here we have q
p(x) = mω x22 − x 2

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: Potentail well with one vertical wall (cont.)

For instance, consider the “half-harmonic oscillator”:
1

 mω 2 x 2 , x > 0

V (x) = 2

0 otherwise


Here we have q
p(x) = mω x22 − x 2
So Z x2
πE
p(x)dx =
0 2ω

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: Potentail well with one vertical wall (cont.)

For instance, consider the “half-harmonic oscillator”:
1

 mω 2 x 2 , x > 0

V (x) = 2

0 otherwise


Here we have q
p(x) = mω x22 − x 2
So Z x2
πE
p(x)dx =
0 2ω
Comparisson now gives:
   
1 3 7 11
En = 2n − ~ω = , , ,... ~ω
2 2 2 2

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: Potentail well with one vertical wall (cont.)

For instance, consider the “half-harmonic oscillator”:
1

 mω 2 x 2 , x > 0

V (x) = 2

0 otherwise


Here we have q
p(x) = mω x22 − x 2
So Z x2
πE
p(x)dx =
0 2ω
Comparisson now gives:
   
1 3 7 11
En = 2n − ~ω = , , ,... ~ω
2 2 2 2
Compare this result with an exact one.

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: Potential well with no vertical walls

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: Potential well with no vertical walls

we have seen the connection formulas for upward potential slopes

for downward slopes (analogous):

D0 1 x1
  Z 
0 0

 p exp − |p(x )|dx , if x < x1
|p(x)|

 ~ x

ψ(x) ≈
2D 0
 Z x 
1 π

0 0

sin p(x )dx + , if x > x1


 p
p(x) ~ x1 4

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: Potential well with no vertical walls

we want the w.f. in the “well”, i.e. where x1 < x < x2 :

1 x2
Z
2D π
ψ(x) ≈ p sin θ2 (x) , θ2 (x) = p(x 0 )dx 0 +
p(x) ~ x 4
0 Z x
2D 1 π
ψ(x) ≈ − p sin θ1 (x) , θ1 (x) = − p(x 0 )dx 0 −
p(x) ~ x1 4

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: Potential well with no vertical walls

sin θ1 = sin θ2 =⇒ θ2 = θ1 + nπ =⇒
Z x2  
1
p(x)dx = n − π~ , n = 1, 2, 3, . . .
x1 2

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Example: Potential well with no vertical walls

sin θ1 = sin θ2 =⇒ θ2 = θ1 + nπ =⇒
Z x2  
1
p(x)dx = n − π~ , n = 1, 2, 3, . . .
x1 2

0, two vertical walls

1/4, one vertical wall

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Conclusions

WKB advantages WKB disadvantages

good for slowly changing w.f.
good for short wavelengths
best in the semi-classical
systems (large n)
one doesn’t even have to solve
the S.E.
bad for rapidly changing w.f.
bad for long wavelengths
inappropriate for lower states
(small n)
constraint trade-off (sometimes
not possible)

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Contents

1 General remarks

2 The “classical” region

3 Tunneling

4 The connection formulas

5 Literature

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation
Contents General remarks The “classical” region Tunneling The connection formulas Literature

Literature

1 R. L. Liboff, Introductory Quantum Mechanics, Addison Wesley, San

Francisco, 2003.
2 D. J. Griffiths, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, 2nd ed., Pearson
Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2005.
3 I. Supek, Teorijska fizika i struktura materije, II. dio, Školska knjiga,
Zagreb, 1989.
4 Y. Peleg, R. Pnini, E. Zaarur, Shaum’s Outline of Theory and Problems of
Quantum Mechanics, McGraw-Hill, 1998.

Igor Lukačević UJJS, Dept. of Physics, Osijek

The WKB approximation