Particle in a box (Text 5.

8)

Boundary conditions:
Strange thing (“quantization”) occurs when boundary conditions are applied.

∞ ∞
U(x)

Outside the well: ψ(x)=0 Outside the well: ψ(x)=0

0 L We require ψ(x) to be
continuous here!
 Particle in a box (Text 5.8)

Boundary conditions:
But continuity for the first derivative ∂Ψ/∂x cannot be satisfied when U(x) =∞.

∞ ∞
U(x)

Outside the well: ψ(x)=0 Outside the well: ψ(x)=0

0 L So dψ/dx is not
continuous here!
 Particle in a box (Text 5.8)

Now the solutionikx(to determine A and B from boundary condition):

ψ (x) = Ae + Be-ikx (for 0 < x < L)
ψ (0) = 0 ⇒ A + B = 0 (i.e. A = -B)
⇒ψ (x) = A(eikx − e-ikx )
⇒ψ (x) = C sin kx (C = 2iA)
ψ (L) = 0 ⇒ C sin kL = 0
⇒ kL = nπ (n = 1, 2, 3, ....)
nπ
⇒ k= ⇐ " Quantization" is now occurring
L

h 2 k 2 h 2 ⎛ nπ ⎞
2

∴ En = = Note what happens if L decreases.

⎜ ⎟
2m 2m ⎝ L ⎠
Why?
 Particle in a box (Text 5.8)

Meaning of k=nπ/L (how to remember the result):

ψ(x)

∞ ∞
U(x)

n=1
n=3
Outside the well: ψ(x)=0 Outside the well: ψ(x)=0

0 L
λ 2π nπ
n = L ⇒ kn = =
n=4 2 λ L
n=2
 Particle in a box (Text 5.8)

Theorem:
If the potential U(x) is symmetric about a point x=a so that U(a-x)=U(x+a), the wavefunction
is either symmetric (even) ψ(a-x)=ψ(a+x) or antisymmetric (odd) ψ(a-x)= -ψ(a+x).
ψ(x)
Example:
∞ ∞
U(x) Axis of symmetry

n=1 (even)
n=3 (even)

0 L

n=4 (odd)
n=2 (odd)
 Harmonic oscillator (Text 5.11)
Review of classical simple harmonic
1 2 This is spring constant k, not wave number k!
oscillator:
U(x) = kx
2
Equation of motion :
d2x d2x k
m 2 = - kx ⇒ 2 = - x
dt dt m
Solution :
x = Aeiωt
ω ωis isthe
theangular
angularfrequency
frequencyof
of oscillatio
oscillationn
k
ω =
m
2π
T=
ω
 Harmonic oscillator (Text 5.11)
Harmonic potential:
U(x) = ½kx2d
Why this potential is important?
Harmonic potential is the first approximation to any potential near its minimum (or
maximum). Harmonic oscillator describes oscillation of an object about its equilibrium
position well.
Example:

R
Why connect atoms with springs?

We can always approximate the bottom of a potential with

a parabola!