Particle in a box

Joao Fonseca

Particle in a box
A particle confined in a box is free to move within the box with a dimension Ll. The particle is confined because an
infinite potential is set on the boundaries of the box, so the particle can not escape from the box.
Particle in box

Figure 1: Particle in a box figure.

Solving Schrodinger equation

∂2ψ 2mE
2
=− ψ = −k 2 ψ
∂x ~
Using characteristic polynomial:

R2 + k 2 = 0

p
R = ± −k 2

So we have a solution in the form:

1
 ψ = C1 eikx + C2 e−ikx

Applying ψ(0) = 0, we have C2 = −C1

ψ = C1(eikx − e−ikx ) = C1 sin(kx)

Applying ψ(L) = 0

nπ
kn = (n = 1, 2, 3 . . .)
L
r
2mE ~2 kn2 n 2 ~2
k=± =⇒ En = =
~ 2m 8mL2

Similar to standing wave:

nπx − En t
ψ(x, t) = An sin( )e ~
L
With r
2 nπx
An = sin( )
L L