Physics 3 – 114054

Class Exercise 7 – Infinite potential well

𝐿
An electron is trapped in an infinite 1D potential well with width 𝐿 and its center is located at 𝑥 = 2, the

potential is given by

∞, 𝑥 < 0
𝑈(𝑥) = {0, 0 < 𝑥 < 𝐿
∞, 𝑥 > 𝐿

The stationary wavefunctions for the infinite potential well are given by the solution of the time-
independent Schrodinger equation with the given 𝑈(𝑥),
0 ,𝑥 < 0
2 𝑛𝜋
𝜓𝑛 (𝑥) = √ 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( 𝑥) ,0 < 𝑥 < 𝐿
𝐿 𝐿
{ 0 ,𝑥 > 𝐿

Where 𝑛 = 1,2,3, …

𝜋 2 ℏ2
𝐸𝑛 = 𝑛2 = 𝑛2 𝐸1
2𝑚𝐿2

Where define the ground state as the lowest energy level (𝑛 = 1),

Physics 3 (114054) -1- Class Exercise 7

 𝜋 2 ℏ2
𝐸1 =
2𝑚𝐿2

And all other states with 𝑛 > 1 are called the excited states. The first exited state is for 𝑛 = 2, the second
exited state is for 𝑛 = 3, etc.

Physics 3 (114054) -2- Class Exercise 7

Exercise 1

An electron is trapped in an infinite 1D potential well of width 𝐿 and its center is located at 𝑥 = 𝐿/2.

a. It is given that the ground state energy is 𝐸0 = 5 𝑒𝑉. What is the state of the electron its energy
was measured as 𝐸 = 80 𝑒𝑉?

For the state you have found,

b. Write the complete wavefunction Ψ(𝑥, 𝑡).

c. Find the wavelength of the photon emitted due to the transition from this state to the ground
state, and for the transition to 𝑛 = 8.

d. What is the probability to find the particle in the region 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝐿/2?

e. What are the positions where its most likely to find the electron?

f. Find expectation value for the position ⟨𝑥⟩ and the uncertainty in position Δ𝑥.

Use the identities

𝑥 2 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛(2𝑥) 𝑐𝑜𝑠(2𝑥)
∫ 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 = − −
4 4 8

2 2 (𝑥)
𝑥3 𝑥2 1 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠(2𝑥)
∫ 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑥 = − ( − ) 𝑠𝑖𝑛(2𝑥) −
6 4 8 4

g. How the solutions of the Schrodinger’s equation will change if the potential well is two times
wider?

h. How the solutions of the Schrodinger’s equation will change if the potential well bottom will be at
𝐸 = 𝑈0 ?

i. Now, the well is translated, so that its center is at 𝑥 = 0. The electron is now in a potential well
the form,

𝐿 𝐿
0 − <𝑥<
𝑈(𝑥) = { 2 2
𝐿
∞ |𝑥| >
2

Physics 3 (114054) -3- Class Exercise 7

 Find the solution of the Schrodinger equation for this potential.

Solution

a.

The state of the electron is given by its quantum number 𝑛.

Using the known energies of 1D infinite potential well of width 𝐿 w

ℏ2 𝜋 2
𝐸1 = = 5 eV
2𝑚𝐿2
80 = 𝐸𝑛 = 𝐸1 𝑛2 = 5𝑛2
→ 𝑛2 = 16
→ 𝑛=4

b.

For 𝑛 = 4, the stationary state of the electron is

2 4𝜋𝑥
𝜓(𝑥) = √ 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( )
𝐿 𝐿

Each stationary state propagates with time according to its energy,

2 4𝜋𝑥 −𝑖𝐸4 𝑡
𝛹4 (𝑥, 𝑡) = √ 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( )𝑒 ℏ
𝐿 𝐿

Where accordance to (a), 𝐸4 = 80 𝑒𝑉.

c.

The emitted photon energy is equal to the energy difference between the energy levels,

𝜋 2 ℏ2 2
𝐸𝛾 = 𝐸4→1 = 𝐸4 − 𝐸1 = (4 − 1)
2𝑚𝐿2

Physics 3 (114054) -4- Class Exercise 7

 ℎ𝑐 8 (𝑚𝑐 2 )𝐿2
→ 𝜆4→1 = =
𝐸𝛾 15 ℎ𝑐

In the opposite transition, to 𝑛 = 8, energy needs to be supplied by, for example, an absorption of a
photon with energy equal to the energy difference of between the energy levels.

d.

The probability to find the electron in state 𝑛 = 4 in the left side of the potential well is

𝐿 𝐿
𝐿 2 42 4𝜋
𝑝 (0 < 𝑥 < ) = ∫ |𝜓4 (𝑥)|2 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 ( 𝑥) 𝑑𝑥
2 0 0 𝐿 𝐿

We can use the following trigonometric identity,

1 1
𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝛼) = − 𝑐𝑜𝑠(2𝛼)
2 2

To get,

𝐿
𝐿 22 1 1 4𝜋𝑥
𝑝 (0 < 𝑥 < ) = ∫ ( − cos ( )) 𝑑𝑥 =
2 0 𝐿 2 2 𝐿

𝐿
2 1 𝐿 4𝜋𝑥 𝑥=2 1 1 1
= ( 𝑥− sin ( )) =( − sin(2𝜋)) =
𝐿 2 4𝜋 𝐿 𝑥=0 2 2𝜋 2

Actually, we could have guessed it without any calculation because the wavefunction 𝜓(𝑥) (and the
probability density functions |𝜓𝑛 (𝑥)|2) always have the same symmetry as the potential.

Here the potential is symmetric around 𝑥 = 𝐿/2, therefore the wavefunction also will by symmetrical
around the same point. For any state 𝑛, there is an equal probability to find the particle on the left half
or the right half of the potential well.

Physics 3 (114054) -5- Class Exercise 7

e.

The most probable places to find the electron are the points where the probability density function gets
maximum,

𝑑(|𝜓4 (𝑥)|2 )
=0
𝑑𝑥

Therefore,

𝑑 2 4𝜋
[ 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 ( 𝑥)] = 0
𝑑𝑥 𝐿 𝐿

4 4𝜋 4𝜋 𝐿
𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( 𝑥) 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ( 𝑥) ⋅ =0
𝐿 𝐿 𝐿 4𝜋

4𝜋 4𝜋
𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( 𝑥) 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ( 𝑥) = 0
𝐿 𝐿

Using the identity

𝑠𝑖𝑛(2𝛼) = 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝛼) 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝛼)

We can simplify the expression,

1 8𝜋
𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( 𝑥) = 0
2 𝐿

8𝜋
𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( 𝑥) = 0
𝐿

The local maximum points of this function are found at,

8𝜋
𝑥 = (2𝑛 + 1)𝜋, 𝑛 = 0,1,2,3, . . . ⇒
𝐿

𝐿
𝑥 = (2𝑛 + 1) , 𝑛 = 0,1,2,3, . ..
8

The local maximum points of this function are at

Physics 3 (114054) -6- Class Exercise 7

 1 3 5 7
𝑥= 𝐿, 𝐿, 𝐿, 𝐿
4 8 8 8

f.

The position expectation value is the mean position,

∞ 𝐿
2 4𝜋
⟨𝑥⟩ = ∫ 𝑥|𝜓4 (𝑥)|2 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 ( 𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 =
−∞ 0 𝐿 𝐿

4𝜋
We change variables, 𝑧 = 𝑥, to get
𝐿

𝐿 2 2 4𝜋
= ( ) ∫ 𝑧 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (z) 𝑑𝑧
4𝜋 𝐿 0

Using the given identity

𝑧=4𝜋
𝐿 𝑧 2 𝑧 𝑠𝑖𝑛(2𝑧) 𝑐𝑜𝑠(2𝑧)
= 2( − − ) =
8𝜋 4 4 8 𝑧=0

𝐿 1 1
= 2
(4𝜋 2 − + ) =
8𝜋 8 8

𝐿
→ ⟨𝑥⟩ =
2

This result we also could have guessed from the symmetry of the potential and the wavefunctions
around 𝑥 = 𝐿/2.

The uncertainty in position is defined as

Δ𝑥 = √⟨𝑥 2 ⟩ − ⟨𝑥⟩2

So, we need to find the second moment first,

∞ 𝐿
2 4𝜋
⟨𝑥 2 ⟩ = ∫ 𝑥 2 |𝜓4 (𝑥)|2 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑥 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 ( 𝑥) 𝑑𝑥
−∞ 0 𝐿 𝐿

4𝜋
Again, we change variables, 𝑧 = 𝑥, to get
𝐿

Physics 3 (114054) -7- Class Exercise 7

 𝐿 3 2 4𝜋 2
=( ) ∫ 𝑧 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (z) 𝑑𝑧
4𝜋 𝐿 0

So, we can use the given identity,

𝑧=4𝜋
L2 𝑧 3 𝑧2 1 𝑧 𝑐𝑜𝑠(2𝑧)
= 3
( − [ − ] 𝑠𝑖𝑛(2𝑧) − )
32𝜋 6 4 8 4 𝑧=0

To get,

𝐿2 𝐿2
→ ⟨𝑥 2 ⟩ = −
3 32𝜋 2

Therefore, the uncertainty is

𝐿2 𝐿2 𝐿 2
Δ𝑥 = √ − −( )
3 32𝜋 2 2

→ Δ𝑥 = 0.283𝐿

𝐿
With some confidence, we may assert only that the particle is most likely to be in the range 2 ± 0.283𝐿.

g.

If the well is twofold wider, we just substitute 2𝐿 instead of 𝐿 in the wavefunctions and energies:

2 𝑛𝜋 1 𝑛𝜋
𝜓𝑛 (𝑥) = √ 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( 𝑥) = √ 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( 𝑥)
2𝐿 2𝐿 𝐿 2𝐿

𝜋 2 ℏ2 𝑛 2 𝜋 2 ℏ2 𝑛 2
𝐸𝑛 = =
2𝑚(2𝐿)2 8𝑚𝐿2

h.

If the bottom of the well is at energy 𝑈0 and not zero, then:

The time-independent Schrödinger’s equation inside the potential well will be

Physics 3 (114054) -8- Class Exercise 7

 ℏ2 𝑑 2 𝜓
− = (𝐸 − 𝑈0 )𝜓
2𝑚 𝑑𝑥 2

Outside the well the potential energy is infinite, so the wavefunctions won’t change because the
boundary conditions remain the same, 𝜓(0) = 𝜓(𝐿) = 0.

2 𝑛𝜋
𝜓𝑛 (𝑥) = √ 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( 𝑥)
𝐿 𝐿

However, all the energies will be shifted up by 𝑈0 , because the reference potential energy is now
changed,

𝜋 2 ℏ2 𝑛 2
𝐸𝑛 = + 𝑈0
2𝑚𝐿2

i.

𝐿
In this case we make a translation in the 𝑥 coordinate, from 𝑥 to 𝑥 ′ , where 𝑥 ′ = 𝑥 + 2.

The energy levels do not depend on the location coordinate, so the energies do not change due to a
translation and remain

𝜋 2 ℏ2
2
𝐸𝑛 = 𝑛 , 𝑛 = 1,2,3, . ..
2𝑚𝐿2

The wavefunctions is given now by,

0 𝑥′ < 0
2 𝑛𝜋
𝜓𝑛 (𝑥′) = √ 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( 𝑥′) 0 < 𝑥′ < 𝐿
𝐿 𝐿
{0 𝑥′ > 𝐿

Where

𝐿 2 𝑛𝜋 𝐿 2 𝑛𝜋 𝑛𝜋
𝜓𝑛 (𝑥) = 𝜓𝑛 (𝑥 + ) = √ 𝑠𝑖𝑛 [ (𝑥 + )] = √ 𝑠𝑖𝑛 [ 𝑥 + ]
2 𝐿 𝐿 2 𝐿 𝐿 2

Physics 3 (114054) -9- Class Exercise 7

Using the following trigonometric identity,

𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝛼 + 𝛽) = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛼 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛽 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛼 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛽

We obtain,

2 𝑛𝜋 𝑛𝜋 𝑛𝜋 𝑛𝜋
𝜓𝑛 (𝑥) = √ [𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( 𝑥) 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ( ) + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ( 𝑥) 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( )]
𝐿 𝐿 2 𝐿 2

Part vanished for odd 𝑛 and the second part vanishes for even 𝑛 values.

Hence, we get

2 𝑛 𝑛𝜋
√ (−1) 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( 𝑥) , for even 𝑛
𝐿 𝐿
𝜓𝑛 (𝑥) =
2 𝑛−1 𝑛𝜋
√ (−1) 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ( 𝑥) , for odd 𝑛
{ 𝐿 𝐿

Physics 3 (114054) - 10 - Class Exercise 7