PHY202 Quantum Mechanics Summary of Topic 4: The Finite Potential Well

The quantum well

In a sandwich of two semiconductors, e.g. AlGaAs-GaAs, in the conduction zone one can have an eective potential well. When V0 is very large, we have the limit of the innite potential well. Otherwise we have a nite potential well.
The Finite Potential Well

A particle in the potential

V0 V (x) = 0 V0

x < L 2 L x 2 x> L 2

L 2

When E > V0 : unbound states, total energy E is continuous (not quantized). When E < V0 bound states. Find them by solving the TISE: L/2 < x < L/2 (Region I): (x) = k 2 (x), where k 2 = (A, B arbitrary constants).

2mE
2

> 0. A general solution is I (x) = A sin kx + B cos kx

x > L/2 (Region II): (x) = 2 (x), where 2 = 2m(V0 E) > 0. A general solution is II (x) = Cex + Dex 2 (C, D arbitrary constants). Must put D = 0, otherwise (x) not square integrable (blows up at large +ve x). x < L (Region III): 2 like in region II. A general solution is III (x) = F ex + Gex Must put F = 0, otherwise (x) not square integrable (blows up at large -ve x).

Note in regions II and III, total E = P E + KE = V0 + KE, but E < V0 hence KE < 0! The potential is symmetric w.r.t. to x = 0 expect symmetric (even-parity) and antisymmetric (odd-parity) states Even parity solutions Consider even-parity solutions only: I (x) = B cos kx. Apply general conditions on at x = L/2: continuous at x = L/2: I (L/2) = II (L/2) B cos (kL/2) = C exp (L/2)

 continuous at x = L/2: I (L/2) = II (L/2) Bk sin (kL/2) = C exp (L/2) divide side-by-side: The quantisation condition reads tan kL = 2 introduce =
2 k0 = 2mV0
2

. const., where

kL 2

LHS: y() = tan . Introduce and 0 =

k

k0 L 2

> 0, V0

RHS: y() =
k

2 k0 k2

1=

V0 E E

2 0 2

1
k

when E

2 0 2

1 1 . When E

V0

2 0 2

0.

Odd-parity solutions Consider odd-parity solutions only: I (x) = B sin kx, proceed as before. condition reads cot kL = . 2 k

The quantisation

Comments: The even-parity solutions are determined when the curve y = tan intersects the curve y = . The odd-parity solutions are determined when the curve y = cot intersects the k 2 k2 curve y = . The intersection points determine k and hence E = 2m . k larger V0 more bound states; smaller V0 less bound states there is always at least one (symmetric) bound state, even in a very shallow well (V0 0).

the wavenumber and energy of the nth state is less than in the IPW for which the wavenumbers kn = n , or n = n , n = 1, 3, 5, ... for symmetric states, n = 2, 4, 6, ... for antisymL 2 metric states. when 0 <
2

V0 <

2 2 2mL2

no antisymmetric states exist

A comparison of the FPW and the IPW

Innite well: (x) conned to the well kn = n L innite tower of states no unbound states

Finite well: (x) spreads out beyond the well kn and energies lower nite tower of states unbound states when E > V0

The energy levels in the FPW are lower because the wavefunction spreads out (by penetrating the classically forbidden region) and therefore reduces its KE.
Quantum Tunnelling

At x > L/2 the wavefunction (x) ex ; at x < L/2 (x) ex . When V0 1/ 0, when E V0 0 1/ .

The depth of tunnelling is determined by the penetration depth . Non-zero wavefunction in classically forbidden regions (KE < 0!) is a purely quantum mechanical eect. It allows tunnelling between classically allowed regions. It follows from requiring that both (x) and (x) are continuous! Requiring a reasonable behaviour of the wavefunction leads to a (classically) crazy phenomenon of tunnelling.

Quantum states in potential wells

Some general properties: quantum (discrete) energy states are a typical property of any well-type potential the corresponding wavefunctions (and probability) are mostly conned inside the potential but exhibit non-zero tails in the classically forbidden regions of KE < 0 (except when V (x) where the tails are not allowed). both properties result from requiring the wavefunction (x) and its derivative (x) to be continuous everywhere (except when V (x) where (x) is not continuous). quantum states in symmetric potentials (w.r.t. reections x x) are either symmetric (i.e., even parity), with an even number of nodes, or else antisymmetric (i.e, odd parity), with an odd number of nodes the lowest energy state (ground state) is always above the bottom of the potential and is symmetric (A consequence of the HUP.) the wider and/or more shallow the potential, the lower the energies of the quantum states (A consequence of the HUP.) inside FPW-type of potentials the number of quantum states is nite when the total energy E is larger than the height of the potential, the energy becomes continuous, i.e., we have continuous states when V = V (x), both bound and continuous states are stationary, i.e, the time-dependent wavefunctions are of the form (x, t) = (x) exp i Et

Further reading:

See, e.g., Phillips, Ch. 5.1.