Finite Square Well Potential

• For V=finite “outside” the well. Solutions to S.E.

inside the well the same. Have different outside.
The boundary conditions (wavefunction and its
derivative continuous) give quantization for E<V 0
• longer wavelength, lower Energy. Finite number of
energy levels
• Outside: k1  2mE
2

d
 (E  V )
2

2m dx2

E  V sin k0 x, cos k0 and

( k0 ) 2 2 m( E V )
2m  (E  V ) k0  
 k2 x 2 m(V  E )
E V  e k2  

P460 - square well 1

 Boundary Condition
• Want wavefunction and its derivative to be
continuous
• often a symmetry such that solution at +a also
gives one at -a
• Often can do the ratio (see book) and that can
simplify the algebra

  (boundary)    (boundary)
  (boundary)   (boundary)

x x
1   (boundary) 1   (boundary)

 x  x

P460 - square well 2

 Finite Square Well Potential
inside :  ( x )  A sin k 1 x  B cos k 1 x
k2x
x a
2 :  ( x )  Ce k2x
 De
k2x
x  a
2 :  ( x )  Fe k2x
 Ge
as   0 as x    D , F  0
Equate wave function at boundaries
k1a k1a  k2a / 2
A sin 2  B cos 2  Ge
k1a k1a  k2a / 2
 A sin 2  B cos 2  Ce
And derivative
k1a k1a  k2a / 2
Ak1 cos 2  Bk 1 sin 2  Ck 2 e
k1a k1a k2a / 2
Ak1 cos 2  Bk 1 sin 2  Gk 2 e
P460 - square well 3
 Finite Square Well Potential
E+R does algebra. 2 classes. Solve numerically
I :  ( x )  A sin k 1 x in well
k2 x
 ( x )  A sin( k1 a
2 )e k2a / 2
e x a
2
k1 a
k1 cot 2  k2 quantizati on
II :  ( x )  B cos k1 x in well
k2 x
 ( x )  B cos( k1 a
2 )e k2a / 2
e x a
2
k1 a
k1 tan 2  k2 quantizati on
k1 and k2 both depend on E. Quantization sets
allowed energy levels

En   2 2 n 2
2 ma 2
 V0
P460 - square well 4
 Finite Square Well Potential
Number of bound states is finite. Calculate
assuming “infinte” well energies. Get n. Add 1

2 ma 2V0
En   V0  n 
2 2 2 2
  n
2 ma 2  2 2
Electron V=100 eV width=0.2 nm

2  . 51 MeV (. 2 nm ) 2 100 eV
n 2
 ( 197 ev  nm ) 2 ( 3 . 14 ) 2
 10 . 7
 N  4 ( number of levels )
Deuteron p-n bound state. Binding energy 2.2 MeV
radius = 2.1 F (really need 3D S.E………)
2  940 MeV ( 2 .1 F ) 2 2 .2 MeV
n 2
(197 MeV  F ) 2 ( 3 . 14 ) 2
 0 .1
 N  1 only 1 bound state
P460 - square well 5
 Finite Square Well Potential
Can do an approximation by guessing at the
penetration distance into the “forbidden”
region. Use to estimate wavelength

   1
b

2 m (V  E )
 e  bx

En  n 2 2  2
2 m ( a  2 ) 2
slightly wider
Electron V=100 eV width=0.2 nm

  197 eVnm
2*.5 MeV *100 eV
 .02 nm
 2 (197 eVnm ) 2
E1  2.5 MeV (.2 nm  .04 nm ) 2
 5.5eV

P460 - square well 6

 Delta Function Potential
• d-function can be used to describe potential.

 (0)    ( x  0)  0

  ( x)dx  1 if 0 in range
• Assume attractive potential V and E<V bound
state. Potential has strength l/a. Rewrite Schro.Eq
V ( x)  0 except x  0   " "
 2
or V ( x)    (0)
2ma
d 2u ( x ) 
S .E .  2
  ( 0)u ( x )  k 2
u ( x)
dx a
0 V

P460 - square well  7

 Delta Function Potential II
• Except for x=0 have exponential solutions.
u ( x)  e  kx x  0
u ( x)  e kx x  0

• Continuity condition at x=0 is (in some sense) on

the derivative. See by integrating S.E in small
region about x=0
d 2u ( x ) 
2
   ( x ) u ( x )  k 2
u( x )
dx a
 
d 2u ( x ) 
 dx 2  a     2
dx dx [ ( x ) u ( x ) k u ( x )]

du du 
( x   )  ( x   )   u (0)  0
dx dx a
0 V

 ke k  ke k (  )  
a

k  quantized
2a

P460 - square well  8

 1D Barriers (Square)
• Start with simplest potential (same as square well)
V ( x)  V0 x0
V ( x)  0 x  0
ik1x
 ( x)  Ae ik1x
 Be x0
 k2 x
 ( x)  Ce  De
k2 x
x  0, E  V
ik0 x
or  ( x)  Ee ik0 x
 Fe x  0, E  V
2m(V  E ) 2 m( E V )
with k1  2 mE
 k2   k0  

0
0
P460 - square well 9
 1D Barriers E<V
• Solve by having wave function and derivative
continuous at x=0
 ik 1 x
  ( x )  Ae ik 1 x
 Be x  0
  ( x )  Ce k 2 x  De  k 2 x x  0 , E  V
 (x  )  0  C  0
  (0 )    (0 )  A  B  D
 (0)  (0) ik 2

x  
x  A B  k1 D
solve for A,B. As |y|2 gives probability or intensity
|B|2=intensity of plane wave in -x direction

|A|2=intensity of plane wave in +x direction

ik 2 ik 2
2 A  (1  k1 )D 2 B  (1  k1 )D
| B|2
R  Re flection  | A| 2 1
P460 - square well 10
 1D Barriers E<V
• While R=1 still have non-zero probability to be in
region with E<V
2 k 2 x
|  | | D | e
2 2
x0
d 1
k2  penetration dis tan ce
Electron with barrier V-E= 4 eV. What is approximate
distance it “tunnels” into barrier?
d  1
k2  c
c 2 m (V  E )

197 eV * nm
2 *.5 MeV * 4 eV
 .1nm
V
A
D
B
0
0
P460 - square well 11
 1D Barriers E>V
• X<0 region same. X>0 now “plane” wave
 ik 0 x
  Ce ik 0 x
 De x0
2 m ( E V ) p ( x 0 )
k2    
Will have reflection and transmission at x=0. But
“D” term unphysical and so D=0

k1  k 0 2 k1
B k1  k 0 A C k1  k 0 A

V
A
D
B
P460 - square well
0 C 12
 1D Barriers E>V
• Calculate Reflection and Transmission probabilities.
Note flux is particle/second which is |y|2*velocity

 | | dx  1
2
2 2
( k1  k 0 )
R |B|
| A| 2  ( k1  k 0 ) 2
v k0
4 k1 2
k0 v  k1
T  ( k1  k 0 ) 2 k1
“same” if E>V. different k

Note R+T=1

R
1 T

0
E/V 1P460 - square well 13
 1D Barriers:Example
• 5 MeV neutron strikes a heavy nucleus with
V= -50 MeV. What fraction are reflected? Ignore
3D and use simplest step potential.

1 E V
( k1  k 0 ) 2
R ( k1  k 0 ) 2  ( 1 E
E V
) 2
E
k 2 mE

R( 1 55 / 5 2
1 55 / 5
)  .29

5
R
0

-50 MeV

P460 - square well 14

 1D Barriers Step E<V
• Different if E>V or E<V. We’ll do E<V. again solve
by continuity of wavefunction and derivative
 ik1 x
  ( x)  Ae ik1 x
 Be x0
 ik1 x
  ( x)  Ce ik1 x
 De xa
k2 x
 in ( x)  Fe  Ge 0  x  a k2 x

D  0 No “left” travelling wave

Incoming falling transmitted

reflected
0 a
 (0) in(0) , (a) in(a)
 (0) in (0) in (a)  (a)
x  x , x  x
P460 - square well 15
 1D Barriers Step E<V
• X=0 A B  F G
ik1 A  ik1B  k2 F  k2G
X=a
Fe  k 2 a  Ge k 2 a  Ce ik 1 a
 k 2 Fe  k 2 a  k 2 Ge k 2 a   ik 1 e  ik 1 a
4 equations->A,B,C,F,G (which can be complex)

A related to incident flux and is arbitrary. Physics in:

v | B |2 v |C | 2
R  v|A| 2 T  v | A |2

Eliminate F,G,B

T  1  ( e k2a  e  k2a ) 2
16 VE (1  VE )
 1

2k2a E
if k 2 a  1 T  16 e V (1  VE )
P460 - square well 16
 Example:1D Barriers Step
• 2 eV electron incident on 4 eV barrier with
thickness: .1 fm or 1 fm
c 2 m (V  E ) 1
k2  c
 2 * . 51 MeV * 2 eV
197 eV * nm
 7 . 3 fm
for . 1 fm k 2 a  0 . 73
e . 73  e  . 73
sinh(. 73 )  2  . 80
T  1  .8 2
4 * 2 / 4 *( 1  2 / 4 )
 1
 0 .6 or with
approx T  16 e  2 * . 73 2
4 (1  24 )  . 81

With thicker barrier:

for 1 fm k 2 a  7 .3

Texact  1  740 
2 1
 1 . 8  10 6

Tapprox  16 e  2*7 .3 24 (1  24 )  1 . 8  10  6

P460 - square well 17

 Example:1D Barriers Step
• Even simpler
2 k 2 a  k2 x
T  O (1) * e (  e )
a  barrier thickness
2 m (V  E )
k 2  "1 / wavelength "  

related to how far from barrier top

For larger V-E

larger k

More rapid decrease in wave function through

classically forbidden region

P460 - square well 18

 Bound States and Tunneling
• State A will be bound with infinite
lifetime. State B is bound but can decay to
B->B’+X (unbound) with lifetime which
depends on barrier height and thickness.
• Also reaction B’+X->B->A can be
analyzed using tunneling
• tunneling is ~probability for wavefunction
to be outside well

V B’
B

A E=0

0
0
P460 - square well 19
 Alpha Decay
• Example: Th90 -> Ra88 + alpha
• Kinetic energy of the alpha = mass difference
• have V(r) be Coulomb repulsion outside of
nucleus. But attractive (strong) force inside the
nucleus. Model alpha decay as alpha particle
“trapped” in nucleus which then tunnels its way
through the Coulomb barrier
• super quick - assume square potential
• more accurate - 1/r and integrate
2 ka
T  e a  barrier thickness
 r' '  zZe2
4 0 K ( z  2 and K  V )
guess  V  V ( r2'' )  2K (square)
2 2 m ( 2 K K )2 Ze2 E0
8 Z m
e  4K
e K
E0  13.6eV me

P460 - square well 20

 Alpha Decay
• Do better. Use tunneling probability for each dx
from square well. Then integrate

T ABC  T A T B T C
r ''
2  2 m /  2 ( V ( r )  K ) dr A B C
T  e R

• as V(r) is known, integral can be calculated. See

E+R and Griffiths 8.2)

T ( E )  exp  4Z  E0
K 8 ZR
r0

4 0 2
r0  m e 2  7.24 fm
m
E0  13.6eV me  0.99MeV

4pZ=large number
P460 - square well 21
 Alpha Decay
• T is the transmission probability per “incident”
alpha
• f=no. of alphas “striking” the barrier (inside the
nucleus) per second = v/2R, If v=0.1c f=1021 Hz

Th  Ra  
90 88
Po 84
 Pb  
82

K   4 MeV 8 .95 MeV

R  9 fm 9 fm
 39 13
T  1 .3  10 s 8 .2  10 s
rate
sec  T  10 21

  1
rate / sec  2  10 10 yrs 5  10  7 sec

Depends strongly on alpha kinetic energy

P460 - square well 22