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y(x)
U(x)
U= U=
n=1 n=3
Examples:
Electron in the coulomb potential produced by the nucleus
Electron in a molecule
Electron in a solid crystal
Electron in a nanostructure ‘quantum dot’
Proton in the nuclear potential inside the nucleus
U(x)
Classically, a particle in
For simplicity, the lowest energy state
consider a would sit right at the
1-dimensional
potential energy
bottom of the well. In QM
function, U(x). this is not possible.
(Why?)
x
Classical probability distributions
Start a classical (large) object moving in a potential well (two are shown here).
At some random time later, what is the probability of finding it near position x?
Ball in a box: Ball in a valley:
U(x) U(x)
Total energy E E
= KE + U(x) KE
E
KE
x x
P(x) P(x)
x x
Probability is equally More likely to spend time
distributed at the edges.
To predict a quantum particle’s behavior, we need an equation (i.e. Schrödinger's equation) that
tells us how the particle’s wave function, Y(x,y,z,t), changes in space and time.
Probability distribution
Difference between classical and quantum cases
Classical Quantum
U(x) (particle with same energy U(x) (lowest energy state state)
as in qunatum case)
E E
x x
P(x) In quantum
P(x) mechanics, the
In classical
mechanics, the = y2 particle can be
particle is most most likely to be
likely to be found at the
found where its center.
speed is slowest
x x
In classical mechanics, the particle moves In quantum mechanics, the particle can also
back and forth coming to rest at each be found where it is “forbidden” in classical
“turning point” (Recall Oscillation) mechanics. We will just see, How?
“Particle in a Box”
As a specific important example, consider a quantum particle confined to a region, 0 < x < L,
by infinite potential walls. We call this a “one-dimensional (1D) box”. This is also called “Particle in
Infinite Square Well Potential”
0 L
www.kfa-juelich.de/isi/
newt.phys.unsw.edu.au
Boundary conditions
We can solve the Schrödinger Eqn wherever we know U(x). However, in
many problems, including the 1D box, U(x) has different functional forms in U(x)
different regions. In our box problem, there are three regions:
1: x < 0 I II III
2: 0 < x < L
yI yI
3: x > L
0 L
y(x) will have different functional forms in the different regions. U = 0 for 0 < x < L
We must make sure that y(x) satisfies the constraints (e.g., continuity) at U = everywhere else
the boundaries between these regions.
The extra conditions that y must satisfy are called “boundary conditions”.
They appear in many problems.
Boundary conditions Standing waves
A standing wave is the solution for a wave confined to a region
Boundary condition: Constraints on a wave where the potential changes
Displacement = 0 for wave on string E = 0 at surface of a conductor
E=0
If both ends are constrained (e.g., for a cavity of length L), then only certain
wavelengths l are possible:
n l f
1 2L v/2L
2 L v/L
nl = 2L
3 2L/3 3v/2Ln = 1, 2, 3 …
‘mode index’
4 L/2 2v/L
L n 2L/n nv/2L
Particle in a Box
The waves have exactly the same form as standing waves on a string, sound waves in a
pipe, etc.
On a string the wave is a displacement y(x) and the square is the intensity, etc. The
discrete set of allowed wavelengths results in a discrete set of tones that the string can
produce.
In a quantum box, the wave is the probability amplitude y(x) and the square |y(x)|2 is the
probability of finding the electron near point x.
The discrete set of allowed wavelengths results in a discrete set of allowed energies that
the particle can have.
Particle in a Box (1)
Regions 1 and 3 are identical, so we really only need to deal with two
distinct regions, (I) outside, and (II) inside the well
U(x)
Region I: When U = , what is y(x)?
d 2 ( x ) 2m I II III
2
2 (E U ) ( x ) 0
dx
yI yI
For U = , the SEQ can only be satisfied if: 0 L
U = 0 for 0 < x < L
yI(x) = 0 U = everywhere else
2
2 (E U ) ( x ) 0
dx y
d 2 (x) 2mE 0 L
2
2
(x)
dx
2
( x ) A sin kx B cos kx where, k
Remember that k and E are related:
p 2 2k 2 h2
E because U = 0
2m 2m 2m 2
A and B are coefficients to be determined by the boundary conditions.
Particle in a Box (3)
U(x)
Now, let’s worry about the boundary conditions.
I II I
Match y at the left boundary (x = 0).
yII
Region I: I (x) 0 yI yI
0 L
Region II: II ( x ) A sin kx B cos kx
n 2
kn n 1, 2, ... Using k , we find : n 2L
L
0 L x
The probability density at x is |y (x)|2:
x
2
Ptot dx
2
n
L
Therefore, the total probability is the integral:
2
Ptot A sin x dx
0 L
In our square well problem, the integral is 2 L
simpler, because y = 0 for x < 0 and x > L: A
2
y |y|2
U= U=
n=1
Ground State
0 L x 0 L x
y |y|2
n=2
1 Excited State
st
0 L x 0 L x
y |y|2
n=3
2 nd
Excited State
0 L x 0 L x
Probability Density
n
In the infinite well: P x N 2 sin.2 x (Units are m-1, in 1D)
L
Notation: The constant is typically written as “N”, and 2
is called the “normalization constant”. For the square well: N
L
|y|2
N2
n=3 0
L x
Semiconductor Nanoparticles
(aka: Quantum Dots)
Determining QD energy
Core Shell
using the Schrödinger Equation
Core
Quantum
Dot
U0
E
y
I II III
0 L
Note that the wave function is nonzero outside of the box.