Quantum particle

for the one dimensional

finite potential well

Quantum mechanics
- Tutorial
R.Zus/V.Baran Finite potential well
Finite potential well

Task:
Determine the energy levels and the normalized wave functions of a particle
in the one-dimensional finite asymmetrical potential well:

V1 , for x 0

V ( x) 0, for 0 x a , V1 ,V2 , a 0.
V2 , for x a

Hamiltonian (energy operator) Px2

H V ( x)
2m
in the coordinates representation:
2
d2
H 2
V ( x)
2m dx
Solve the time-independent Schrdinger equation: H E ( x) E E ( x)

R.Zus/V.Baran Finite potential well

 Solve the time-independent Schrdinger equation: H E ( x) E E ( x)
Step 1: Determine the analytical form of the wave function.
Step 2: Impose the continuity conditions. Determine the energy.
Step 3: Impose the normalization relation. Obtain the final form of
the wave function.

Step 1: Determine the analytical form of the wave function.

The stationary Schrodinger equation on each domain:
Introduce the notations:
2 d 2
( E V1 ) 0 ( x 0) reg. I 2m(V1 E )
2m dx 2
k1
2
2 d 2
2
E 0 (0 x a) reg. II k2
2mE
E min(V1 ,V2 )
2m dx 2
2 d 2 2m(V2 E )
( E V2 ) 0 ( x a) reg. III k3
2m dx 2
2
R.Zus/V.Baran Finite potential well
,
.
The associated general solutions in each region
(independent solutions) are:

d 2 I I ( x) A1ek1x B1ek1x , x 0
2
k1 I 0
2

dx
d 2 II II ( x) A2 e ik2 x B2eik2 x 0 xa
2
k 2 II 0
2

dx A2' sin( k 2 x) B2' cos(k 2 x) A sin( k 2 x )

d 2 III
2
k 3 III 0
2
III ( x) A3e k3 x B3e k3 x , x a
dx

Since in the regions I and III the solutions decay and growth exponentially
and since the physical requirement imposes a finite wave function

A1 0 B3 0

R.Zus/V.Baran Finite potential well

 Step 2: Impose the continuity conditions. Determine the energy.

Obs.: If at x=0 the potential has only a finite jump then the first order derivative of
the wave function is continuous:

Assume that V(0 - ) V(0 )

0 0
d 2m
2
d 2
2m
dx 2

2
(V ( x ) E ) ( x ) dx 2
dx 2
0
(V ( x ) E ) ( x )dx
0
0 0
d d 2m 2m
( ) ( ) 2 V ( x ) ( x )dx 2 E ( x )dx
dx dx 0 0
d d
lim ( ( ) ( )) lim 2 F(0) 0 q.e.d .
0 dx dx 0

R.Zus/V.Baran Finite potential well

 Step 2: Impose the continuity conditions. Determine the energy.

I (0 0) II (0 0), I ' (0 0) II ' (0 0),

II ( a 0) III ( a 0), II ' (a 0) III ' (a 0).
The difference between the right derivatives and the left derivatives should be zero if the
discontinuity of the potential is finite.

The conditions of continuity of the wave function (x) and of the

d
derivative can be written conveniently as conditions of the
dx
1 d ( x)
continuity of logarithmic derivative .
( x) dx
k1 k 2
cot sin
k2 2mV1
k3 k 2
cot(k 2 a ) sin( k 2 a )
k2 2mV2

R.Zus/V.Baran Finite potential well

 k 2 k 2
sin arcsin n1
2mV1 2mV1
k 2 k 2
sin( k 2 a ) k 2 a arcsin n2
2mV2 2mV2

From this system of equations the task is to find k2 which provides the value of the
energy.

Taking into account that the values of the function arcsin lie between 0 and and
2
eliminating
we arrive to the transcendental equation whose solutions form the
discrete spectrum:

k 2 k 2
k 2 a n arcsin arcsin , n 1,2,
2mV1 2mV2
The solutions can be obtained by a graphical method from the intersection points of
k 2 k 2
y k2 a y n arcsin arcsin .
2mV1 2mV2

R.Zus/V.Baran Finite potential well

 k 2 k 2
k 2 a n arcsin arcsin , n 1,2,
2mV1 2mV2

The maximum value:

k 2 2m min(V1 ,V2 )
1 k 2 max
2m min(V1 ,V2 )

The condition for the existence of at least one level:

k 2 max
k 2 max a arcsin
2 2m min(V1 ,V2 )

The condition for the existence of n levels:

1 k2 max

a n arcsin
k2 max 2 2m min(V1 ,V2 )

R.Zus/V.Baran Finite potential well

 Step 3: Impose the normalization relation. Obtain the final form of
the wave function.

2 3
| 1 (r , t ) d r 1 ( x) dx 1
2

2
(r , t ) d 3r the probability to find the particle located in the volume element d 3r
2 3
(r , t ) d r the probability to find the particle inside the region D
D

R.Zus/V.Baran Finite potential well