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Quantum Mechanics II

The key points are: 1. The Schrodinger equation can be solved for specific energy values called eigen values, with corresponding wave functions called eigen functions. 2. For a particle in a one-dimensional box, the eigen values (En) represent the distinct energy levels the particle can have, and are quantized. The eigen functions are the sinusoidal wave functions associated with each energy level. 3. The eigen values and eigen functions for a particle in a box can be determined by applying the boundary conditions of the box to the time-independent Schrodinger equation. This results in a quantization condition where the eigen values are proportional to n 2.

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Ayush Singh
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1K views

Quantum Mechanics II

The key points are: 1. The Schrodinger equation can be solved for specific energy values called eigen values, with corresponding wave functions called eigen functions. 2. For a particle in a one-dimensional box, the eigen values (En) represent the distinct energy levels the particle can have, and are quantized. The eigen functions are the sinusoidal wave functions associated with each energy level. 3. The eigen values and eigen functions for a particle in a box can be determined by applying the boundary conditions of the box to the time-independent Schrodinger equation. This results in a quantization condition where the eigen values are proportional to n 2.

Uploaded by

Ayush Singh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Eigen values and Eigen function

Schrodinger equation can be solved for some specific values of


energy.
o a =
^
Suppose a wave function () is operated by an operator such
that the result is the product of a constant say a and the wave
function itself i.e.
The energy values for which Schrodinger equation can be solved
are called Eigen values and the corresponding wave function are
called Eigen function.
then
is the eigen function of
a is the eigen value of
^
o
^
o
Q. Suppose is eigen function of operator then find
the eigen value.
The eigen value is 4.
Solution.
x
e
2
=
2
2
dx
d
2
2
^
dx
d
G =
2
2
^
dx
d
G

= ) (
2
2
2
x
e
dx
d
=
x
e G
2
^
4 =
4
^
= G
Particle in a Box: Eigenvalue
Consider a particle of rest mass m
o
enclosed in a one-dimensional
box (infinite potential well).
Thus for a particle inside the box Schrodinger equation is
Boundary conditions for Potential V
V(x)=
0 for 0 < x < L

{

for 0 x L
Boundary conditions for wave function
=
0 for x = 0
{

0 for x = L
0
2
2 2
2
= +
c
c

E
m
x
o

x = 0 x = L
= V
= V
particle
0 = V
[ 0 V = inside ]
(i)
Equation (i) becomes
p
h
=
k
t 2
=

p
k =

E m
o
2
=
2
2
2

E m
k
o
=
(k is the propagation constant)
(ii)
0
2
2
2
= +
c
c

k
x
(iii)
General solution of equation (iii) is
kx B kx A x cos sin ) ( + = (iv)
Equation (iv) reduces to
Boundary condition says = 0 when x = 0
(v)
0 . cos 0 . sin ) 0 ( k B k A + =
1 . 0 0 B + = 0 = B
kx A x sin ) ( =
Boundary condition says = 0 when x = L
L k A L . sin ) ( =
L k A . sin 0 =
0 = A 0 . sin = L k
t n L k sin . sin =
Put this in Equation (v)
(vi)
L
n
k
t
=
L
x n
A x
t
sin ) ( =
(Where n = 1, 2, 3., BUT n # 0 as this gives = 0 everywhere)
t n kL=
Put value of k from (vi) in (ii)
2
2
2

E m
k
o
=
2
2
2

E m
L
n
o
=
|
.
|

\
|
t
Where n = 1, 2, 3.
Equation (vii) concludes
o
m
k
E
2
2 2

=
2
2 2
8 L m
h n
o
= (vii)
1. Energy of the particle inside the box cant be equal to zero.
The minimum energy of the particle is obtained for n = 1
2
2
1
8 L m
h
E
o
= (Zero Point Energy)
If momentum i.e. 0
1
E 0 0 Ap
A x
But since the particle is confined in the box of
dimension L.
L x = A
max
Thus zero value of zero point energy violates the
Heisenbergs uncertainty principle and hence zero value is
not acceptable.
2. All the energy values are not possible for a particle in
potential well.
Energy is Quantized

3. E
n
are the eigen values and n is the quantum number.
4. Energy levels (E
n
) are not equally spaced.
n = 1
n = 3
n = 2
3
E
1
E
2
E
Using Normalization condition
L
x n
A x
n
t
sin ) ( =
1 sin
0
2 2
=
}
dx
L
x n
A
L
t
1 | ) ( |
2
=
}


dx x
n

1
2
2
=
|
.
|

\
|
L
A
L
A
2
=
The normalized eigen function of the particle are
L
nx
L
x
n
t
sin
2
) ( =
Particle in a Box: Eigenfunction
Eigen function
z y x
=
L
z n
L
y n
L
x n
A A A
z
y
x
z y x
t
t
t
sin sin sin =
L
z n
L
y n
L
x n
L
z
y
x
t
t
t
sin sin sin
2
3
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
2
2
2 2 2
8
) (
mL
h
n n n E
z y x
+ + =
Particle in a Three Dimensional Box
z y x
E E E E + + =
Eigen energy

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