Scribd
Upload
333 views

Free Particle in 1D Box

This document summarizes the quantum mechanical model of a free particle confined to a one-dimensional box. It describes how the particle's wave function and energy levels are quantized due to the boundaries of the box. The particle's wave function must be zero at the boundaries, leading to a discrete set of allowed wave vectors kn and energy levels En proportional to n2. The normalized eigenfunctions that satisfy the boundary conditions and represent 100% probability of finding the particle within the box are given by Ψn(x) = √(2/L)sin(nπx/L).

Uploaded by

voladri manohar reddy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
333 views

Free Particle in 1D Box

This document summarizes the quantum mechanical model of a free particle confined to a one-dimensional box. It describes how the particle's wave function and energy levels are quantized due to the boundaries of the box. The particle's wave function must be zero at the boundaries, leading to a discrete set of allowed wave vectors kn and energy levels En proportional to n2. The normalized eigenfunctions that satisfy the boundary conditions and represent 100% probability of finding the particle within the box are given by Ψn(x) = √(2/L)sin(nπx/L).

Uploaded by

voladri manohar reddy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

Free particle in 1 D box:

Here Free particle refers to electron and 1D box can be an atom


or a piece of metal wire. As the electron is completely free to
move within the box, its potential energy is zero. And the electron
moves only along x-axis, the following partical differential
equation (from Shroedinger’s time independent equation) will be
written as compete differential equation.
𝜕 2 Ψ 2m
+ 2 EΨ = 0
𝜕𝑥 2 ђ
𝑑2 Ψ
2 + 𝑘2 Ψ = 0
𝑑𝑥
is the wave equation for electron′ s travel along one dimension.
X=0 and x=L are the boundaries of the one dimensional potential
box. In the following figure the potential energy inside the box is
zero; and the electron may face up to infinite potential by the
walls of the box in such a way that the electron never gets
outside the box.
2mE
𝑘2 =
ђ2
The solution of the second order differential equation is as
follows,
Ψ(x) = A sin kx + B cos kx
The wave function is zero at the boundaries so,
Ψ = 0 at x = 0
After applying the first boundary condition,
0= A×0+B×1
=0+B
⟹B=0
Thus, Ψ(x) = A sin kx
Ψ = 0 at x = L (the second boundary condition)
After applying the second boundary condition
0 = A sin kL
kL = nπ, n = 1, 2, 3, … …
nπ
k=
L

2mE nπ
k = √ 2 , and also k =
ђ L

2mEn L2
k 2 L2 = 2
= n2 π2
ђ
n2 π2 ђ2
En = , n = 1,2,3 …
2mL2
The following figure explains the wave functions, probability
densities and energy values of the particle at different energy

levels.
Eigen functions:
Eigen means special or particular. After including particular
energy value function, the wave function is called as Eigen
function.

2mEn
Ψn = A sin kx = A sin √ 2 x , where, n = 1,2,3 ….
ђ
nπx
Ψn = A sin
L
+∞
∫−∞ |Ψn |2 dx = 1 (within the box, the hundred percentage of
the particle is existing, since boundaries prevent them strongly
from escaping outside)
L L
nπx
∫|Ψn |2 dx = ∫ A2 sin2 ( ) dx = 1
L
0 0
L nπx
∫0 sin2 ( L
) dx = 1
L nπx
∫0 (A2 /2)(1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠2 ( L
))dx = 1

Solving
L
L
∫|Ψn |2 dx = A2 =1
2
0
2
2
A =
L

2
A = √ is the normalised constant
L

Thus by applying the normal condition (100% existence of the


particle within the box) the constant A has been found out. So
the constant A is called as normalised constant.
Normalised Eigen functions:
Eigen function with the normalised constant is called as
normalized Eigen function.

2 nπ
Ψn (x) = A sin kx = √ sin ( x) , where, n = 1,2,3 ….
L L

You might also like