Department of Physics

Faculty of Science Assiut University

Course Title:
Quantum Mechanics P311
Chapter 3
The Schrödinger Wave Equation

Prof. Dr. Ahmed A Ebrahim

Head of Physics Department – Assiut University
Second Floor – Room No. 200
First semester 2022/2023
Finite Square-Well Potential
We solve the Schrodinger equation:

With the potential:

0, a xa
V ( x)  
 , x   a, x  a
Where the potential is zero (inside the box), the time-independent
Schrödinger wave equation becomes:
 The energy is
entirely kinetic
and so is
positive.
where

The general solution is:

 (x  a)  0  A sin (-a)

k cos
 B k(-a)
  A sin ka  Bcos ka (*)
 (x  a)  0  A sin ka  Bcos ka (**)
Add the two equations (*) and (**)

 2Bcos ka = 0
By subtracting the two equations (*) and (**),

 2A sin ka = 0
If B=0  A  0  sin ka = 0
 ka = n 
If A=0  B  0  cos ka = 0
 ka = n  / 2
  n
 A sin x, n  2, 4, 6,...
2a
 (x)  
 B cos x, n  1, 3, 5,...
n

 2a
We normalize the wave function: a 1
   dx  1  A  B 
*

a a
 1 n
 sin x, n is even
a 2a
 (x)  
1 n
 cos x, n is odd
 a 2a
Quantized Energy
•The quantized wave number now becomes: n
k
•Solving for the energy yields: 2a
 2 2
En  n 2
2
(n  1,2,3,...)
8ma
•Note that the energy depends on integer values of n. Hence
the energy is quantized and nonzero.
•The special case of n=1 is
called the ground state.
 2 2
En  2
8ma
 Step Potentail
We solve the Schrodinger equation:

With the potential:

Where the potential is zero (Region I), the time-independent

Schrödinger equation becomes:
 Step Potentail The energy is entirely
kinetic and so is positive

where

The general solution is:

In Region 1
 1 ( x)  Ae ik x
 Be i k x
 (1)
CASE I , E  V
The potential in Region 2 is V(x)= Vo, the time-independent Schrödinger equation becomes:
2
d 2 2

  Vo  2  E  2
2m dx 2

d2
2
2m
2
 2
( E  Vo )  2
dx
2m
   2 ,  
2 2
2
( E  Vo ) (*)
The general solution is:
i x i x
 ( x)  C e
2
 Be  (2)
 Incident wave

reflected wave transmitted wave

 1 ( x)  Ae ik x
 Be i k x

i x i x
 ( x)  C e
2
 De reflected wave in Region 2

Since the wave function must be continuous:

 1 ( x  0)  ( x  0) 2

A B C  (3)
Also,
 
 1 ( x  0 )   2 ( x  0)
x x
ikA  ikB  i C  (4)
Multiplying equation (3) by i and equating it with equation (4)
ikA  ikB  i A  i B
kA   A   B  kB
k 
 B A
k 
Substituting the value of B into equation (3)

2k
C A
k 
Substituting the values of B and C into equations (1,2):

k 
 1 ( x)  Ae ik x
 i k x
A e  (5)
k 
2k i x
 ( x)  Ae  (6)
k 
2
Current Density





 2
(k   ) 2 In contrast to classical mechanics,
B
R 
which states that none of the particles
, get reflected, we can see that the

A
2
(k   ) 2 reflection coefficient R is not zero:
there are particles that get reflected in
spite of their energies being higher
2
 (2k ) 2 than the step V. This effect must be
C attributed to the wavelike behavior of
T 2  the particles. Where 
 1 V
A k (k   ) 2
k
we see that as E gets smaller and
E

4k
smaller, T also gets smaller and
smaller so that when E = V the
 transmission coefficient T becomes
(k   ) 2 zero and R = 1.

The sum of R and T is equal to 1, as it should be. R  T 1

 CASE II: E < V
The potential in Region 2 is V(x)= V, E < 0, the time-
independent Schrödinger Eq. becomes:

2
d 2
2
  V 2  E2
2m dx 2
d 2
2
2m
2
 2
(E  V )  2
dx
2m
  2 ,  
2 2
2
(E  V )
Comparing the last equation with the equation (*)
2 2 2 2
    i      i 
k  i 2k
B A, C  A
k  i k  i
k  i
 1 ( x)  Ae 
ik x
Ae i k x
in Region (1)
k  i
2k  x
 ( x)  Ae in Region (2)
k  i
2
Quantum Tunneling Through a Potential Barrier

2
B (k  i  ) (k  i  )
B* B
R 2  2 
A A (k  i ) (k  i )
1
 T 0
Total reflection  Transmission must be zero

Classically, we would expect total reflection:

every particle that arrives at the barrier (x =
0) will be reflected back; no particle can
penetrate the barrier, where it would have a
negative kinetic energy.
 1
m v  E V
2

2( E V )
v
m
P marks the point where the total energy and the potential energy are equal, E
= V(x) and v = 0. There is no real-number solution to the speed equation
anywhere to the right of P. According to classical mechanics, each particle will
reach the point P and then be reflected back. The classical reflection coefficient
is one.
 Example
A region of space has a potential step such that particles have a wave function given by

 7b ei ( kx Et / ) 
5b
e i (  kx  Et / )
x0
 3 3
 ( x, t )  
 9b i ( x  Et / )
e x0
 3
The incident particles are initially travelling in the positive x direction.
particles are initially travelling in the positive x direction.
a. What fraction of the incident particles will be reflected and transmitted?
b. Give the value of  k