AJIBOLA AYOMIDE JOSHUA

EEG/2019/017

Question 1

A particle moving in one dimension can move in a certain length L because the
particle will experience a potential that is infinitely large beyond L, and before
point D. Let the potential energy be represented along the vertical axis. Within
the box, the potential energy is assumed to be zero.
Find the wave function and the energy associated with it, the expectation
value of the position, and momentum at n = 1.

Solution

V (x) = {0, a− ≤ x ≤ a, ∞ , otherwise.

The Schrödinger equation is given as:

ĤˆΨ=EΨ.

At regions I and III,

ΨI(x) = ΨIII(x) = 0, V ( x) = ∞ .

Figure 1: Region of concentration of the particle

1
 At region II, V (x) = 0, and the Schrö¨dinger equation becomes:
h̄ ¯2d2
Ψ(x)+V(x)Ψ(x)=EΨ(x).
−
2m dx2
Since V ( x) = 0 in this region:

d2 Ψ(x) −2m¯E
= Ψ()x.
dx2 h̄
Let:
k2 2mE
= h̄ ¯2.

The equation becomes:

d2 Ψ(x)
dx2 + k2Ψ(x) = 0.1

Assume a solution of the form:

Ψ(x) = erx.

Then:
dΨ(x) d2 Ψ()x
dx = rer x , rx
= r2e .
dx2
Substituting into Eq. (1):
r2er x + k2er x =0.

Since e r x=0:
r 2 + k2 =0.
Thus:
r2= −k2, r=±ik.

The general solution for a second-order differential equation with complex

roots is:
Ψ(x) = A sin(kx) + B cos(kx).
To apply the boundary conditions:

Ψ(x) = 0 atx = ±a.

At x=a:
Ψ(a) = A sin(ka) + B cos(ka) = 0.
Case 1 (Odd function): Let B = 0. The solution becomes:

Ψ(x) = A sin(kx).

2
For the boundary condition Ψ(a) = 0:
nπ
sin(ka)=0ka=nπ, k= , n=1,2,3,...
a
The normalized wave function is:
√1 nπx
Ψn(x)= sin ( ) .
a a
n2π2h̄
2ma2 ¯2
The energy is given by:
En= .

Expectation Values:
The expectation value of x:
a
∫ Ψ∗(x)xΨ(x)dx=0.
⟨x⟩=
−a

The expectation value of p:

a
⟨p̂ˆ⟩=−ih̄ ¯∫ dΨ()x
Ψ∗
(x) dx=0.
−a
dx

Case 2 (Even function): Let A = 0. The solution becomes:

Ψ(x) = B cos(kx).

Applying the boundary condition at x = a:

( 1)
cos(ka) = 0ka = n − 2 π, n=1,2,3,...

The normalized wave function is:

√1 (2n−1)πx )
Ψn(x)= cos( .

The energy is given by:

(2n −1)2π2h̄ ¯2
En= .
8ma2
Summary of Results:
- Wave function for odd states:
√1 (nπx),
Ψn(x)= a sin a n = 1,2,3, . . .

- Wave function for even states:

Ψn(x)=
√1 ( (2n−1)πx ) ,
a cos n = 1,2,3, . . .
2a

3
 - Energy for odd states:
n2π2 h̄2¯
En= , n = 1,2,3, . . .
2ma2
- Energy for even states:
2
(2n −1) 2 πh̄2 ¯
En= , n = 1,2,3, . . .
8ma2

Problem 2
Repeat the same for the regions below:

− L <x< L
Reg ions:I,II,III , V(x)=0 other w ise, V ( x) = ∞
2
At regions I and III:

ΨI(x) = ΨIII(x) = 0, V (x) = ∞

At region II:
V(x)=0
Thetime-independentSchrö¨dingerequationis:

h̄ 2d2Ψ(x)+V(x)Ψ(x)=EΨ(x)
2¯m
− dx2
Substituting V (x) = 0:
h̄ 2d2Ψ(x)=EΨ(x)
2¯m
− dx2
Rearranging:
d2 Ψ(x) −2m¯E
= h̄ 2Ψ(x)
dx2
Let:
2 2mE
k =
h̄ ¯2
Thus:
d2dx2
Ψ(x)
+ k2Ψ(x) = 0

Assume a solution of the form:

Ψ(x) = erx

Differentiating:
dΨ()x rx d2 Ψ()x
= re , = r2er x
dx dx2

4
 Substitute into the differential equation:
r2erx + k2erx = 0

Since er x ≠ 0, we have:
r2+k2=0

Thus:
√ 2m¯E
r = ± ik, k= h̄ 2
The general solution is:

Ψ(x) = A sin(kx) + B cos(kx)

Applying the boundary conditions:

−L)=0 =−L L L
Ψ( x)=Ψ( atx , Ψ(x)=Ψ( )=0 atx = 2
2 2

Case 1: Odd Function

At x = −L2,Ψ(x)=0:

Ψ(x) = A sin(kx) + B cos(kx) = 0

Atx= −L2:

Ψ( − L )=Asin ( −kL ) ( )
+Bcos −kL =0
2 2 2

Using the symmetry of trigonometric functions:

( kL ) ( kL )
Bcos Asin =0
2 −

To satisfy boundary c
(onditions:
kL ) kL )
cos =0 and sin ( =0
2

Thus:
kL =nπ =1,2,3 , . . .
w her en
And: nπ
k=
L
The solution becomes:

Ψ(x) = A sin (nπx) w her en

=1,2,3 , . . .

5
 Normalize the wave function:
L

∫ −2 |Ψ(x)|2 dx=1
L
2

Substitute: L

A2 sin2( nπx)dx = 1
2
∫
−L2 L
Use the trigonometric identity:
1
sin2θ= (1 − cos(2θ ))
2
Integrating:
[2 x sin4( nLπ x) ] L 2
A − =1
2 4nπ
−L2

Simplify:
L √2
A2 =1 ⇒ A=
2
Thus:
√2
Ψn(x) = L sin (nπx)L

The energy eigenvalues are:

2mE k2h̄ ¯2 nπh̄

2 2 2
¯
2
k = 2 , E n = 2m =
h̄ ¯ 2mL2

Expectation Value of x
The expectation value ⟨ x ⟩ :
L
2
∫ − Ψ∗(x)xΨ(xdx
)
⟨x⟩ = L
2

Since Ψ(x) is odd:

⟨ x⟩ = 0

Case 2: Even Function

L
At x = ± 2 :
(Ψ L)
± =0
2

6
The wave function is:
n
Ψ(x) = B cos((2 − 1)πx )
L

Normalize: L
2
∫
|Ψ(x)|2dx = 1
−L2

And find the expectation values as needed.

B2 ∫ L B2 ∫ L
dx+ ( (4n −2) πx) dx
cos =1
2 0 2 0 L

n−2)πx
 B2 sin ((4(4L )L
+ n−2)π =1
2 0
B2x2 L

B2L B2 ( sin((2n − 1)π) − sin((2n − 1)0) )

+ 2 =1
2 (2 n− 1)π
L

B2L B2
+ 2 (0)=1
2

B2L √2
=1B =
2

√2 (2n − 1)πx ) wheren

Ψn(x) = L cos( =1,2,3 , . . .
L

h̄¯ 2k2 (2n −1)π

En = , k=
2m L

¯2 (2n − 1)π ) 2
E n = h̄ m(
2 L

7
Summary of Solutions

√2 nπx
Ψn(x) = L sin ( ) L

√2 (2n − 1)πx )
Ψn(x) = L cos( (ev ensol utions)
L

2
(2n −1)πh̄2 ¯2
En = (oddsol utions)
2mL2

2 2 2
nπh̄ ¯
En = (ev ensol utions)
2mL2

4π2h̄ ¯2
E2 = 2
mL2

√2 nπx
Ψn(x) = sin ( ) L
⟨ x ⟩L π
L

=0

⟨ px ⟩ = − ih̄ ¯