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QuantumTheory 2 Slides

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15 views

QuantumTheory 2 Slides

Uploaded by

samebalut
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Applications of quantum

mechanics

1. Translation
2. vibration
Translation: Particle in a box
A particle with constant potential energy in a one-
dimensional region with impenetrable walls at both ends

Potential
Inside box:
V = const. = 0
Wall: V = ∞

Due to impenetrable walls, Ψ(x) = 0 at x < 0 and x > L


For continuity of Ψ, Ψ(x) = 0 at x = 0 and x = L
Boundary conditions
Solution of the Schrödinger Equation
2
d 
SE for V = 0:  k 2 0 where, k 2  2mE /  2
dx2
  sin( k x)
wave with
A solution is:   2 / k
Ψ needs to satisfy the boundary conditions,
Ψ(x) = 0 at x = 0 and x = L
i.e. each acceptable Ψ must fit inside the box exactly

λ = 2L λ=L λ = 2L/3

0 L 0 L 0 L

In general,   2L / n, n  1, 2, 3
The Schrödinger Equation: Solution
d 2
With V = 0  k 2  0 where, k 2  2mE /  2
dx2
A solution is   sin( k x) wave with   2 / k
With the boundary condition,   2L / n, n  1, 2, 3
k  2 /    n / L
2
k  ( n / L) (h / 2 )
2 2
nh 2 2 2
En   
2m 2m 8mL2
 n ( x)  N sin( n x / L), n  1, 2
N: Normalization constant
Normalization constant (N) is chosen such that
the total probability of finding the particle is one

1   |  |2 dx Normalization

L
 
) dx  N    N   2 
1/ 2
n x
1  N  sin (
2 2 2 L
0
L 2 L

 (ax)dx
2
sin
n x
1/ 2
2
x sin( 2ax)  n ( x)    sin( )
   L L
2 4a
 const n  1, 2
Permitted Energy levels & wavefunctions
 n  (2 / L) sin( n x / L) En  n 2 h 2 /(8mL2 )  n E1
2
n  1,2,3,

Zero-point energy
 Lowest irremovable
energy
h2
E1 
8mL2
 Existence is in
consistent with
uncertainty
principle

No. of Nodes: n - 1
Energy difference between adjacent levels
2
h
E  En1  En  (2n  1) 2
8mL
Smaller Size

Larger Size
∆E

∆E

Greater the size/mass of the system, less important


are the effects of quantization
Particle-in-a-box with finite barrier

Let E < V0
(i.e. classically the particle can
not escape the container)

• Although E < V, the probability of finding particle outside the


container is NOT zero. Such leakage by penetration into or through
classically forbidden region is called tunnelling.

Transmission probability:
T  16 (1   )e 2 a Particles of low mass are more able to tunnel
through barrier than heavy ones:
  2m(V0  E ) /  more important for electrons, moderate important
  E / V0 for protons, and negligible for most other heavier
particles.
Application of Tunnelling

A scanning tunnelling
An STM image of
microscope makes use of
the current of electrons that caesium atoms on a
tunnel between the surface gallium arsenide
and the tip. surface
Vibration: The harmonic oscillator

Harmonic vibration follows Hooke’s Law of force


Restoring force, F = -k x
k: is the force constant,
x: is the displacement

dV
F  
dx
kx 2
V 
2

Parabolic potential: characteristic of a harmonic Oscillator


Positive displacement: extension
The harmonic oscillator: Solution
Potential energy varies with coordinate. SE becomes
2 2
 d  1 2
  kx   E
2m dx2 2

Energy Levels:
1
E  (  )h
2
  0,1, 2
1 k

2 m
E  E 1  E  h
The harmonic oscillator: Solution
Wavefunctions are given as Hermite polynomials

No. of nodes: V
 The probability
distributions

Tunnelling →

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