Note: About Bound States and Scattering States

We can understand the condition of bound states and scattered states in quantum
mechanics by the following simple analogy with classical mechanics. In Classical
mechanics a one-dimensional time-independent potential can give rise to two
different kinds of motion.

a- If the particle’s total energy (E) is less than the potential

V(x) on either sides of the well as shown in fig. a, then Energy of particle

the particle will stay in the potential well and will not be
able to escape the well. This is called a bound state.
a
𝐸 𝑉 ∞
Energy of particle

b- If the particle’s total energy (E) is greater than the

potential V(x) on one side or both sides of the well, ∞
then as the particle comes in from “infinity,” it slows
Energy of particle
down or speeds up under the influence of the
potential, and returns to infinity see Fig. b. This this
called scattering state. ∞
b
𝐸 𝑉 ∞

In reality most potentials go to zero at infinity, then the above conditions can be
represented as

𝐸 𝑉 ∞ 0 or 𝐸 0 Bound State condition

𝐸 𝑉 ∞ 0 or 𝐸 0 Scattered state condition

Some potentials admit only bound states (for example, the harmonic oscillator);
some allow only scattering states (a potential hill with no dips in it, for example);
some permit both kinds, depending on the energy of the particle.

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Note: About Dirac delta function
Dirac delta function2  (x ) is defined as

 x 0
 (x )  
 0 otherwise

And the area under its curve is equal to 1.

Some properties

1-  (x )   (x ) d (x )  1



2-  f (x )  (x ) d (x )  f (0)



3-  f (x )  (x  a) d (x )  f (a)


b
1 c  [a , b ]
4-   (x  c ) d (x )  0
a
c  [a , b ]

If c is not inside the boundaries of integration then the integration will be

zero.
b
f (c ) c  [a, b ]
5-  f (x )  (x  c ) d (x )  
a
0 c  [a, b ]

1
6-  (ax )   (x )
a

7-  (x )   (x )

8- f (x ) (x )  f (0) (x )
Example 1: Evaluate the following integral
1
a-  x  3x 2  2x  1   x  2  dx  (2)3  3(2) 2  2(2)  1  25
3

3

b-   cos(3x )  2    x    dx  cos(3 )  2  1  2  1
0
1
c- e
x 3
  x  2  dx  0 because x  2 is outside the limits of integration
1

2
Dirac delta function is actually not a function in the mathematical sense but mathematical it’s a distribution.

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4. Dirac delta function potential
0

Region I Region II
V(x)=0 V(x)=0
 II
V(x)

Let’s consider the following Dirac delta potential

V (x )    (x ) (1)

And the boundary conditions (B.C) are

1st B.C. x     I ()  0 (2)

2nd B.C. x     II ()  0 (3)

 is always continuous, i.e.  I = II

rd 
3 B.C. x 0   d d I d II (4)
 dx is continuous, i.e. 
dx dx

Also, from the figure we see that V ()  0 . Since E can be chosen to be greater
than or less than V  0 then this model will have both bound and scattered states.
Here we will study the case of bound states (i.e. we want to solve the TISE for this
potential to get the wavefunction  (x ) and the energy E of the model)

Bound states Analysis

The TISE is
2 d 2
 ( x ) V ( x ) ( x )  E  ( x ) (5)
2 m dx 2

Now let’s investigate  (x ) in regions I and II where  (x )  0  V (x )  0

Region I

Put V (x )  0 in eq. (5)

2 d 2
  I (x )  E  I (x ) (6)
2 m dx 2

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Re-adjust
d2 2 mE
2
 I (x )   2  I (x ) (7)
dx 

In this case E  0 , then we can define

2m E
k2 (8)
2
Substitute (8) into (7)
d2
2
 I (x )   k 2  I (x ) (9)
dx

Equation (9) is a S.H.M equation, its general solution3 is

 I (x )  A e kx  B e  kx (10)

Region II
In a similar manner the wavefunction in region II will be

 II (x )  C e kx  D e  kx (11)

The arbitrary constants A, B, C, D and k can be determined from the boundary

conditions and the normalization condition. Applying the 1st B.C. to eq. (10), i.e.
put x   in eq. (10)

 I ()  A e k ( )  B e  k ( )

0  A (0)  B ()  B 0 (12)

Substituting (12) into (10) we get

 I (x )  A e kx (13)

Applying the 2nd B.C. to eq. (11), i.e. put x   in eq. (11), we get

 II ()  C e k (  )  D e  k ( )

0  C ()  D (0)  C 0 (14)

Substituting eq. (14) into (11) we get

3
We used exponential in the solution because the B.C. contain infinity.

27
  II (x )  D e  kx (15)

Applying the 3rd B.C., i.e. at x  0 the wave function must be continuous, i.e.
 I = II . Equate eq. (13) and (15) and put x  0

A e k (0)  D e  k (0)

AD (16)

Substituting (16) into (13) and (15) we get

 A e kx x 0
 (x )    kx
A e x 0

And this can be represented as one wave function as

 (x )  A e  k x (17)

The final B.C. can be applied after substituting V (x )    (x ) in the TISE since
we are investigating the wave function at x  0 ,

2 d 2
 ( x )    ( x ) ( x )  E  ( x ) (18)
2 m dx 2

The last B.C. contains the first derivative of  (x ) , see eq. (4), so to get the first
derivative of  (x ) from eq. (18) we integrate both sides of eq. (18) w.r.t. x from
 to  (the limit  is taken because we are integrating about the Dirac delta
potential which only exists at x  0 so it’s enough to take the limit from  to 
and there is no need to integrate from  to  ) and then take the limit as  goes
to zero.
  
2 d2
2 m   0  dx 2
lim  ( x ) dx   lim   ( x ) ( x ) dx  E lim   ( x ) dx (19)
 0  0
 

Let’s calculate each term individually

L.H.S. 1st term

  ( is in region II )
d2 d
lim  2  (x ) dx  lim Region I Region II
 0

dx   0 dx
  ( is in region I )

 d II d I 
 lim   
 0
 dx dx 

Substitute eq. (17) in the above equation

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 d d 
 lim  A e  kx  A e kx 
 0 dx
 x  dx x  

 lim  Ak e  Ak e  k  
k 
 0

 2 A k (20)

L.H.S. 2nd term (apply property 2 of Dirac delta)

 
lim   (x ) (x ) dx  A lim  e
k x
 (x ) dx  Ae  k (0)  A (21)
 0  0
 

R.H.S
Substitute eq. (17) in the R.H.S
 
lim   (x ) dx  A lim  e
k x
dx
 0  0
 

 2A lim  e  kx dx
 0
0

e  kx
 2A lim
 0  k
0
2A
 lim e  k   e 0   0 (22)
 k  0

Substitute (20), (21), and (22) into eq. (19) we get

2
(  2 kA )   ( A )  E (0)
2m
2
(  2 kA )   ( A )
2m
m
k  (23)
2
Substitute (23) into eq. (17)
m
 x
 (x )  A e 2
(24)

Finally the constant A can be determined from the normalization condition



   dx 1
*
(25)


m m

  2 x   2 x 
  A e    A e   dx  1
  

29
  2m
 x

e dx  1
2 2
2A
0

2m 
2A 2  x
1
2
e 
2m 
 2 0


 2 A 2 

m
 e e0  1

2A 2
1
m

m
A  (26)
2

Substitute (26) into (24) we get

m
m   2 x
 (x )  e (27)
2

Equation (27) is the wave function of the Dirac delta potential. Notice that the
wave function of the Dirac potential just depends on the position x and it is only
one value. The energy of this state is, substitute (23) into (8)
2
 m  2 mE
 2   2
   

m2
E  (28)
2 2

Remarks:
1- The Dirac delta function, regardless of its “strength” α, has exactly one
bound state with energy equal to eq. (28)

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