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PHY4604 Fall 2007 Problem Set 3

PHY 4604 Problem Set #3


Due Wednesday October 3, 2007 (in class)
(Total Points = 130, Late homework = 50%)
Reading: Griffiths Chapter 2 (sections 2.4, 2.5, and 2.6).

Useful Math:

1
∫ x e dx =
n − ax
Γ( n2+1 ) , where Γ(x) is the gamma function and Γ(x+1) = xΓ(x).
2

( n +1) / 2
0
2a
Γ(1) = Γ(2) = 1, Γ(n) = (n-1)! if n is a positive integer, and Γ( 12 ) = π .
Hence,
+∞ +∞ +∞
π π
∫e ∫e dx = ∫ e − a ( x + b / 2) e ab
− ax 2 − a ( x 2 + bx )
dx = dx =
2 2 2
/4
and e ab /4
.
−∞
a −∞ −∞
a

Problem 1 (40 points): A free particle has a Gaussian initial wave function given by
Ψ ( x,0) = Ae − ax ,
2

where A and a are positive real constants.


(a) (2 points) Find the value of A that normalizes this wave function such that
+∞

∫ Ψ ( x,0)Ψ ( x,0)dx = 1 .

−∞
(b) (8 points) Find Ψ ( x, t ) .
(c) (8 point) Compute the probability density ρ ( x, t ) =| Ψ ( x, t ) |2 . Express your answer in terms
of the time dependent quantity
a
w≡ .
1 + (2hat / m) 2
Sketch ρ(x,t) (as a function of x) at t = 0, and again at some very large time t.
(d) (8 points) Find <x>, <x2>, <px> and <px2> for this wave function. Express your answers in
terms of the time dependent quantity
a
w≡ .
1 + (2hat / m) 2
(e) (6 points) Compute Δx = σx and Δpx = σ p x . Is the product ΔxΔpx consistent with the
uncertainty principle? At what time t does the system come closest to the uncertainty limit and
how close does it get?
(f) (8 points) At t = 0 what is the momentum-space wave function, φ(px), corresponding to the
wave function Ψ(x,0). Compute <px> and <px2> at t = 0 using the momentum-space wave
function and compare your result with what you got in (d) using the position-space wave
function.
(Hint: see Griffiths problem 2.22)

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PHY4604 Fall 2007 Problem Set 3

Problem 2 (30 points): Consider the double delta-function potential given by


V ( x) = −α [δ ( x + a ) + δ ( x − a )] ,
where α and a are positive real constants.
(a) (5 points) Sketch this potential. Is parity a good quantum number in this problem?
(b) (5 points) How many bound states are they?
(c) (10 points) Find the allowed bound state energies if α = h 2 /(ma) and sketch the wave
functions. Are the wave functions eigenstates of the parity operator? Is so what are their
eigenvalues?
(d) (10 points) Find the allowed bound state energies if α = h 2 /(4ma) and sketch the wave
functions. Are the wave functions eigenstates of the parity operator? Is so what are their
eigenvalues?
(Hint: see Griffiths section 2.5)

Problem 3 (30 points): Consider an infinite square well with a delta-function barrier at the
center given by
⎧αδ ( x) − a < x < a
V ( x) = ⎨
⎩ +∞ | x |≥ a
where α is a positive real constant.
(a) (2 points) Is parity a good quantum number in this problem?
(b) (10 points) Solve the time-independent Schrödinger equations treating the even and odd
parity solutions separately. Don’t bother to normalize the wave functions.
(c) (10 points) Find the energy levels for the parity even wave functions and compare to the
corresponding energies in the absence of the delta function? Explain your result.
(d) (8 points) Find the energy levels for the parity odd wave functions and compare to the
corresponding energies in the absence of the delta function? Explain your result.
(Hint: see Griffiths problem 2.44)

Problem 4 (30 points): Consider the finite square well potential given by
⎧− V − a < x < a
V ( x) = ⎨ 0
⎩ 0 | x |> a
where V0 is a positive constant. Suppose that particles with energy E > 0 enter from the left and
travel to the right and are scattered by this potential. Classically the particles would speed up at
x = -a and then slow down (back to their original speed) at x = +a and then continue traveling to
the right. Classically all particles entering from the left would exit to the right.
(a) (10 points) Calculate the quantum mechanical reflection probability, PR.
(b) (10 points) Calculate the quantum mechanical transmission probability, PT, and show that
PR + PT = 1.
(c) (10 points) Calculate 1/PT. For what values of the energy does the well become
“transparent” (i.e. PT = 1). Compare these energies with the allowed bound state energies of an
infinite square well of size 2a. Sketch PT as a function of the energy E.
(Hint: see Griffiths section 2.6)

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