In the E>Uopotential barrier, there should be no reflection when the incident wave is at one of the transmission resonances. Prove this by assuming that a beam of particles is incident at the first transmission resonance, E=Uo+(π2h2/2mL2), and combining continuity equations to show thatB=0. (Note: k’ is particularly simple in this special case, which should streamline your work.)

Short Answer

Expert verified

There should be no reflection when the incident wave is at one of the transmission resonances.

Step by step solution

01

Known condition:

Classically, the particle shouldn’t reflect. It should slow down between the barriers. But quantum mechanically, we apply the Schrödinger equation and get the solution to be of the form:e±ikx. So,

ψx<0(x)=Aeikx+Be-ikxψ0<x<L(x)=Ceik'x+De-ik'xψx>0(x)=Feikx

Here, α in second equation signifies the real nature.data-custom-editor="chemistry" ψ= Wave Functions, A,B,C,D,F are the arbitrary multiplicative constants.

02

Derivation

Applying boundary conditions for 0<x<L and x<0:

If, L= Width of potential barrier, k=2mE-Voh2and k'=2mEh2

ψx<00=ψ0<x<L0:Aeik0+Be-ik0=Ceik'0+De-ik,0A+B=C+D

Solve as:

dψx<0dx|x=0=dψ0<x<Ldx|x=0:ikAeik0-ikBe-ik0=ik'Ceik'0-ik'Deik'0kA-B=k'C-D

Now applying boundary conditions for 0<x<L and x>L:

ψ0<x<LL=ψx>0L:Ce-ik'L+De-ik'L=FeikL

Also.

dψ0<x<Ldx|x=L=dψx>0dx|x=L:ik'Ceik'L-Deik,L=ikFeikL

From the second condition:C=kk'A-B+Dput in first to obtain:

data-custom-editor="chemistry" C=k'A+B+kA-B2k'D=k'A+B-kA-B2k'

Substitute these values in the definition of reflection, the coefficient of reflection is given by:

R=sin2k'Lsin2k'L+4k'2k2k2-k'22

Now, substituting the values in the above equation,k=2mE-Voh2andk'=2mEh2

Hence,R=sin22mE+UoLhsin22mE+UoLh+4EUoEUo+1

Now, R is non-zero in general because the numerator contains sine term.

In order to consider no reflection, the numerator becomes zero and is equated to nπ, the condition is:

2mE-UohL=2mE-UohL=πOR

(n=1 for first transmission resonance)

E=Uo+π2h22mL2

Here, E= Kinetic energy, Uo= Potential energy, h= Modified Plank’s constant

E=Uo+π2h22mL2

This expression is not a quantization condition but it defines the transmission resonance condition such that it occurs only at certain energies no matter what incident energy is.

Hence, there should be no reflection when the incident wave is at one of the transmission resonances

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Most popular questions from this chapter

As we learn in physical optics, thin-film interference can cause some wavelengths of light to be strongly reflected while others not reflected at all. Neglecting absorption all light has to go one way or the other, so wavelengths not reflected are strongly transmitted. (a) For a film, of thickness t surrounded by air, what wavelengths λ (while they are within the film) will be strongly transmitted? (b) What wavelengths (while they are “over” the barrier) of matter waves satisfies condition (6-14)? (c) Comment on the relationship between (a) and (b).

In the wide-barrier transmission probability of equation (6-18), the coefficient multiplying the exponential is often omitted. When is this justified, and why?

Show that the quite general wave group given in equation (6-21) is a solution of the free-particle Schrödinger equation, provided that each plane wave's w does satisfy the matter-wave dispersion relation given in (6-23).

From equations (6-23) and (6-29) obtain the dispersion coefficient for matter waves (in vacuum), then show that probability density (6-35) follows from (6-28)

Given the situation of exercise 25, show that

(a) as Uo, reflection probability approaches 1 and

(b) as L0, the reflection probability approaches 0.

(c) Consider the limit in which the well becomes infinitely deep and infinitesimally narrow--- that is Uoand data-custom-editor="chemistry" L0but the product U0L is constant. (This delta well model approximates the effect of a narrow but strong attractive potential, such as that experienced by a free electron encountering a positive ion.) Show that reflection probability becomes:

R=[1+2h2EmUoL2]-1

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