A beam of particles of energy E incident upon a potential step ofU0=(5/4)E is described by wave function:ψinc(x)=eikx

  1. Determine the reflected wave and wave inside the step by enforcing the required continuity conditions to obtain their (possibly complex) amplitudes.
  2. Verify the explicit calculation the ratio of reflected probability density to the incident probability density is 1.

Short Answer

Expert verified
  1. The reflected wave is given by,ψrefl=35-i45e-αxand the wave inside the step can be written as,ψx>0=85-i45e-αx
  2. The ratio of reflected probability density to the incident probability densityB*B=35+i4535-i45=1

Step by step solution

01

Concept involved

A particle is defined by the wave function: Be-2x for x<0andCe4x forx>0 . For the given wave function to becontinuous, atx=0,B=C

02

Calculation of B and C

To left of the step x<0as:

ψ=ψinc+ψrefψ=eikx+Be-ikx

To the right of the step x>0as:

ψ=Ce-αx

Her, ψmust be continuous at x=0.

e0+Be0=Ce01+B=C

Here, dψdx must be continuous at x=0.

ike0-ikBe0=-αCe0ik1-B=-αC

From first and second condition:

ik1-B=α1+Bik+αik-α=i2mEh+2m54E-Ehi2mEh-2m54E-Eh

Divide by √2mE/everywhere:

B=i+54-1i-54-1=i+12i-12B=35-i45

Substitute this in C, the equation obtained is:

C=85-i45

03

(a) Determining reflected wave and the wave

If,ψrefl=Be-αx

By putting value of B from Step 3 in the above-mentioned equation and solve:

ψrefl=35-i45e-αx

If, ψx>0=Ce-αx

By putting value of C from Step 3 in the above-mentioned equation solve as:

ψx>0=85-i45e-αx

Hence, the reflected wave is given by, ψrefl=35-i45e-αx and the wave inside the step can be written as, ψx>0=85-i45e-αx

04

(b) Ratio of reflected and incident probability density

The ratio of reflected and incident probability can be calculated by the following equation,

B*B=35+i4535-i45=1

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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.)

Consider a particle of mass m inside the well as shown in the figure. If bound, its lowest energy state would of course be the ground state, but would it be bound? Assume that for a while, it at least occupies the ground state, which is much lower thanU0, and the barriers qualify as wide. Show that a rough average time it would remain bound is given by:τ=mW42000hL2σ2eα whereσ=L8mU0h.

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

Given the same particle energy and barrier height and width, which would tunnel more readily: a proton or an electron? Is this consistent with the usual rule of thumb governing whether classical or non-classical behavior should prevail?

Solving the potential barrier smoothness conditions for relationships among the coefficients A,B and Fgiving the reflection and transmission probabilities, usually involves rather messy algebra. However, there is a special case than can be done fairly easily, through requiring a slight departure from the standard solutions used in the chapter. Suppose the incident particles’ energyEis preciselyU0.

(a) Write down solutions to the Schrodinger Equation in the three regions. Be especially carefull in the region0<x<L. It should have two arbitrary constants and it isn’t difficult – just different.

(b) Obtain the smoothness conditions, and from these findR and T.

(c) Do the results make sense in the limitL?

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