Question

In: Physics

A stream of quantum particles of energy E is moving freely until it encounters a potential...

A stream of quantum particles of energy E is moving freely until it encounters a potential barrier of infinite height. Show that 100% of the particles are reflected.

Solutions

Expert Solution

Let the height be finite, V. So that the potential is , where u(x) is the unit step function.

Schrodinger eq. on the left , x<0

For x>0

By continuity and differentiability at x=0,

and

Thus,

which simplifies to

Similarly,

The exact value of B is not important (but can be found out by normalisation).

We want to know the fraction of the wavefunction that penetrates region 2 from region 1, it is the following, using the probalistic interpretation of wavefunction

at x=0.

It gives 0. Hence the probability of finding the particle is 0 in region 2. This could also be seen directly from the expression of wavefunction in region 2. Because k' goes to infinity as V goes to infinity, hence


Related Solutions

POTENTIAL AND KINETIC ENERGY OBJECTIVES: To determine the potential and kinetic energy of a freely falling...
POTENTIAL AND KINETIC ENERGY OBJECTIVES: To determine the potential and kinetic energy of a freely falling body To determine the loss in kinetic energy of an inelastic collision To calculate the percentage error of the experimental error of the velocity of a freely falling body using the conservation of mechanical energy of a body MATERIALS: Tennis balls Digital Timer Meter stick THEORY: Conservation of Mechanical Energy A body raised to a certain height possesses potential energy due to its position....
Electric Potential and Potential Energy (Uniform Fields) The potential difference ∆V needed to stop a moving...
Electric Potential and Potential Energy (Uniform Fields) The potential difference ∆V needed to stop a moving charged particle is called the “stopping potential.” Suppose a proton is moving in the +x direction with an initial speed of 7.1 x 106 m/s. Assume the electric force is the only relevant force in this problem. a) Find the stopping potential necessary to bring the proton to rest. b) In which direction is the electric field pointing in order to slow the proton...
Why are the following statements false? The potential energy of a system of interacting particles equals...
Why are the following statements false? The potential energy of a system of interacting particles equals the sum of the potential energies of the individual particles. The value of the integral ( - pdV) is fixed once the values of the initial and final states(1 and 2) are established. For a closed system at rest with no fields present, the sum q+w has the same value forevery process that goes from given state 1 to given state 2. For a...
3. Suppose a beam of particles of mass m and kinetic energy E is incident from...
3. Suppose a beam of particles of mass m and kinetic energy E is incident from the left on a potential well given by: U(x) = ?U0 (for 0 < x < L where U0 > 0) U(x) = 0 ( otherwise ) (a) What is the Schrodinger Wave Equation (S.W.E.) for the region x < 0 ? (Hint: include both incident and reflected waves) (b) What is the S.W.E. for the region x > L ? (Hint: this will...
Problem 1: The energy E of a particle of mass m moving at speed v is...
Problem 1: The energy E of a particle of mass m moving at speed v is given by: E2 = m2 c4 + p2 c2 (1) p=γmv (2) 1 γ = 1−v2/c2 (3) This means that if something is at rest, it’s energy is mc2. We can define a kinetic energy to be the difference between the total energy of an object given by equation (1) and the rest energy mc2. What would be the kinetic energy of a baseball...
A certain atom can exist in one of four quantum states, with energy levels 0, E,...
A certain atom can exist in one of four quantum states, with energy levels 0, E, 2E, and 4E. If all possible transitions between the four energy levels are allowed, how many lines will be present in the absorption spectrum of this atom?
1. According to Coulomb’s law, which pair of charged particles has the lowest potential energy? a)...
1. According to Coulomb’s law, which pair of charged particles has the lowest potential energy? a) A particle with a 1– charge separated by 150 pm from a particle with a 2+ charge b) A particle with a 1– charge separated by 150 pm from a particle with a 1+ charge c) A particle with a 1– charge separated by 100 pm from a particle with a 3+ charge 2. Which experiences a greater effective nuclear charge: the valence electrons...
A particle with mass m and energy E is moving in one-dimension from right to legt....
A particle with mass m and energy E is moving in one-dimension from right to legt. It is incident on the step potential V(x)=0 for x<0 nd V(x)=V0 for x>0 where E>V0>0. Find the reflection coefficient R in terms of m,E and V0, and h-bar.
A proton with rest mass (.998GeV/c2) is moving with total energy E = 3GeV . What...
A proton with rest mass (.998GeV/c2) is moving with total energy E = 3GeV . What are its momentum and its speed?
7 Energy 7.1 Equations •Kinetic energy: KE=1/2mv23 •Potential energy: PE=mgh •total energy: E=KE+PE•work: W=Fd=∆E. If force...
7 Energy 7.1 Equations •Kinetic energy: KE=1/2mv23 •Potential energy: PE=mgh •total energy: E=KE+PE•work: W=Fd=∆E. If force and distance are perpendicular, W=0. If opposite,W¡0.•power: P=∆E∆t 7.2 Skills •Know how to find velocities or heights of objects, using conservation of energy and knowing information about initial/final states. •Know how to find energy of object and thus velocity after a force has done work on it. •Use power to find how quickly an object’s energy changes .8 Rotation 8.1 Equations •Rotational velocity:ω=∆θ∆t •Rotational...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT