Periodic Systems: NoTerm-2022
HW 2 : Due Day 5 11/4

  1. QM Boundary Condition on the First Derivative S0 4500S
    1. Demonstrate that the first derivative of the wave function is continuous at a point if the potential is finite at that point.

      To do this, integrate the energy eigenvalue equation from \(-\epsilon\) to \(\epsilon\) and take the limit that \(\epsilon \rightarrow 0\).

      Hint 1: You should apply the fundamental theorem of calculus, which says that \(\int_a^b \frac{df}{dx} \; dx = f(b) - f(a)\).

      Hint 2: For a region with a very small width, you can consider the integration region to be a small retangle (similar to the idea behind a Reimann sum).

    2. Show that for a delta function potential of the form:

      \[V(x) = \beta \delta(x)\]

      this boundary condition on the first derivative of the wavefunction is:

      \[\lim_{\epsilon \rightarrow 0} \Bigg(\left. \frac{\partial \psi}{\partial x}\right|_{\epsilon} - \left. \frac{\partial \psi}{\partial x}\right|_{-\epsilon} \Bigg) = \frac{2m \beta}{\hbar^2} \psi(0) \]

      that is, the discontinuity in the derivative is proportional to the value of the wavefunction at that point.

  2. Normalize the Eigenstates of the Finite Well S0 4500S

    Consider a particle of mass \(m\) in a finite potential well: \begin{align*} V(x) = \begin{cases} V_0 & x < -a \\ 0 & -a < x < a \\ V_0 & a < x \\ \end{cases} \end{align*}

    Consider the even solutions only.

    Normalize the even solutions and use the boundary conditions to help you solve to the \(A\) and \(D\) parameters in terms of \(q\) and \(k\).