PHY202 Quantum Mechanics

Summary of Topic 4: The Finite Potential Well

The quantum well

In a sandwich of two semiconductors, e.g. AlGaAs-GaAs, in the conduction zone one can have
an effective potential well. When V0 is very large, we have the limit of the infinite potential well.
Otherwise we have a finite potential well.
The Finite Potential Well

A particle in the potential

V0
V (x) =
0

V0

x < L2
L2 x
x > L2

L
2

When E > V0 : unbound states, total energy E is continuous (not quantized).

When E < V0 bound states. Find them by solving the TISE:
L/2 < x < L/2 (Region I):
00 (x) = k 2 (x), where k 2 =
(A, B arbitrary constants).

2mE
~2

> 0. A general solution is I (x) = A sin kx + B cos kx

x > L/2 (Region II):

00 (x) = 2 (x), where 2 = 2m(V~02E) > 0. A general solution is II (x) = Cex + Dex
(C, D arbitrary constants). Must put D = 0, otherwise (x) not square integrable (blows
up at large +ve x).
x < L2 (Region III):
like in region II. A general solution is III (x) = F ex + Gex Must put F = 0, otherwise
(x) not square integrable (blows up at large -ve x).

Note in regions II and III, total E = P E + KE = V0 + KE, but E < V0 hence KE < 0!
The potential is symmetric w.r.t. to x = 0 expect symmetric (even-parity) and antisymmetric (odd-parity) states
Even parity solutions
Consider even-parity solutions only: I (x) = B cos kx. Apply general conditions on at x =
L/2:
continuous at x = L/2: I (L/2) = II (L/2) B cos (kL/2) = C exp (L/2)

0 (L/2) Bk sin (kL/2) = C exp (L/2)

0 continuous at x = L/2: I0 (L/2) = II

divide side-by-side: The quantisation condition reads tan kL

2 =
introduce =
k02 =

2mV0
~2

LHS: y() = tan . Introduce and 0 = k02L const., where

q 2
q 2
q
k0

V0 E

RHS: y() = k = k2 1 =
= 02 1
E

kL
2

> 0,

when E  V0

02
2

1
.

When E % V0 % 0

Odd-parity solutions
Consider odd-parity solutions only: I (x) = B sin kx, proceed as before.

02
2

1 & 0.

The quantisation

condition reads cot kL

2 = k .

Comments:
The even-parity solutions are determined when the curve y = tan intersects the curve
y = k . The odd-parity solutions are determined when the curve y = cot intersects the
2 k2
curve y = k . The intersection points determine k and hence E = ~2m
.
larger V0 more bound states; smaller V0 less bound states
there is always at least one (symmetric) bound state, even in a very shallow well (V0 & 0).
the wavenumber and energy of the nth state is less than in the IPW for which the wavenumn
bers kn = n
L , or n = 2 , n = 1, 3, 5, ... for symmetric states, n = 2, 4, 6, ... for antisymmetric states.
when 0 <

V0 <

2 ~2
2mL2

no antisymmetric states exist

A comparison of the FPW and the IPW

Infinite well:
(x) confined to the well
kn = n
L
infinite tower of states
no unbound states

Finite well:
(x) spreads out beyond the well
kn and energies lower
finite tower of states
unbound states when E > V0

The energy levels in the FPW are lower because the wavefunction spreads out (by penetrating
the classically forbidden region) and therefore reduces its KE.
Quantum Tunnelling

At x > L/2 the wavefunction (x) ex ; at x < L/2 (x) ex .

When V0 % % 1/ & 0, when E % V0 & 0 1/ % .
The depth of tunnelling is determined by the penetration depth .
Non-zero wavefunction in classically forbidden regions (KE < 0!) is a purely quantum
mechanical effect. It allows tunnelling between classically allowed regions.
It follows from requiring that both (x) and 0 (x) are continuous!
Requiring a reasonable behaviour of the wavefunction leads to a (classically) crazy
phenomenon of tunnelling.

Quantum states in potential wells

Some general properties:

quantum (discrete) energy states are a typical property of any well-type potential
the corresponding wavefunctions (and probability) are mostly confined inside the potential
but exhibit non-zero tails in the classically forbidden regions of KE < 0 (except when
V (x) where the tails are not allowed).
both properties result from requiring the wavefunction (x) and its derivative 0 (x) to be
continuous everywhere (except when V (x) where 0 (x) is not continuous).
quantum states in symmetric potentials (w.r.t. reflections x x) are either symmetric
(i.e., even parity), with an even number of nodes, or else antisymmetric (i.e, odd parity),
with an odd number of nodes
the lowest energy state (ground state) is always above the bottom of the potential and is
symmetric (A consequence of the HUP.)
the wider and/or more shallow the potential, the lower the energies of the quantum states
(A consequence of the HUP.)
inside FPW-type of potentials the number of quantum states is finite
when the total energy E is larger than the height of the potential, the energy becomes
continuous, i.e., we have continuous states
when V = V (x), both bound and continuous states are stationary,
i.e, the time-dependent


wavefunctions are of the form (x, t) = (x) exp ~i Et

Further reading:

See, e.g., Phillips, Ch. 5.1.