Consider a particle of mass m and energy E in a symmetric potential

well (V1 = V3 = V0 ) of width 2a (−a < x < a) Assume that E < V0 . Define
λ = 2mV0 a2 /h̄2 and y = k2 a. (a) Determine the relations of even and odd
modes in terms of y and λ. (b) Find the approximate values of y as λ becomes
large. (c) Find the values of lowest four E/V0 for λ = 100. (d) Based on (c),
plot the first four (two even, two odd) modes of V (x/a).

V
Energy (eV)

region 1 region 2 region 3

-a a
x as the distance (nm)

Figure 1: The wave function for even mode.

1. In region (2) ⇒ classical allowed (CA), E > V0

In region (1) & (3) ⇒ classical forbidden (CB), E < V0

2. Govern Equation

∂ 2 ψ 2m
+ 2 (E − V )ψ = 0
∂x2 h̄

3. Boundary Conditions (BCs )

ψ(x) is continuous at x = −a and x = a
∂ψ(x)/∂x is continuous at x = −a and x = a

1
4. Solution form




E (1) e−k1 x + B (1) ek1 x , −∞ ≤ x ≤ −a

ψ(x) =

C (2) cosk2 x + D(2) sink2 x, −a ≤ x ≤ a (1)



A(3) e−k3 x + F (1) ek3 x , a≤x≤∞
√ √
where k1 = k3 = 2m
h̄2
(V0 − E), k2 = 2m
h̄2
E

5. ψ(x) has to be finite as |x| → ∞

⇒ E (1) and F (3) must be zero.

6. To reduce the algebra, consider the symmetry of solution.

(1). Even state of the solution.




B (1) ek1 x , −∞ ≤ x ≤ −a

ψ(x) =

C (2) cosk2 x, −a ≤ x ≤ a (2)



A(3) e−k3 x , a≤x≤∞

Even function : ψ(a) = ψ(−a) ⇒ B (1) = A(3)

Apply BCs & (2) at x = a

 A(3) e−k3 x = C (2) cosk2 x
ψ(x) =  (3)
−k3 A(3) e−k3 x = −k2 C (2) sink2 x

(2) k1 sink2 a
⇒ ⇒ = = tan(k2 a) (4)
(3) k2 cosk2 a

(2). Odd state of the solution.





B (1) ek1 x , −∞ ≤ x ≤ −a

ψ(x) =

D(2) sink2 x, −a ≤ x ≤ a (5)



A(3) e−k3 x , a≤x≤∞

2
 Even function : ψ(a) = −ψ(−a) ⇒ B (1) = −A(3)
Apply BCs & (5) at x = a

 A(3) e−k3 x = D(2) sink2 x
ψ(x) = (6)
 −k3 A(3) e−k3 x = k2 D(2) cosk2 x

(5) k1 cosk2 a
⇒ ⇒ = = cot(k2 a) (7)
(6) k2 sink2 a

7. Transcendental equation
(1). For (4)

√ √ √
2mE V0 − E V0
tan a = = −1
h̄2 E E

√
2mV0 a2 2mE
Assume λ = h̄2
and y = k2 a = h̄2
a
√
λ
tan(y) = −1 (8)
y2

(2). For (6)

√ √ √
2mE V0 − E V0
cot 2 a = − = − −1
h̄ E E

√
2mV0 a2 2mE
Assume λ = h̄2
and y = k2 a = h̄2
a
√
λ
cot(y) = − −1 (9)
y2

3
 (a) the relations of even and odd modes in terms of y and λ.

Even mode √
λ
tan(y) = −1
y2

Odd mode √
λ
cot(y) = − −1
y2

(b) the approximate values of y as λ becomes large.

For Even mode

20

18

16

14

12
tany
10
sqrt(( /y 2 )-1))

0
0 2 3 4
y
√
Figure 2: y verse tany and λ
y2
− 1 (λ change from 1000 to 100000 every
50000.

We can find that as λ became large, the values y are close to

4
 (1/2 + n)π for even mode.

For Odd mode

20

18

16

14

12
-coty
10
sqrt(( /y 2 )-1))

0
0 2 3 4
y
√
Figure 3: y verse −coty and λ
y2
− 1 (λ change from 1000 to 100000 every
50000.

We can find that as λ became large, the values y are close to nπ

for even mode.

5
 (c) the values of lowest four E/V0 for λ = 100.
For Even mode

20

18

16

14

12
tany
10
sqrt(( /y 2 )-1))

8
y = 1.428
6

4
y = 4.252
2 y =7 .069
y = 9.6789
0
0 2 3 4
y
√
Figure 4: y verse tany and λ
y2
− 1 (λ = 100)

√
We can find that the lowest intersection points of tany = λ
y2
− 1 is at
E y2 1.4282
y=1.428. Then V0
= λ
= 100
= 0.02 for even mode.

6
 For Odd mode

20

18

16

14

12
tany
10
sqrt(( /y 2 )-1))

4 y = 2.852

2 y = 5.679
y = 8.423
0
0 2 3 4
y
√
Figure 5: y verse −coty and λ
y2
− 1 (λ = 100)

√
We can find that the lowest intersection points of tany = λ
y2
− 1 is at
E y2 2.8522
y=2.852. Then V0
= λ
= 100
= 0.081 for odd mode.

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(d) Based on (c), plot the first four (two even, two odd).
For Even mode




B (1) ek1 x , −∞ ≤ x ≤ −a

ψ(x) =  C (2) cosk2 x, −a ≤ x ≤ a



A(3) e−k3 x , a≤x≤∞

B (1) = A(3) , A(3) e−k3 a = C (2) cosk2 a

A(3) = e−k3 a C (2) cosk2 a





C (2) ek1 a cosk2 a ek1 x , −∞ ≤ x ≤ −a

ψ(x) =

C (2) cosk2 x, −a ≤ x ≤ a



C (2) ek1 a cosk2 a e−k1 x , a≤x≤∞

|ψ(x)|2 = 1 , and

∫ −a ∫ a
(2) 2k1 a 2 2k1 x
C e cos k2 a e dx + C (2) cos2 k2 x dx
−∞ −a
∫ ∞
+ C (2) e2k1 a cos2 k2 a e−2k1 x dx = 1
a

Set a = 0.5nm, accroding to λ = 2mV0 a2 /h̄2 , we get V0 = 15.26eV .

For y= 1.428, k2 = 1.428
0.5×10−9
= 2.86 × 109 ,
√
h̄2
E= 2ma2
y2 = 0.311eV , k1 = k3 = 2m
h̄2
(V0 − E) = 1.97 × 1010

For y= 4.252, k2 = 4.252

0.5×10−9
= 8.5 × 109 ,
√
h̄2
E= 2ma2
y2 = 2.759eV , k1 = k3 = 2m
h̄2
(V0 − E) = 1.81 × 1010

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For Odd mode




B (1) ek1 x , −∞ ≤ x ≤ −a

ψ(x) =  D(2) sink2 x, −a ≤ x ≤ a



A(3) e−k3 x , a≤x≤∞

B (1) = −A(3) , A(3) e−k3 a = D(2) sink2 a

A(3) = e−k3 a D(2) sink2 a





−D(2) ek1 a sink2 a ek1 x , −∞ ≤ x ≤ −a

ψ(x) =

D(2) sink2 x, −a ≤ x ≤ a



D(2) ek1 a sink2 a e−k1 x , a≤x≤∞

|ψ(x)|2 = 1 , and

∫ −a ∫ a
− (2) 2k1 a
D e 2
sin k2 a e 2k1 x
dx + D(2) sin2 k2 x dx
−∞ −a
∫ ∞
+ D(2) e2k1 a sin2 k2 a e−2k1 x dx = 1
a

Set a = 0.5nm, accroding to λ = 2mV0 a2 /h̄2 , we get V0 = 15.26eV .

For y= 2.852, k2 = 2.852
0.5×10−9
= 5.7 × 109 ,
√
h̄2
E= 2ma2
y2 = 1.241eV , k1 = k3 = 2m
h̄2
(V0 − E) = 1.917 × 1010

For y= 5.679, k2 = 5.679

0.5×10−9
= 1.13 × 1010 ,
√
h̄2
E= 2ma2
y2 = 4.92eV , k1 = k3 = 2m
h̄2
(V0 − E) = 1.65 × 1010

9
 15

Energy (eV)
7.5

3.75
2.759

0.311
-2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2
x as the distance (nm)

Figure 6: The wave function for even mode.

15
Energy (eV)

7.5

4.92

3.75

1.241

-2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2

x as the distance (nm)

Figure 7: The wave function for odd mode.

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