A finite square well in quantum mechanics is a potential energy barrier that has a finite width and a finite height. It is often represented by a step-like graph, with a flat region inside the well and a sudden drop in potential energy at the edges of the well.
The finite square well potential creates a region where the potential energy is greater than zero, which means that the particles are confined within the well. This confinement leads to quantized energy levels and affects the probability of finding particles within the well.
A finite square well with V>0 has a potential energy barrier, while a finite square well with V=0 has no potential energy barrier. This means that particles in a finite square well with V>0 are confined within the well, while particles in a finite square well with V=0 are not confined and can move freely.
The energy levels of a particle in a finite square well with V>0 are quantized, meaning they can only take on certain discrete values. In contrast, the energy levels in a finite square well with V=0 are continuous, meaning they can take on any value within a certain range.
Yes, a particle in a finite square well with V>0 can escape from the well through a process called tunneling. This phenomenon occurs when the particle has insufficient energy to overcome the potential barrier, but still has a non-zero probability of appearing on the other side of the barrier.