Writing the wave function solutions for a particle in a 2-D box

In summary, the final wave function solution for a particle trapped in an infinite square well is represented by a combination of terms, with each term corresponding to a specific state given by the parameters ##n, m##. The probability of the system being in a particular state is proportional to the square of the coefficient for that state, which is represented by ##|C_{nm}|^2##.
  • #1
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The final wave function solutions for a particle trapped in an infinite square well is written as:

$$\Psi(x,t) = \Sigma_{n=1}^{\infty} C_n\sqrt{\frac{2}{L_x}}sin(\frac{n\pi}{L_x}x)e^{-\frac{in^2{\pi}^2\hbar t}{2m{L_x}^2}}$$

The square of the coefficient ##C_n## i.e. ##{|C_n|}^2## is proportional to the probability of the system being in that state on measurement.

The wave function solution of a particle in a 2-D box
$$\Psi_{n,m}(x,y,t) = \frac{2}{\sqrt{L_x L_y}} sin(\frac{n\pi}{L_x}x)sin(\frac{m\pi}{L_y}y)e^{-\frac{i\pi^2 \hbar^2 t}{2m}[\frac{n^2}{{L_x}^2}+\frac{m^2}{{L_y}^2}]}$$

is it correct to write the final solution as:
$$\Psi (x,y,t) = \Sigma_{n=1}^{\infty} \Sigma_{m=1}^{\infty}C_n C_m\frac{2}{\sqrt{L_x L_y}} sin(\frac{n\pi}{L_x}x)sin(\frac{m\pi}{L_y}y)e^{-\frac{i\pi^2 \hbar^2 t}{2m}[\frac{n^2}{{L_x}^2}+\frac{m^2}{{L_y}^2}]}$$

will the probability of the system being in a particular state be proportional to ##|C_n C_m|^2##?
 
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  • #2
Not quite. Each combination of ##n, m## has its own coefficient: so, it should be ##C_{nm}##
 
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1. What is a wave function?

A wave function is a mathematical representation of the quantum state of a particle. It describes the probability of finding the particle at a particular position and time.

2. What is a 2-D box?

A 2-D box is a hypothetical region in space where a particle is confined to move in only two dimensions. It is often used as a simplified model for studying quantum systems.

3. How do you write the wave function solutions for a particle in a 2-D box?

The wave function solutions for a particle in a 2-D box can be written using the Schrödinger equation, which takes into account the potential energy of the box and the kinetic energy of the particle. The solutions are typically expressed as a combination of trigonometric functions.

4. What are the boundary conditions for a particle in a 2-D box?

The boundary conditions for a particle in a 2-D box are that the wave function must be continuous and have a derivative of zero at the edges of the box. This ensures that the wave function is well-behaved and the particle does not escape from the box.

5. What is the significance of the wave function solutions for a particle in a 2-D box?

The wave function solutions for a particle in a 2-D box provide insight into the behavior of quantum systems and can be used to calculate various properties of the particle, such as its energy levels and probability of being found at a certain position. They also serve as a building block for more complex quantum systems and can help us understand the behavior of matter on a microscopic level.

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