# Calculating the number of energy states using momentum space

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JohnnyGui
A question came up about deducing the number of possible energy states within a certain momentum ##p## using momentum space.
To make my question easier to understand, I deliberately chose ##p## and not a particular increment ##dp## and I assume a 2 dimensional momentum space with coordinates ##x## and ##y##. The concerning particle thus only has translational kinetic energy in these 2 coordinates.

A particle within a box of volume ##V## can have the same momentum ##p## in different directions within that box. In a 2D momentum space this momentum ##p## is therefore given by a circle with radius ##p##.
From what I understand, the number of possible energy states ##N_s## in this 2D case is then deduced from the area of the circle multiplied by the number of energy states in the ##x## and ##y## coordinates:
$$N_s = \frac{L_x \cdot p_x}{h} \cdot \frac{L_y \cdot p_y}{h} \cdot \pi$$
Where ##L## is the length of the box in a certain dimension (given by subscript ##x## or ##y##).

Here's my question regarding this formula:
I can see that the formula assumes that the density of energy states is homogenous over the circular p-space because it is merely multiplying the number of energy states in the ##x## dimension by the number of energy states in the ##y## dimension. However, I don't understand why this is the case, because from what I know, the number of possible energy states in a certain direction is proportional to the length of the box in that very same direction. If a certain momentum has a combined ##x## and ##y## direction, shouldn’t the number of possible energy states within that momentum vector be dependent on the length of the box in that same direction and not by the ##x## and ##y## coordinates seperataly?

JohnnyGui
Perhaps a better alternative way to formulate my question is like this:

Why is the number of possible energy states independent of the shape of the container? Why is it merely dependent on the number of states in only 3 perpendicular container dimensions while a momentum vector can be directed at any direction within the container?
Shouldn't the length of the container in that same direction as the momentum vector also determine the number of energy states in that direction?

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Homework Helper
Why is the number of possible energy states independent of the shape of the container?
says who ?

In both the directions the number density for a rectangular box is dependent on the length. Work it out: there is a lower bound (dependent on length) and no upper bound. Lower p can only occur in one direction. Your circle is an ellipse in ##nx, ny## coordinates.

Everyone assumes a square box (eq 25) here is an exception). For e.g a circle you get something quite different

JohnnyGui
says who ?

In both the directions the number density for a rectangular box is dependent on the length. Work it out: there is a lower bound (dependent on length) and no upper bound. Lower p can only occur in one direction. Your circle is an ellipse in nx,nynx,nynx, ny coordinates.

Does this imply that, for a momentum vector which is a combination of these ##x,y## coordinates, the number of states within that momentum vector is dependent on the length of the container in that same vector direction? I have illustrated my question (in 2D momentum space) to show what I mean:

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Homework Helper
I don't see any other shape here than a cube with side length L (nice book, though!)

I do see ##k_x = {n\pi\over L} ## ##n## = 1, 2, ,3, ... so for a rectangular box you get ##k_x = {n\pi\over L_x} ## etc. And with that
Does this imply that, for a momentum vector which is a combination of these ##x,y## coordinates, the number of states within that momentum vector is dependent on the length of the container in that same vector direction?
Correct.

So in your picture the steps in the x-direction are smaller than in the y-direction.

by the way:
## p = \hbar k= \displaystyle {hk\over 2\pi}## so don't forget the 2.

and:
you make life difficult using mixed notation, as in ## \displaystyle {L_yp_y\over h} = p_y\ \ \ \ \ ## ...
better write something like:
$$n_{x, {\rm max}}= {2L_x h\over |p|_{\rm max}}$$ etcetera.

 small mistake (see below). Should be $$n_{x, {\rm max}}= {2L_x |p|_{\rm max}\over h}$$
(hey, how do I get red ##\LaTeX## ?
So you get a red ellipse in n-space (3D: ellipsoid) instead of a red circle. (for counting, we usually make use of the n-space).

In p-space you do have a circle, but there the grid point density differs per Cartesian axis.

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JohnnyGui
Correct.So in your picture the steps in the x-direction are smaller than in the y-direction.

Let me restate my question to make sure it came across clearly. Does this mean that the number of states in ##p_e## shown in my picture is dependent on the cross-sectional container length ##L_e## shown in the picture (the diagonal light blue line)?

I don't see any other shape here than a cube with side length L (nice book, though!)

A quote in the link says the following: The semiconductor is assumed a cube with side L. This assumption does not affect the result since the density of states per unit volume should not depend on the actual size or shape of the semiconductor.

nx,max=2Lxh|p|maxnx,max=2Lxh|p|max

Apologies, but I can't seem to understand how this formula is derived from my initial formula, even after implementing the factor of 2. I thought that the total number of states ##n_t## within a 3D spherical momentum space is ##n_t = \frac{V \cdot 4\pi p^3}{3h^3}## and that for 1 dimension (e.g. the x-coordinate) it would be: ##n_{x,max} = \frac{L_x \cdot p_{max}}{h}## (the factor of 2 is added when there are 2 possible spins, in the case of electrons, according to the link)

Homework Helper
Does this mean that the number of states in ##p_e## shown in my picture is dependent on the cross-sectional container length ##L_e## shown in the picture (the diagonal light blue line)?
You are mixing up p-space with x-space. ##L_e## lives in a different world than ##p_e##.

Take a case where ##L_x << L_y## and draw the points that have ##|p| \le \text {some value}##

The semiconductor is assumed a cube with side L. This assumption does not affect the result since the density of states per unit volume should not depend on the actual size or shape of the semiconductor.
crucial here is the 'per unit volume' (see his 2.4.6 where the ##L^3## divides out, and the application to a (rectangular!) box in example 2.3)

##n_{x, {\rm max}}= {2L_x h\over |p|_{\rm max}}## follows from his 2.4.2: ## k_x = {n_x \pi \over L} ## combined with ##p=\hbar k##.

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JohnnyGui
You are mixing up p-space with x-space. LeLeL_e lives in a different world than pepep_e.

Yes, I am indeed aware that they are in different worlds. But my question is about the relationship between these 2 worlds formula-wise (relationship between ##n## and ##L## according to the mentioned formula). The number of states in momentum vector ##p_x## is dependent on the length of the box in the x-coordinate ##L_x##, since the momentum ##p_x## is also directed in the ##x## direction, right? In that case, why isn't the number of states in momentum vector ##p_e## dependent on the length of the box ##L_e##?

crucial here is the 'per unit volume' (see his 2.4.6 where the L3L3L^3 divides out, and the application to a (rectangular!) box in example 2.3)

Ah, that's what I missed. In that case, does the number of states differ "per unit momentum" depending on which direction the momentum is directed at?

nx,max=2Lxh|p|maxnx,max=2Lxh|p|maxn_{x, {\rm max}}= {2L_x h\over |p|_{\rm max}} follows from his 2.4.2: kx=nxπLkx=nxπL k_x = {n_x \pi \over L} combined with p=ℏkp=ℏkp=\hbar k.

I'm sorry but perhaps I'm missing something very obvious here. If I substitue ##k_x## with ##\frac{p_x}{\hbar}##, then I still get ##n_x = \frac{2p_x \cdot L_x}{h}##. Why are ##p## and ##h## parameters switched in your case compared to mine?

Homework Helper
Does this mean that the number of states in ##p_e## shown in my picture is dependent on the cross-sectional container length ##L_e## shown in the picture (the diagonal light blue line)?
Ah, maybe I get it: For a given direction of ##p_e## you have
the number of states in the x-direction = ##\displaystyle{2L_x p_{e,x}\over h} ##
and in the y-direction = ##\displaystyle{2L_y p_{e,y}\over h} ## .
So in n-space you get ##n_e = \sqrt{n_x^2+n_y^2} = \displaystyle{2L_e p_e\over h }##.

does the number of states differ "per unit momentum" depending on which direction the momentum is directed at?
Yes. You have an expression.

switched in your case compared to mine
Can you point it out ? I don't know where that occurs.

JohnnyGui
Ah, maybe I get it: For a given direction of pepep_e you have
the number of states in the x-direction = 2Lxpe,xh2Lxpe,xh\displaystyle{2L_x p_{e,x}\over h}
and in the y-direction = 2Lype,yh2Lype,yh\displaystyle{2L_y p_{e,y}\over h} .
So in n-space you get ne=√n2x+n2y=2Lepehne=nx2+ny2=2Lepehn_e = \sqrt{n_x^2+n_y^2} = \displaystyle{2L_e p_e\over h }.

Yes, this is indeed what I was wondering. However, shouldn't the number of states in the ##x## and ##y## projection of ##p_e## in that case be dependent on the projection of length ##L_e## in those coordinates (##L_{e,x}## and ##L_{e,y}##), not the full ##L_x## and ##L_y## of the container? After all, the shape of the container could be so irregular that ##L_e## does not have any relationship with the ##x## and ##y## dimensions of the container.

For example, the number of states of ##p_{e,y}## would be ##\frac{L_{e,y} p_{e,y}}{h} = n_{e,y}##

Can you point it out ? I don't know where that occurs.

You formulated it as ##n_{x, {\rm max}}= {2L_x h\over |p|_{\rm max}}## whereas I formulated it as ##n_x = \frac{2p_x \cdot L_x}{h}##.

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BvU
Homework Helper
shouldn't the number of states in the ##x## and ##y## projection of pepep_e in that case be dependent on the projection of length ##L_e## in those coordinates (##L_{e,x}## and ##L_{e,y}##), not the full LxLxL_x and LyLyL_y of the container
No. The number of states is dependent on the projection of ##p_e## only. The distance between allowed states for ##p_{e, x}## depends on ##L_x## - idem y.

Why are p and h parameters switched in your case compared to mine?
Oops, big small mistake I missed, even when you pointed it out... You're perfectly correct. Sorry about that, ehmmm...
I edited the first occurrence

JohnnyGui
No. The number of states is dependent on the projection of pepep_e only. The distance between allowed states for pe,xpe,xp_{e, x} depends on LxLxL_x - idem y.

Ah, this is what I can't seem to grasp. According to your statement this means that:
$$n_e = \sqrt{\frac{2L_x \cdot p_{e,x}}{h}^2 + \frac{2L_y \cdot p_{e,y,}}{h}^2} = \frac{2L_e \cdot p_e}{h}$$
However, the length of the container in the ##L_e## dimension can be any size, regardless of how large ##L_x## and ##L_y## are, which can lead to the equation falling apart (in the case of a weird shaped container for example). The same goes for if the particle is near one of the walls of the container, in which case the ##L_e## length of the container would change as well. Is there a way to explain why these cases don't matter?

Oops, big small mistake I missed, even when you pointed it out... You're perfectly correct. Sorry about that, ehmmm...I edited the first occurrence

No problem at all, thanks for verifying it

Homework Helper
the length of the container in the ##L_e## dimension can be any size
How so ? It's always between Lx and ly.

Note that x and y are fully independent: we solve for each one completely separately.

JohnnyGui
How so ? It's always between Lx and ly.

Note that x and y are fully independent: we solve for each one completely separately.

Something like this for example:

However, since you said ##L_e## should be always between ##L_x## and ##L_y##, does this mean that the largest dimensions of an irregular shaped container are chosen for the calculation?
If the answer is yes, doesn't the number of states in a momentum vector also depend on the direction of a momentum vector and the location of the concerning particle within the container? For example, momentum ##p_y## in this case is confined within length ##L_{y2}## and not length ##L_y## of the container.

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Homework Helper
Something like this for example
You'll have a hard time finding solutions for the Schroedinger equation in this funny case !

JohnnyGui
You'll have a hard time finding solutions for the Schroedinger equation in this funny case !

Does this mean that the formula is only valid for symmetrically boxed containers, since the number of states within a momentum vector does depend on the length dimension in which the momentum is directed at, such as in the case of my last irregular shaped container?

Homework Helper
Bear in mind that these boxes are highly artificial. They are only used to unearth features that scale nicely (e.g. density per volume). The direction of a momentum isn't all that relevant.

The number of states with ##|p| \le ## a given momentum depends on direction also in a symmetrically boxed container. We've been through that, haven't we ?

JohnnyGui
The number of states with |p|≤|p|≤|p| \le a given momentum depends on direction also in a symmetrically boxed container. We've been through that, haven't we ?

Yes we have. But what I find very peculiar is that ##L_e## is represented by ##L_x## and ##L_y## instead of its projections, even in a symmetrically boxed container. Let's put the particle at the very upper left corner within the symmetrically boxed container (in my first post). In that case, ##L_e## would be very short. How can the equation for ##n_e## represented by the constants ##L_x## and ##L_y## then still hold for a changing ##L_e## that changes with particle position?

Homework Helper
The origin of all spaces is in the 'center'. Don't mix up n, p and x space

JohnnyGui
The origin of all spaces is in the 'center'. Don't mix up n, p and x space

So no matter where the particle is positioned in the container, it is always considered to be in the center, even in x-space? What would be the siginificance of a container in that case then be?

Homework Helper
where the particle is positioned in the container
is not determined in quantum mechanics. You only have a probability density from the wave function.

it is always considered to be in the center
Not the particle, the origin for counting the number of possible states for a given |p|

JohnnyGui
Not the particle, the origin for counting the number of possible states for a given |p|

So if I understand correctly, the particle can be positioned anywhere within the container but the origin of its momentum is assumed to be in the center of the container?

Mentor
the origin of its momentum

What does "the origin of its momentum" mean? You seem to be confusing position space with momentum space. The origin of momentum is in momentum space, not position space; it isn't anywhere in the container, because the container is in position space.

BvU
Mentor
a changing ##L_e## that changes with particle position?

##L_e## doesn't change with particle position. It's determined by the container, not by the particle.

JohnnyGui
What does "the origin of its momentum" mean? You seem to be confusing position space with momentum space. The origin of momentum is in momentum space, not position space; it isn't anywhere in the container, because the container is in position space.

Doesn't a momentum vector have a direction in spatial direction as well since it's a function of velocity, with the particle's position as the spatial origin? Wouldn't it have a corresponding spatial container length in that same spatial direction?

##L_e## doesn't change with particle position. It's determined by the container, not by the particle.

Is there a way to explain why taking my above question into account?

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Mentor
Doesn't a momentum vector have a direction in spatial direction as well

It does, but not the way you are thinking it does. A better way of putting it would be that momentum space has directions that correspond to the directions in position space; but momentum vectors are still vectors in momentum space, not position space.

with the particle's position as the spatial origin?

No. The particle's position is not represented anywhere in momentum space. The "origin" of momentum space is the "zero momentum vector"--the state of having exactly zero momentum. It does not correspond to any position at all. A momentum vector is a vector in momentum space, not position space; you need to take a step back and think very carefully about what that means.

Is there a way to explain why taking my above question into account?

I don't see what the issue is: the container has a size and shape, and that size and shape is the same no matter where any particles are located within the container. That seems too obvious to even need mentioning, so I have a hard time seeing why you are having trouble with it. And the container's size and shape is what determines ##L_e##.

JohnnyGui
I don't see what the issue is: the container has a size and shape, and that size and shape is the same no matter where any particles are located within the container. That seems too obvious to even need mentioning, so I have a hard time seeing why you are having trouble with it. And the container's size and shape is what determines LeLeL_e.

It's because I'm seeing that the number of states within a particular momentum vector is a function of the contaner's length in same the spatial direction as that of the concerning momentum vector, just like ##L_e## and ##p_e## as shown in the illustration. It makes me think they are tied together.

If the momentum vector has another spatial direction, then another dimension length of the container (different from ##L_e##), that has the same spatial direction as that momentum vector, would be chosen to calculate the number of states in that momentum. Is this incorrect?

Homework Helper
It makes me think they are tied together
They are not. ##x## and ##y## (and an possible ##z##) are completely separate for the solution of the Schroedinger equation. It's only when you start counting states that satisfy a particular criterion involving ##x## and ##y## they have to be combined ( in p space and in n space)

advice: make two drawings, one in p space and one in n space.

Homework Helper
Other idea: look at the wave functions for the lower values of ##n##. Contour plots, expectation values for ##x## and ##p##, and the (half the time surprising) probability densities at such location, etc.

JohnnyGui
Other idea: look at the wave functions for the lower values of nnn. Contour plots, expectation values for xxx and ppp, and the (half the time surprising) probability densities at such location, etc.

Thanks, I'll see what I can get out of this.

The origin of all spaces is in the 'center'. Don't mix up n, p and x space
Just to make sure I understand this correctly, based on this explanation and your mentioned formula:
$$n_e = \frac{2L_e \cdot p_e}{h}$$
Does this mean that for a particle at any location within the container, to calculate the number of states within a momentum in a random spatial direction, ##L_e## would be the spatial length of the container in that same spatial direction but intersecting the center of the container?

Homework Helper
Forget about the location of the particle in the container. There is no such thing in QM.

Mentor
for a particle at any location within the container

If the particle is in a momentum eigenstate, which is what you are considering, then it has no definite location. It can't, because of the uncertainty principle: position and momentum are non-commuting observables. So any reasoning you do in which you think of the particle as having a location is not valid.

Gold Member
2021 Award
Forget about the location of the particle in the container. There is no such thing in QM.
To the contrary! In this container (i.e., the one with rigid boundary conditions) the position is well defined as a self-adjoint operator, but momentum is not. There are thus also no momentum eigenstates. Nevertheless the energy is a well-definied observable since the Hamiltonian is a self-adjoint operator. Just use the search function in these forums. We've discussed this at length once. The original question in the OP is thus pointless in this case.

The wave numbers of the energy eigenstates are just labeling these energy eigenstates, but they are not to be associated as "momentum components" of the particle in the rigid box.

It's the opposite in the "toroidal box", which is often used in QFT to solve notorious problems with the infinite-volume limit, there you give periodic boundary conditions rather than rigid boundary conditions. Then, of course, no position observable exists anymore, because you cannot define a self-adjoint position operator on this Hilbert space anymore, but then the momentum observables are well defined as self-adjoint operators.

JohnnyGui
Forget about the location of the particle in the container. There is no such thing in QM.

I see. In that case, is the remainder of my statement then correct based on your explanation and formula?

"To calculate the number of states within a momentum in a random spatial direction, ##Le## would be the spatial length of the container in that same spatial direction intersecting the center of the container"

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