Is My Solution for Proving E = 0 and E < 0 Invalid?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the application of boundary conditions to show that E = 0 and E < 0 do not satisfy Schrodinger's equation for an infinite square well. For E = 0, it is concluded that the constant B must be non-zero and the upper bound a cannot be zero. For E < 0, the solution for Ψ(x) is found to be invalid due to the boundary conditions. It is noted that the solution and coefficients are only valid within the range of 0<x<a.
  • #1
Void123
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Homework Statement



I have an infinite square well and I am asked to show why E = 0 and E < 0 does not satisfy the Schrodinger's equation. I must do this by applying the boundary conditions.

For E = 0:

I argued that the second derivative of the wave function is zero.

So,

[tex]\Psi(x) = A + Bx[/tex]

By imposing the boundary conditions [tex]\Psi (0) = \Psi (a) = 0[/tex] I get:

[tex]\Psi(x) = Bx[/tex]

and

[tex]\Psi (a) = Ba = 0[/tex]

Therefore I concluded that:

(1) [tex]B[/tex] cannot be zero, or else we get [tex]\Psi(x) = 0[/tex] which is physically unacceptable
(2) [tex]a\neq0[/tex] since [tex]a[/tex] is the upper bound.

Perhaps before presenting my second solution to E < 0 I should make sure all the above is correct.

Is it valid?

Homework Equations



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The Attempt at a Solution



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  • #3
E < 0:

The second derivative of the wave function I set equal to [tex]k^{2}\Psi(x)[/tex]

The solution is [tex]\Psi(x) = Ae^{-kx} + Be^{kx}[/tex], where the first term on the right cancels since it blows up at infinitely large values of [tex]x[/tex].

Thus, [tex]\Psi(0) = Be^{k0} = 0[/tex] (after imposing the boundary conditions), which does not give us a satisfying solution for [tex]B[/tex] or [tex]e^{0}[/tex]. Neither does it work for [tex]\Psi(a) = 0[/tex].

So, the boundary conditions don't work.
 
  • #4
Note that the solution and coefficients A and B are only valid within 0<x<a. So it is okay if this Ψ(x) expression blows up at infinity, since the actual Ψ(x) will be a different expression for x<0 or x>a.

Use both boundary conditions (at x=0 and a), and the expression you wrote for Ψ(x).
 

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