Confusing eigensolutions of a wave function

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
3 replies · 2K views
Yourong Zang
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Consider a potential cavity
$$V(r)=\begin{cases}\infty, &x\in(-\infty,0]\\\frac{\hslash^2}{m}\Omega\delta(x-a), &x\in(0,\infty)\end{cases}$$
The eigenfunction of the wave function in this field suffices
$$-\frac{\hslash^2}{2m}\frac{d^2\psi}{dx^2}+\frac{\hslash^2}{m}\Omega\delta(x-a)\psi=E\psi$$
A textbook gives the following solution:
$$\psi(x)=\begin{cases}Asin(kx), &x\in(0,a)\\ sin(kx+\phi), &x\in(a,\infty)\end{cases}$$
where
$$k^2=\frac{2mE}{\hslash^2}$$
I can clearly understand the first part but in the second part, why is the amplitude of the function 1 and why is there a phase angle?

And is this wave
$$\psi(x)=\sin(kx+\phi)$$
called something like the "excitation mode"?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Hello Yourong Zang, ##\qquad## :welcome: ##\qquad## !

Please post this kind of questions in the homework forum and use the template -- it's mandatory, see guidelines

Your problem is worked out here With a positive omega you have a delta barrier, not a cavity.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: berkeman and Yourong Zang
BvU said:
Hello Yourong Zang, ##\qquad## :welcome: ##\qquad## !

Please post this kind of questions in the homework forum and use the template -- it's mandatory, see guidelines

Your problem is worked out here With a positive omega you have a delta barrier, not a cavity.
Thank you.