# Double delta function potential

## Homework Statement

Consider the double delts-function potential
$$V(x)=-\alpha[\delta(x+a)+\delta(x-a)]$$
How many bound states does this possess? Find the allowed energies for
$$\alpha=\frac{\hbar^{2}}{ma^{2}}$$and$$\alpha=\frac{\hbar^{2}}{4ma^{2}}$$

## The Attempt at a Solution

I divided the region into three parts x<-a(Region 1) ; -a<x<+a(Region 2) ; x>+a(Region 3)
Since we consider bound states, E<0 and solving the SE yields
$$Ae^{kx} (x<-a)$$
$$Be^{kx}+Ce^{-kx} (-a<x<a)$$
$$De^{-kx}(x>a)$$
where $$k=\frac{\sqrt{-2mE}}{\hbar}$$
Continuity at x=-a and x=+a respectively give
$$A-B=Ce^{2ka}..............(1)$$
$$D-C=Be^{2ka}..............(2)$$

For this infinite potentials at points x=-a and x=+a,
$$\Delta(\frac{d\psi}{dx})=-\frac{2m\alpha}{\hbar^{2}}\psi(\underline{+}a)$$
So these give two more BC

$$A(1-\frac{2m\alpha}{k\hbar^{2}})=B-Ce^{2ka}................(3)$$
$$D(1-\frac{2m\alpha}{k\hbar^{2}})=C-De^{2ka}................(4)$$
So I tried to solve these (eqns 1 to 4)and what I got was A=D and B=C
and taking A/B ratios from 1 and 3, i get $$ke^{4ka}=\frac{2m\alpha}{\hbar^{2}}$$

And Im not able to solve this equation for k..i'd be grateful for any help :)

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A breakthrough!!
I tried graphical solution and its clear that there is only one bound state. But how do I calculate energy corresponding to that state without analytically solving this?

malawi_glenn
Homework Helper
so you obtained $$k$$?

$$k=\frac{\sqrt{-2mE}}{\hbar}$$ ?

No thats where Im stuck . How do I solve this equation for k?

$$ke^{4ka}=\frac{2m\alpha}{\hbar^{2}}$$

By taking exp(4ka) to the other side, we can graphically find that only one solution exists. But how can we calculate that solution without using computers and numerical methods?

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malawi_glenn
Homework Helper
No thats where Im stuck . How do I solve that equation?

By taking exp(4ka) to the other side, we can graphically find that only one solution exists. But how can we calculate that solution without using computers and numerical methods?
ah just solve it nummerical. Newton-Rhapson method is good.

It is quite often that in physics we encounter equations that are not analytically solvable, so we have to solve them by nummerical methods. Same holds for integrals and differential equations.

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ok..thanks a lot!!

actually i have not encountered ant problem in griffiths book SO FAR which requires numerical solution..so i was thinking if there is any way to solve it analytically. havent studued Newton-Raphson method yet..I'll use matlab may be for now..

malawi_glenn