Eigensolution of the wave function in a potential field.

Yourong Zang
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1. Homework Statement
Consider a potential field
$$V(r)=\begin{cases}\infty, &x\in(-\infty,0]\\\frac{\hslash^2}{m}\Omega\delta(x-a), &x\in(0,\infty)\end{cases}$$
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
$$k^2=\frac{2mE}{\hslash^2}$$
2. Homework Equations
I can clearly understand the first part but in the second part, why does the amplitude of the function equal to 1 and why is there a phase angle?


And is this wave
$$\psi(x)=\sin(kx+\phi)$$
called something like the "excitation mode"?


3. The Attempt at a Solution
A solution about delta potential is not what I want. There is an infinite potential on the left+a delta potential.
 
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Yourong Zang said:
A solution about delta potential is not what I want
It can still help you understand why the amplitudes are different for this scattering problem
 
The amplitude is set to one to describe an incoming wave from the right (*). Can't be normalized, so it's a mathematical simplification to study solutions of the SE

(*) plus the reflected wave: because of the step everything has to go back again
 
BvU said:
The amplitude is set to one to descibe an incoming wave from the right. Can't be normalized, so it's a mathematical simplification to study solutions of the SE
So I guess what I need is only the ratio of these two amplitudes (A in this case)?
 
Right ! Follows from boundary conditions (as in the link in the other thread)

I suppose the ##\phi## is on the right because at 0 you can only have a sine factor
 
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BvU said:
Right ! Follows from boundary conditions (as in the link in the other thread)

I suppose the ##\phi## is on the right because at 0 you can only have a sine factor
Great, thank u.
 
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