Expectation Values for momentum and a particle in a square well

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
2 replies · 8K views
muffins08
Messages
2
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Calculate the expectation values of p and p2 for a particle in state n=2 in a square well potential.



Homework Equations




[itex]\Psi[/itex](x,y) = (2/L)*sin(n1[itex]\pi[/itex]x/L)*sin(n2[itex]\pi[/itex]y/L)

p= -i[itex]\hbar[/itex][itex]\partial[/itex]/[itex]\partial[/itex]x


The Attempt at a Solution



[itex]\int[/itex][itex]\Psi[/itex]p[itex]\Psi[/itex]dxdy limits being from 0 to L for both.

I derived the two dimension wave equation using separation of variables. This is where I had some questions. For the state n=2, does that mean both n1 and n2 equal 2 or does one of them equal 1 and the other 2 since from what I understand 1,2 would be the next highest energy level. Also as I was integrating, the x portion integrated nicely due to the momentum operator while the y portion stayed rather "unclean". Was I suppose to apply the momentum operator in both the x and y direction?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I don't know what n=2 is supposed to mean for a two dimensional square well where you have two quantum numbers. Are you sure they don't mean a one dimensional problem? That's also called a 'square well' referring to the shape of the potential. Square doesn't necessarily mean two dimensions.
 
Completely forgot I posted here, and yes I just realized that it's just a one dimensional well after lots of thinking...it's been a long a day heh. Thanks for the input though!