General Solution of Dirac Delta Potential Well

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on constructing a normalizable time-dependent general solution for the Dirac delta potential well, exploring both bound and scattering states. Participants examine the formulation of the solution and the determination of coefficients involved in the process.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the solutions for bound and scattering states of the Dirac delta potential well and poses a question about constructing a general time-dependent solution.
  • Another participant suggests performing an integral to find the solution, but does not provide details.
  • A third participant proposes a specific form for the general solution and questions the correctness of their formulation, seeking clarification on how to find the coefficients \(c_b\) and \(\phi(k)\).
  • A later reply indicates that the proposed solution is good but emphasizes the need to normalize the scattering states to a delta distribution and corrects the form of the scattering state for \(x>0\).
  • The coefficients \(c_b\) and \(\phi(k)\) are defined in terms of integrals involving the bound and scattering states, but the method for determining them remains a point of inquiry.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the correctness of the proposed general solution and the methods for determining the coefficients, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully resolved the mathematical steps required to determine the coefficients or the normalization conditions for the scattering states.

rbwang1225
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We know that the solutions of time-independent Dirac delta potential well contain bound and scattering states:
$$\psi_b(x)=\frac{\sqrt{mu}}{\hbar}e^{-\frac{mu|x|}{\hbar^2}}\text{ with energy }E_b=-\frac{mu^2}{2\hbar^2}$$
and
$$
\psi_k(x)=
\begin{cases}
A(e^{ikx}+\frac{i\beta}{1-i\beta}e^{-ikx}) \quad &x \leq0\\
\frac{A}{1-i\beta}\quad &x\geq0
\end{cases}
\text{ with energy }E_k=\frac{\hbar^2k^2}{2m}.
$$
My question is how to construct a normalizable time-dependent general solution like in free particle case
$$
\Psi(x,t)=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}}\int\limits_{-\infty}^\infty\phi(k) e^{ikx-\frac{\hbar k^2t}{mt}}\mathrm d k,
$$
where
$$\phi(k)=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}}\int\limits_{-\infty}^\infty\Psi(x,0)e^{-ikx}\mathrm dx?$$
 
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By doing the integral ?
 
I suppose the result is
$$\Psi(x,t)=c_b\frac{\sqrt{mu}}{\hbar}e^{-\frac{mu|x|}{\hbar^2}}e^{i\frac{mu^2}{2\hbar^3}t}+
\int\limits_{-\infty}^0\phi(k)(e^{ikx}+\frac{i\beta}{1-i\beta}e^{-ikx})e^{-i\frac{\hbar k^2t}{2m}} \mathrm dk+\int\limits_{0}^\infty\phi(k)\frac{1}{1-i\beta}e^{ikx}e^{-i\frac{\hbar k^2t}{2m}} \mathrm d k,$$
where $$\beta=\frac{mu}{\hbar^2 k}.$$
The question becomes how to find $$c_b$$ and $$\phi(k).$$
I don't know if my general solution is correct of not.
If yes, how to determine the coefficients?
 
Looks good. You only have to normalize the scattering states to a ##\delta## distribution,
$$\int_{\mathbb{R}} \mathrm{d} x \psi_k^*(x) \psi_{k'}(x)= \delta(k-k'),$$
and the scattering state should have a factor ##\exp(\mathrm{i} k x)## for ##x>0##.

Then the coefficients are given by
$$c_b=\int_{\mathbb{R}} \mathrm{d} x \psi_b^*(x) \psi(x,0), \quad \phi(k) = \int_{\mathbb{R}} \mathrm{d} x \psi_{k}^*(x) \psi(x,0).$$
 

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