Hamiltonian matrix for two electrons in a 1D infinite well

In summary, the conversation discusses the preparation of a Hamiltonian matrix for a Schrodinger equation involving two electrons in a 1D infinite well. It is suggested to use the solution for one electron in the infinite well as the unperturbed problem and consider the second electron as an addition. However, this approach may not be accurate if the perturbation term is significant. The forum link provided also discusses similar problems.
  • #1
nothingisreal
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Hi everyone,
I need help for preparing a Hamiltonian matrix.

What will be the elements of the hamiltonian matrix of the following Schrodinger equation (for two electrons in a 1D infinite well):

[itex]-\frac{ħ^{2}}{2m}[/itex][itex](\frac{d^{2}ψ(x_1,x_2)}{dx_1^{2}}+\frac{d^{2}ψ(x_1,x_2)}{dx_2^{2}}) + \frac{q}{4πε_0ε_r(x_1-x_2)}ψ(x_1,x_2)=Eψ(x_1,x_2)[/itex]

Any advice or suggestion would be really helpful for me.

[probably the problem is an intermediate level problem. I mistakenly selected advance level. And, now I can't edit it]

Thank you very much in advance...
:)
 
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  • #2
The matrix elements depend on the choice of basis.

A reasonable choice of basis might be the solution of a single electron in the infinite well, that is considering the infinite well with one electron as the unperturbed problem and the second electron as the addition.

However, perturbation theory doesn't work well when the additional term in the Hamiltonian (the perturbation) can be comparable to or larger than the original terms.

This forum has discussed similar problems before:

https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...f-two-electrons-in-a-1-d-infinite-well.15277/
 
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Likes blue_leaf77

1. What is a Hamiltonian matrix for two electrons in a 1D infinite well?

A Hamiltonian matrix for two electrons in a 1D infinite well is a mathematical representation of the energy levels and interactions between two electrons confined in a one-dimensional box with infinite potential walls. It takes into account the kinetic energy, potential energy, and electron-electron interactions of the system.

2. How is the Hamiltonian matrix for two electrons in a 1D infinite well calculated?

The Hamiltonian matrix for two electrons in a 1D infinite well is calculated by solving the Schrödinger equation for the system. This involves finding the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the Hamiltonian matrix, which represent the energy levels and corresponding wavefunctions of the system.

3. What are the implications of the Hamiltonian matrix for two electrons in a 1D infinite well?

The Hamiltonian matrix for two electrons in a 1D infinite well provides insights into the energy levels and behaviors of electrons in confined systems. It can be used to study quantum phenomena such as tunneling and the Pauli exclusion principle.

4. How does the Hamiltonian matrix change for different potential well shapes?

The Hamiltonian matrix for two electrons in a 1D infinite well can vary depending on the shape of the potential well. For example, if the well is not infinite, the potential energy term in the Hamiltonian will change. Additionally, if the potential well has a different shape (e.g. a triangular well), the potential energy term will also differ.

5. Can the Hamiltonian matrix for two electrons in a 1D infinite well be extended to more than two electrons?

Yes, the Hamiltonian matrix for two electrons in a 1D infinite well can be extended to include more than two electrons. However, as the number of electrons increases, the calculations become significantly more complex and may require the use of advanced computational methods.

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