Infinite Cubical Well in Cartesian Coordinates

1. Nov 6, 2007

Rahmuss

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Use separation of variables in cartesian coordinates to solve the infinite cubical well (or "particle in a box"):

$$V(x,y,z) = \{^{0, if x, y, z are all between 0 and a;}_{\infty , otherwise.}$$

2. Relevant equations
Well, I've been trying to use
$$\frac{1}{2}mv^{2} + V = \frac{1}{2m}(P^{2}_{x} + P^{2}_{y} + P^{2}_{z}) + V = E\Psi$$

3. The attempt at a solution
$$\frac{1}{2}mv^{2} + V = \frac{1}{2m}(P^{2}_{x} + P^{2}_{y} + P^{2}_{z}) + V = E\Psi$$

$$\frac{1}{2m}(P^{2}_{x} + P^{2}_{y} + P^{2}_{z}) + V = \frac{-\hbar^{2}}{2m}\frac{\partial^{2}}{\partial x^{2}} + V_{x} + \frac{-\hbar^{2}}{2m}\frac{\partial^{2}}{\partial y^{2}} + V_{y} + \frac{-\hbar^{2}}{2m}\frac{\partial^{2}}{\partial z^{2}} + V_{z}$$

$$\hat{H}_{x} = \frac{-\hbar^{2}}{2m}\frac{\partial^{2}}{\partial x^{2}} + V_{x}$$

$$\hat{H}_{y} = \frac{-\hbar^{2}}{2m}\frac{\partial^{2}}{\partial y^{2}} + V_{y}$$

$$\hat{H}_{z} = \frac{-\hbar^{2}}{2m}\frac{\partial^{2}}{\partial z^{2}} + V_{z}$$

$$\Psi = X(x)Y(y)Z(z)$$

$$(\hat{H}_{x} + \hat{H}_{y} + \hat{H}_{z})(X(x)Y(y)Z(z)) = E*(X(x)Y(y)Z(z))$$

So getting it here doesn't really tell me what the energies are. Can I cancel out $$\Psi$$?

2. Nov 6, 2007

clem

Look in a math book on "separation of variable".
You can divide each side by XYZ.
Then use the fact that YZ cancels from H_x(XYZ)/YZ.

3. Nov 6, 2007

Rahmuss

So, if I divide by $$(X(x)Y(y)Z(z))$$ from both sides, then I end up with:

$$\hat{H} = E$$???

4. Nov 6, 2007

Rahmuss

Would it be logical to denote energy in an dimension, like in the x-direction and y-direction and z-direction? (ie. $$E = (E_{x} + E_{y} + E_{z})$$

5. Nov 6, 2007

clem

Yes, you have H_x X=E_x X.
This has a simple (sin) solution since X must be zero at x=0 and a.

6. Nov 6, 2007

Rahmuss

Well, I was a bit rushed to get my homework in on time; but for my energy equation I got:

$$E_{n} = \frac{\hbar^{2} \pi^{2}}{2m}(n^{2}_{x} + n^{2}_{y} + n^{2}_{z})$$

Does that look right? I'd still like to see if what I did was correct or not.

Last edited: Nov 6, 2007
7. Nov 7, 2007

Meir Achuz

You left out /L^2 of the side.

8. Nov 7, 2007

Rahmuss

$$E_{n} = \frac{\hbar^{2} \pi^{2}}{2mL^{2}}(n^{2}_{x} + n^{2}_{y} + n^{2}_{z})$$???

It's important that I know this stuff because we're having a quiz on it tomorrow.