Multiple electrons in an infinite square well

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
2 replies · 5K views
ProPatto16
Messages
323
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


suppose you put 5 electrons into an infinite square well. (a) how do the electrons arrange themselves to achieve the lowest total energy? (explain with help of diagram) (b) give an expression for this energy in terms of electron mass, well width L and planks constant

The Attempt at a Solution


first off, does this well act similarly to atom in the way of electron configuration?
exclusion principle says no two electrons can have same quantum numbers, does this hold?

if so then at ground level the energy of the well is given by E[tex]\infty[/tex]=([tex]\pi[/tex]2[tex]\hbar[/tex]2)/2mL2

then E1 has 2 electrons and E2 has the last 3 electrons?

or are the first two electrons in ground level?

and then the arrangement would just be linear energy levels with the electrons?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Yes, the way to fill the well with the lowest possible energy is to fit as many electrons into the lowest energy states possible.

Of course the Pauli exclusion principle holds! It always holds.
 
one more little thing... does ground level have the first two electrons? or are they in the E1 level and ground level has none?