Particle in a box with one finite wall and one infinite wall

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the treatment of a quantum particle confined in a potential well characterized by one infinite wall and one finite wall. Participants explore the implications of this configuration on energy levels and wave functions, comparing it to standard finite and infinite square wells.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests using the energy formula E[SUB]n[SUB]~(n*pi*(h-bar))2/(2m(L+2d)2) and questions whether to replace 2d with 1d due to the presence of the infinite wall.
  • Another participant proposes treating the finite wall and focusing on odd solutions.
  • Clarification is sought regarding the configuration of the walls, with one participant asking if the setup involves an infinite wall on one side and a finite wall on the other.
  • A comparison is made to a closed cylinder air column, noting the presence of a node at the closed end (infinite wall) and an antinode at the open end (finite wall).
  • One participant confirms their intention to describe a scenario where the left wall is infinite and the right wall is finite, acknowledging previous ambiguity in their explanation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing interpretations of the problem setup and its implications, indicating that multiple competing views remain without a consensus on the treatment of the particle in this specific potential well configuration.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions regarding the exact nature of the potential well and how the presence of the infinite wall influences the energy levels and wave functions compared to standard models.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in quantum mechanics, particularly those exploring potential wells and boundary conditions in quantum systems, may find this discussion relevant.

EnSlavingBlair
Messages
34
Reaction score
2
Hello all, I came across what I think is a very interesting question the other day;

How would you treat a particle trapped in a square well that had one finite wall and one infinite wall? Say for En~(n*pi*(h-bar))2/(2m(L+2d)2) would you replace the 2d by 1d? As you can only find the infinite 'wall' outside one of the walls? And what affects would it have on other areas, in comparison to either a normal finite square well or an infinite one?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Treat it as a finite wall and take only the odd solutions.
 
nSlavingBlair said:
Hello all, I came across what I think is a very interesting question the other day;

How would you treat a particle trapped in a square well that had one finite wall and one infinite wall? Say for En~(n*pi*(h-bar))2/(2m(L+2d)2) would you replace the 2d by 1d? As you can only find the infinite 'wall' outside one of the walls? And what affects would it have on other areas, in comparison to either a normal finite square well or an infinite one?


I don't understand what you are describing ... are you talking about an infinite well with a narrower finite well at the bottom? Are you talking about a case where, say, the left hand wall is infinite and the right hand wall is finite? Or something else altogether?
 
So you could think of it similar to a closed cylinder air column, with a node at the closed end (infinite wall) and an antinode at the open end (finite wall)?
 
SpectraCat said:
Are you talking about a case where, say, the left hand wall is infinite and the right hand wall is finite?

That is exactly what I mean, sorry if my explanation was ambiguous.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
5K
  • · Replies 41 ·
2
Replies
41
Views
11K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K