1. Not finding help here? Sign up for a free 30min tutor trial with Chegg Tutors
    Dismiss Notice
Dismiss Notice
Join Physics Forums Today!
The friendliest, high quality science and math community on the planet! Everyone who loves science is here!

QM - Wedge-shaped potential - Uncertainty Principle

  1. Apr 20, 2008 #1

    wombat4000

    User Avatar

    1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
    See lower down for question

    2. Relevant equations



    3. The attempt at a solution

    I have been trying to find help with this question on the net and in my text books. Im really struggling with QM, i don't know where to start - i appreciate what the graph of the wedge-shaped potential looks like but i just dont understand the rest of it.
     
    wombat4000, Apr 20, 2008
  2. jcsd
    Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories on Phys.org
  3. Apr 20, 2008 #2

    wombat4000

    User Avatar

    Last edited by a moderator: May 3, 2017
    wombat4000, Apr 20, 2008
  4. Apr 20, 2008 #3

    Astronuc

    User Avatar

    Staff: Mentor

    Does it mean that one has two conductor plates with the edges close or touching (but well insulated) and the planes form an angle (looking along the planes parallel to the closer for common edges?

    Also, please be patient and don't bump with multiple posts.
     
    Astronuc, Apr 20, 2008
  5. Apr 20, 2008 #4

    wombat4000

    User Avatar

    That would make sense i guess.

    (Sorry about the multiple posts - i couldnt post the URL without having 15 or more posts.)
     
    wombat4000, Apr 20, 2008
  6. Apr 20, 2008 #5

    wombat4000

    User Avatar

    still no joy though.
     
    wombat4000, Apr 20, 2008
  7. Apr 20, 2008 #6

    Astronuc

    User Avatar

    Staff: Mentor

    OK, now I get it. I was think an electostatic problem, which this isn't.


    I presume one has an idea of what to do if one has a potential V(x).


    Well the potential in infinite for x < 0. V(0) = 0, and V(x) = bx, x >0, so it inreases linearly with slope b, i.e. like a ramp function, as opposed to being constant, for example.


    It's been 30+ years since I've done this type of calc, so bear with me, and I'll get others to look in.
     
    Astronuc, Apr 20, 2008
  8. Apr 20, 2008 #7

    wombat4000

    User Avatar

    much appreciated.
     
    wombat4000, Apr 20, 2008
  9. Apr 20, 2008 #8

    siddharth

    User Avatar
    Homework Helper
    Gold Member

    I think you need to solve the time independent schrodinger equation for this potential, find the stationary state wavefunctions, and then find the standard deviations and variances of the momentum and position
     
    siddharth, Apr 20, 2008
Know someone interested in this topic? Share this thread via Reddit, Google+, Twitter, or Facebook




Similar Discussions: QM - Wedge-shaped potential - Uncertainty Principle

  1. QM variational principle (Replies: 1)

  2. QM: Potential Well (Replies: 2)

  3. QM - time dependent potential (Replies: 5)

  4. QM step potential problem (Replies: 0)

  5. QM Potential barrier (Replies: 2)

Loading...