# The energy of the first excited state of the system

hidemi
Homework Statement:
I used the eq. below, but I can't find the answer.
Relevant Equations:
Σ (nx^2+ ny^2) (h2/8mL^2)
Five electrons are in a two-dimensional square potential energy well with sides of length L. The potential energy is infinite at the sides and zero inside. The single-particle energies are given by (h^2/8mL^2) (nx^2+ ny^2) where nx and ny are integers. The energy of the first excited state of the system is
(A) 13 (h^2/8mL^2) (B) 22 (h^2/8mL^2) (C) 24 (h^2/8mL^2) (D) 25 (h^2/8mL^2) (E) 27 (h^2/8mL^2)

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What did you do?

hidemi
What did you do?
I know the formula, but I've no idea how to start.

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I know the formula, but I've no idea how to start.
In post #1 you wrote that you used the formula. If you meant that, show how you used it.

hidemi
In post #1 you wrote that you used the formula. If you meant that, show how you used it.

I calculate this way as per attached and gives me a matching answer. However, I use the same way to calculate the question below, I don’t have any answer.

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I calculate this way as per attached and gives me a matching answer. However, I use the same way to calculate the question below, I don’t have any answer.
What principles are you using to calculate these answers? You haven't said anything about why you are choosing these system configurations.

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I calculate this way as per attached and gives me a matching answer. However, I use the same way to calculate the question below, I don’t have any answer.
So it seems you have now answered the question in post #1, right? but can't see how to use the same principles on the question in the attachment in post #5.
Now, this is a subject about which I know next to nothing, yet I think I see how it works.
For the six in ground state, what do you think their energy levels are? What is the next available level?

Steve4Physics and PeroK
hidemi
So it seems you have now answered the question in post #1, right? but can't see how to use the same principles on the question in the attachment in post #5.
Now, this is a subject about which I know next to nothing, yet I think I see how it works.
For the six in ground state, what do you think their energy levels are? What is the next available level?

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I'll name the questions to avoid confusion:
Q1: the original 5-electron question in post #1;
Q2: the '7-th electron' question in post #5's attachment.

From your postings it is not clear (to me at least) if you have now understood and correctly answered both questions!

Note that Q1 asks for the total energy of the system in its 1st excited state. But Q2 asks for the energy of only the 7-th electron in its ground state. Q1 and Q2 want different things - but you find them in similar ways.

Do you know which (who's) principle you are using?

As an additional note, multi-electron systems - such as the ones in the questions - have potential energy due to the mutual repulsion of the electrons. But the expression ##(n_x^2+n_y^2)\frac{h^2}{8mL}## only applies to a single electron with zero potential energy inside the 'well'. So the question is flawed. But you are meant to ignore that.

EDIT: Typo' corrected.

haruspex and PeroK
hidemi
I'll name the questions to avoid confusion:
Q1: the original 5-electron question in post #1;
Q2: the '7-th electron' question in post #5's attachment.

From your postings it is not clear (to me at least) if you have now understood and correctly answered both questions!

Note that Q1 asks for the total energy of the system in its 1st excited state. But Q2 asks for the energy of only the 7-th electron in its ground state. Q1 and Q2 want different things - but you find them in similar ways.

Do you know which (who's) principle you are using?

As an additional note, multi-electron systems - such as the ones in the questions - have potential energy due to the mutual repulsion of the electrons. But the expression ##(n_x^2+n_y^2)\frac{h^2}{8mL}## only applies to a single electron with zero potential energy inside the 'well'. So the question is flawed. But you are meant to ignore that.

EDIT: Typo' corrected.

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(Attachment in post #8)
Those numbers lead to answer C, as required: 7th & 8th, 8 each.

hidemi
hidemi
Those numbers lead to answer C, as required: 7th & 8th, 8 each.
So, my thoughts written in the post #8 attachment are correct?
If so, I still don't quite understand the calculation behind it. Do you have a better explanation?

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So, my thoughts written in the post #8 attachment are correct?
If so, I still don't quite understand the calculation behind it. Do you have a better explanation?
As I wrote, I have never studied the subject, so my understanding is based on this thread, and a vague understanding that electrons have no individuality.
No two electrons can be in the same state in the well, and such a state is defined by spin and an ordered pair (m,n) of natural numbers, spin being binary. The energy is characterized by the sum of squares of m, n.
So for the lowest total energy we fill in two with opposite spins at (1,1), two at (1,2), two at (2,1). After that it gets a bit trickier because you need to figure out that e.g. 22+22<12+32.

PeroK
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So, my thoughts written in the post #8 attachment are correct?
If so, I still don't quite understand the calculation behind it. Do you have a better explanation?
How is it that you are studying QM and basic kinematics at the same time?

The QM square well, Pauli Exclusion Principle and electron energy/spin states are a lot more advanced than SUVAT equations!

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As I wrote, I have never studied the subject, so my understanding is based on this thread, and a vague understanding that electrons have no individuality.
No two electrons can be in the same state in the well, and such a state is defined by spin and an ordered pair (m,n) of natural numbers, spin being binary. The energy is characterized by the sum of squares of m, n.
So for the lowest total energy we fill in two with opposite spins at (1,1), two at (1,2), two at (2,1). After that it gets a bit trickier because you need to figure out that e.g. 22+22<12+32.
Yes, this is the Pauli Exclusion Principle. It's the same basis on which atomic orbitals fill up, with at most two electrons occupying each distinct energy state.

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Yes, this is the Pauli Exclusion Principle. It's the same basis on which atomic orbitals fill up, with at most two electrons occupying each distinct energy state.
It just dawned on me that if you consider the points with integer coordinates in the first quadrant then the energy order matches the order of distance from the origin,

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It just dawned on me that if you consider the points with integer coordinates in the first quadrant then the energy order matches the order of distance from the origin,
Yes, for a large number of electrons you can map the occupied states to an octant in k-space, were $$\vec k = (\frac{\pi n_x}{L_x},\frac{\pi n_y}{L_y}, \frac{\pi n_z}{L_z})$$.
This leads to the concept of the Fermi Energy and Fermi Surface etc.:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_energy

hidemi
How is it that you are studying QM and basic kinematics at the same time?

The QM square well, Pauli Exclusion Principle and electron energy/spin states are a lot more advanced than SUVAT equations!
I am reviewing all these topics.