Two shallow wells moving together

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SUMMARY

The discussion revolves around the quantum mechanics problem of a particle in a field of two shallow one-dimensional potential wells that approach each other over time. The potential is defined as V(x,t)=U(x−L(t)/2)+U(x+L(t)/2), where L(t) decreases until the wells fuse into a single well V(x)=2U(x). The primary focus is on determining the probability of the particle remaining bound during this fusion process, with participants suggesting the use of the WKB approximation to analyze wavefunctions before and after the wells merge.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of quantum mechanics, specifically potential wells and bound states.
  • Familiarity with the WKB approximation for quantum systems.
  • Knowledge of wavefunction behavior in varying potential landscapes.
  • Basic concepts of perturbation theory in quantum mechanics.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the WKB approximation in detail, focusing on its application to potential wells.
  • Research the concept of sudden perturbations in quantum mechanics and their effects on bound states.
  • Explore the mathematical formulation of wavefunctions in merging potential wells.
  • Investigate the implications of shallow potential wells on particle confinement and bound state probabilities.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for quantum mechanics students, researchers in theoretical physics, and anyone interested in the behavior of particles in varying potential fields.

WalkThePlanck
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Homework Statement



Particle is placed in a field of two shallow one-dimensional potential wells approaching each so that:

##V(x,t)=U(x-\frac{L(t)}{2})+U(x+\frac{L(t)}{2})##

(Reminder: shallow well is a well that can support only one bound state). At t=-∞ the wells are infinitely far apart from each other and the particle is bound by one of them. The distance between the wells L(t) very slowly decreases so that at some instant they fuse into single well V(x)=2U(x) which still remains shallow. What is the probability that the particle will remain bound?

2. The attempt at a solution

I'm not really sure how to start this. I was thinking of using the WKB approximation to find wavefunctions before and after and finding the overlap by treating the merging of the wells as a sudden perturbation, but since the function of the potential isn't specified I'm not sure how to do that.
 
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I am working on this problem too, and am also having issues.

So if we use the WKB approximation, we really just need to find p(x) and p(xo), which will be

$$p(x) = \sqrt{2m} (E-U(x - \frac{L(t)}{2})-U(x+\frac{L(t)}{2}))^{1/2}$$

right? I'm not sure what else to do with it though.
 

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