# What the heck is a Potential Well?

1. Oct 28, 2007

### user101

Hi, I'm reading my semiconductors book and I have NO idea about what this is. I don't really understand what a potential well is. They say that it can form new devices, but never says how.

Wikipedia isn't helping either. Anyone care to jump in?

2. Oct 28, 2007

### ZapperZ

Staff Emeritus
Your semiconductor book doesn't require you to know a bit of quantum physics before reading it?

Zz.

3. Oct 28, 2007

### user101

Ok If i'm reading this right, a potential well is when either the conduction or valence band has a spike, where in this spike, it can trap charge careers?

and Zapper, I was looking at your blog, specifically at your blogpost "The Black Hole" where you post a video of you being on comedy central. Congrats. Which one is you?

Last edited: Oct 28, 2007
4. Oct 28, 2007

### ZapperZ

Staff Emeritus
I can't say anything about what you are reading. However, a "potential well" is any "depression" in the profile of the potential energy. For example, a harmonic oscillator has a potential well described by $V(x) = -kx^2$. You can also have a square potential well, which is what most students in quantum mechanics would encounter, etc.. etc. You can sort of think of it as a "valley", where particles not having enough energy will usually be confined within that well.

The ugly one! :)

Zz.

5. Oct 28, 2007

### user101

I'm guessing you're the guy in the blue shirt with glasses, cause I think thats the only time when the video shows a clip of a guy for 1.5 sec. Am I right :) ?