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7.4 The quantum particle in a box  (Page 4/12)

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The probability distributions Psi amplitude squared for the n=1 state, for the n=2 state, and for the n=20 are plotted as functions of x from x=0 to x=L. Psi sub 1 squared is maximum in the middle of the box, decreases to either side and goes to zero at the ends. Psi sub 2 squared is zero value in the middle of the box and at the ends, and has two equal value maxima. Psi sub 20 squared has twenty maxima, all of the same size, and goes to zero between them and at the ends.
The probability density distribution | ψ n ( x ) | 2 for a quantum particle in a box for: (a) the ground state, n = 1 ; (b) the first excited state, n = 2 ; and, (c) the nineteenth excited state, n = 20 .

The probability density of finding a classical particle between x and x + Δ x depends on how much time Δ t the particle spends in this region. Assuming that its speed u is constant, this time is Δ t = Δ x / u , which is also constant for any location between the walls. Therefore, the probability density of finding the classical particle at x is uniform throughout the box, and there is no preferable location for finding a classical particle. This classical picture is matched in the limit of large quantum numbers. For example, when a quantum particle is in a highly excited state, shown in [link] , the probability density is characterized by rapid fluctuations and then the probability of finding the quantum particle in the interval Δ x does not depend on where this interval is located between the walls.

A classical particle in a box

A small 0.40-kg cart is moving back and forth along an air track between two bumpers located 2.0 m apart. We assume no friction; collisions with the bumpers are perfectly elastic so that between the bumpers, the car maintains a constant speed of 0.50 m/s. Treating the cart as a quantum particle, estimate the value of the principal quantum number that corresponds to its classical energy.

Strategy

We find the kinetic energy K of the cart and its ground state energy E 1 as though it were a quantum particle. The energy of the cart is completely kinetic, so K = n 2 E 1 ( [link] ). Solving for n gives n = ( K / E 1 ) 1 / 2 .

Solution

The kinetic energy of the cart is

K = 1 2 m u 2 = 1 2 ( 0.40 kg ) ( 0.50 m/s ) 2 = 0.050 J .

The ground state of the cart, treated as a quantum particle, is

E 1 = π 2 ℏ 2 2 m L 2 = π 2 ( 1.05 × 10 −34 J · s ) 2 2 ( 0.40 kg ) ( 2.0 m ) 2 = 1.700 × 10 −68 J .

Therefore, n = ( K / E 1 ) 1 / 2 = ( 0.050 / 1.700 × 10 −68 ) 1 / 2 = 1.2 × 10 33 .

Significance

We see from this example that the energy of a classical system is characterized by a very large quantum number. Bohr’s correspondence principle    concerns this kind of situation. We can apply the formalism of quantum mechanics to any kind of system, quantum or classical, and the results are correct in each case. In the limit of high quantum numbers, there is no advantage in using quantum formalism because we can obtain the same results with the less complicated formalism of classical mechanics. However, we cannot apply classical formalism to a quantum system in a low-number energy state.

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Check Your Understanding (a) Consider an infinite square well with wall boundaries x = 0 and x = L . What is the probability of finding a quantum particle in its ground state somewhere between x = 0 and x = L / 4 ? (b) Repeat question (a) for a classical particle.

a. 9.1%; b. 25%

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Having found the stationary states ψ n ( x ) and the energies E n by solving the time-independent Schrӧdinger equation [link] , we use [link] to write wave functions Ψ n ( x , t ) that are solutions of the time-dependent Schrӧdinger’s equation given by [link] . For a particle in a box this gives

Ψ n ( x , t ) = e − i ω n t ψ n ( x ) = 2 L e − i E n t / ℏ sin n π x L , n = 1 , 2 , 3 , . . .

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Source:  OpenStax, University physics volume 3. OpenStax CNX. Nov 04, 2016 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col12067/1.4
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