Potential well - transition processes

This note is an update of the previous one with a new section added. Parts of
the section has been modified. The newly added section deals with only transition
processes - reflection and transmission. As explained in the class, it is somewhat
too simple to study these for the case of a finite potential well that extends to
infinity on both sides. It is instructive to do this for the case of a potential barrier
to see a worthy application with use in real physical systems - alpha decay being
a fine example. See problem #4 in the Problem set 02 (click). This note should
help you do it. As mentioned previously, the note contains what was discussed in
the class on potential well but written in a way to a more satisfactory way. Most
textbooks do not care to give clear derivations as it is a bit hazy to do it in position
space representations, namely, in terms of wavefunctions. Here we make it clearer
using bra-ket notations and provide a convincing derivation of the reflection
coefficient.


Modified note on Potential well (Click here to download)

Energy spectrum - finite potential well

Sorry ! That was too long a 24 hours.

The lecture note has been prepared in a different order from what has been done below.
It contains slightly different and better treatment of the one dimensional finite potential
well than in the class. The note has been split up into two parts. Part I discussion
of energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions. The allowed energy spectrum has been explained comprehensively. We will make use of this information in part II to study the transition processes like reflection/transmission.

Here is Part I (click here to download)


Feel free to post comments/questions.

Happy times !

The beginning...

PhyCUKians will discuss mostly physics and some non-physics stuff here in these blogs. Await an update in another 24 hours.