Problem set - 5

Quantum Physics (Spring 2022)

[Scattering states and bound states of 1D potentials.]

1. Consider the 1D Dirac delta potential

V (x) = −α δ(x), α > 0.

(a) Find the scattering states (E > 0) and hence find the reflection and transmission
coefficients.
(b) Find the bound state(s) of this potential including their energy eigenvalue.

2. Determine the bound state energy of the Dirac delta potential in (1), as a limiting case
of the 1D finite square-well potential. The Dirac delta function can be thought of as a
limiting case of a rectangle of area 1, as the height goes to infinity and the width goes
to zero.

3. Find the scattering states (E > 0 states) when a quantum particle of mass m in 1D
approaches (left to right, in the positive x-axis direction) a potential drop

0, x ∈ (−∞, 0]
V (x) =
−V , x ∈ (0, ∞), with V > 0.
0 0

Using the scattering states write down an expression for the reflection and transmission
coefficients. Compare your answer with the step potential.

4. Consider a 1D potential barrier


V , x ∈ [0, a], with V > 0,
0 0
V (x) =
0, otherwise,

A quantum particle in a momentum eigenstate is approaching this barrier at some

predetermined energy. What should be the energy of the particle in terms of the barrier
parameters {V0 , a}, so that the transmission coefficient is 1. Comment on the uniqueness
of your answer.

5. Consider a 1D finite square well potential


−V , x ∈ [−a/2, a/2], with V > 0,
0 0
V (x) =
0, otherwise.

It has a width a = 2 nm.

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(a) What should be the numerical value of the depth (V0 ) of this potential so that it
has exactly 10 bound states.
(b) Qualitatively how does the number of bound states depend on the width a, if we
fix V0 .

If you wish, you may use a computer for answering part (a) of this question.

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