Quantum Mechanics

Potential Barier :

Vo

-a a

From Schroedinger equation :

ℎ2 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑈𝑈
− + 𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉 = 𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸
4𝜋𝜋 2 2𝑚𝑚 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2
1. For x<-a

ℎ2 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑈𝑈1
− 2 = 𝐸𝐸𝑈𝑈1
4𝜋𝜋 2𝑚𝑚 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2

ℎ2 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑈𝑈1
+ 𝐸𝐸𝑈𝑈1 = 0
4𝜋𝜋 2 2𝑚𝑚 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2

𝜕𝜕 2 𝑈𝑈1 4𝜋𝜋 2 2𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚

+ 𝑈𝑈1 = 0
𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2 ℎ2
𝜕𝜕 2 𝑈𝑈1
+ 𝑘𝑘12 𝑈𝑈1 = 0
𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2

Solution : 𝑈𝑈1 (𝑥𝑥) = 𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘1 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑅𝑅𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘1 𝑥𝑥

2. For –a<x<a

ℎ2 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑈𝑈2
− + 𝑉𝑉0 𝑈𝑈2 = 𝐸𝐸𝑈𝑈2
4𝜋𝜋 2 2𝑚𝑚 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2

ℎ2 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑈𝑈2
+ 𝐸𝐸𝑈𝑈2 − 𝑉𝑉0 𝑈𝑈2 = 0
4𝜋𝜋 2 2𝑚𝑚 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2
𝜕𝜕 2 𝑈𝑈2 4𝜋𝜋 2 2𝑚𝑚
+ (𝐸𝐸 − 𝑉𝑉0 )𝑈𝑈2 = 0
𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2 ℎ2

𝜕𝜕 2 𝑈𝑈2
+ 𝑞𝑞 2 𝑈𝑈2 = 0
𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2

Solution : 𝑈𝑈2 (𝑥𝑥) = 𝐴𝐴𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 + 𝐵𝐵𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖

If we use : 𝜅𝜅 = −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖

Then : 𝑈𝑈2 (𝑥𝑥) = 𝐴𝐴𝑒𝑒 −𝜅𝜅𝜅𝜅 + 𝐵𝐵𝑒𝑒 𝜅𝜅𝜅𝜅

M. Khari Secario Page 1

 Quantum Mechanics

3. For x>a

ℎ2 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑈𝑈3
− = 𝐸𝐸𝑈𝑈3
4𝜋𝜋 2 2𝑚𝑚 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2
ℎ2 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑈𝑈3
+ 𝐸𝐸𝑈𝑈3 = 0
4𝜋𝜋 2 2𝑚𝑚 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2

𝜕𝜕 2 𝑈𝑈3 4𝜋𝜋 2 2𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚

+ 𝑈𝑈3 = 0
𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2 ℎ2

𝜕𝜕 2 𝑈𝑈3
+ 𝑘𝑘32 𝑈𝑈3 = 0
𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 2

Solution : 𝑈𝑈3 (𝑥𝑥) = 𝑇𝑇𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘3 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑊𝑊𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘3 𝑥𝑥

Remember, at Region 3, there is only transmitted wave (T)

Then : 𝑈𝑈3 (𝑥𝑥) = 𝑇𝑇𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘3 𝑥𝑥

Now, we have 3 eq. :

• 𝑈𝑈1 (𝑥𝑥) = 𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘1 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑅𝑅𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘1 𝑥𝑥

• 𝑈𝑈2 (𝑥𝑥) = 𝐴𝐴𝑒𝑒 −𝜅𝜅𝜅𝜅 + 𝐵𝐵𝑒𝑒 𝜅𝜅𝜅𝜅 = 𝐴𝐴𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 + 𝐵𝐵𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖
• 𝑈𝑈3 (𝑥𝑥) = 𝑇𝑇𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘3 𝑥𝑥

With 𝑘𝑘1 = 𝑘𝑘3 = 𝑘𝑘

Remember at x=-a and x=a :

• At x=-a

𝑈𝑈1 (−𝑎𝑎) = 𝑈𝑈2 (−𝑎𝑎) ...©

𝑑𝑑 𝑈𝑈1 𝑑𝑑 𝑈𝑈2
(−𝑎𝑎) = (−𝑎𝑎) ... ©©
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

• At x=a

𝑈𝑈2 (𝑎𝑎) = 𝑈𝑈3 (𝑎𝑎) ... ©©©

𝑑𝑑 𝑈𝑈2 𝑑𝑑𝑈𝑈3
(𝑎𝑎) = (𝑎𝑎) ... ©©©©
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

M. Khari Secario Page 2

 Quantum Mechanics

©... 𝑈𝑈1 (−𝑎𝑎) = 𝑈𝑈2 (−𝑎𝑎)

[𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘1 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑅𝑅𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘1 𝑥𝑥 ](−𝑎𝑎) = �𝐴𝐴𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 + 𝐵𝐵𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 �(−𝑎𝑎)

𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘𝑎𝑎 + 𝑅𝑅𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘𝑎𝑎 = 𝐴𝐴𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 + 𝐵𝐵𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 ...

𝑑𝑑 𝑈𝑈1 𝑑𝑑 𝑈𝑈2
©©... (−𝑎𝑎) = (−𝑎𝑎)
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

𝑑𝑑 𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘𝑥𝑥 𝑑𝑑
�𝑒𝑒 + 𝑅𝑅𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘𝑥𝑥 � = (𝐴𝐴𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 + 𝐵𝐵𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 )
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖�𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘𝑎𝑎 − 𝑅𝑅𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘𝑎𝑎 � = 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖(𝐴𝐴𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 − 𝐵𝐵𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 ) ...

©©©... 𝑈𝑈2 (𝑎𝑎) = 𝑈𝑈3 (𝑎𝑎)

�𝐴𝐴𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 + 𝐵𝐵𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 �(𝑎𝑎) = �𝑇𝑇𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 �(𝑎𝑎)

𝐴𝐴𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 + 𝐵𝐵𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 = 𝑇𝑇𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 ...

𝑑𝑑 𝑈𝑈2 𝑑𝑑𝑈𝑈3
©©©©... (𝑎𝑎) = (𝑎𝑎)
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

𝑑𝑑 𝑑𝑑
�𝐴𝐴𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 + 𝐵𝐵𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 � = (𝑇𝑇𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 )
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

𝑖𝑖𝑞𝑞�𝐴𝐴𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 − 𝐵𝐵𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 � = 𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘(𝑇𝑇𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 ) ...

Thus we have 4 eq (look at smiley) :

• 𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘𝑎𝑎 + 𝑅𝑅𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘𝑎𝑎 = 𝐴𝐴𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 + 𝐵𝐵𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎

• 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖�𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘𝑎𝑎 − 𝑅𝑅𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘𝑎𝑎 � = 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖(𝐴𝐴𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 − 𝐵𝐵𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 )
• 𝐴𝐴𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 + 𝐵𝐵𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 = 𝑇𝑇𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎
• 𝑖𝑖𝑞𝑞�𝐴𝐴𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 − 𝐵𝐵𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 � = 𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘�𝑇𝑇𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 �

With a “little” algebra, we’ll find out T. But we’ll using Gauss Elimination instead.

M. Khari Secario Page 3

 Quantum Mechanics

Now, let see :

• 𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘𝑎𝑎 + 𝑅𝑅𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘𝑎𝑎 = 𝐴𝐴𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 + 𝐵𝐵𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎

• 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖�𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘𝑎𝑎 − 𝑅𝑅𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘𝑎𝑎 � = 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖(𝐴𝐴𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 − 𝐵𝐵𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 )
• 𝐴𝐴𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 + 𝐵𝐵𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 = 𝑇𝑇𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎
• 𝑖𝑖𝑞𝑞�𝐴𝐴𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 − 𝐵𝐵𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 � = 𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘�𝑇𝑇𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑎𝑎 �

For simplification :

• 𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 = 𝐿𝐿
• 𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 = 𝑀𝑀
• 𝑒𝑒 −𝑖𝑖𝑞𝑞𝑎𝑎 = 𝑁𝑁
• 𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑞𝑞𝑎𝑎 = 𝑃𝑃

So we have :

• 𝐿𝐿 + 𝑅𝑅𝑀𝑀 = 𝐴𝐴𝑁𝑁 + 𝐵𝐵𝑃𝑃

• 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖(𝐿𝐿 − 𝑅𝑅𝑀𝑀) = 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖(𝐴𝐴𝑁𝑁 − 𝐵𝐵𝑃𝑃)
• 𝐴𝐴𝑃𝑃 + 𝐵𝐵𝑁𝑁 = 𝑇𝑇𝑀𝑀
• 𝑖𝑖𝑞𝑞(𝐴𝐴𝑃𝑃 − 𝐵𝐵𝑁𝑁) = 𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘(𝑇𝑇𝑀𝑀)

Put in some order :

• 𝑅𝑅𝑀𝑀 − 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 − 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 − 0 = −𝐿𝐿

• −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑅𝑅𝑀𝑀 − 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝐴𝐴𝑁𝑁 + 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝐵𝐵𝑃𝑃 + 0 = −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝐿𝐿
• 0 + 𝐴𝐴𝑃𝑃 + 𝐵𝐵𝑁𝑁 − 𝑇𝑇𝑀𝑀 = 0
• 0 + 𝑖𝑖𝑞𝑞𝐴𝐴𝑃𝑃 − 𝑖𝑖𝑞𝑞𝐵𝐵𝑁𝑁 − 𝑖𝑖𝑘𝑘(𝑇𝑇𝑀𝑀) = 0

Make a Matrices based on coefficient :

 M −N −P 0  R  L 
 −ikM −iqN iqP 0   A ikL 
 =
 0 P N −M   B   0 
    
 0 iqP −iqN −ikM  T   0 
 M −N −P 0 L
 −ikM −iqN iqP 0 ikL 

 0 P N −M 0 
 
 0 iqP −iqN −ikM 0 

M. Khari Secario Page 4

 Quantum Mechanics

After a “few” steps, we’ll get :

 N P L 
1 − M −
M
0
M 
 
0 1 γ 0 β 
 M Pβ 
0 0 1 − − 
 N − Pγ N − Pγ 
 αM Pβα 
0 0 0 −ikM + −iqPβ + 
 N − Pγ N − Pγ 

So,

𝛼𝛼𝑀𝑀 𝑃𝑃𝛼𝛼𝛽𝛽
�−𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 + � 𝑇𝑇 = −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝛽𝛽 +
𝑁𝑁 − 𝑃𝑃𝛾𝛾 𝑁𝑁 − 𝑃𝑃𝛾𝛾

With :

𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖
• 𝛾𝛾 =
−𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖
2𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖
• 𝛽𝛽 =
−𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖
• 𝛼𝛼 = −𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 − 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝛾𝛾

After a “little” solving :

2𝑘𝑘𝜅𝜅
𝑇𝑇 = 𝑒𝑒 −2𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖
2𝑘𝑘𝜅𝜅 cosh 2𝜅𝜅𝑎𝑎 + 𝑖𝑖(𝑘𝑘 2 − 𝜅𝜅 2) sinh 2𝜅𝜅𝑎𝑎

(2𝑘𝑘𝜅𝜅)2
|𝑇𝑇|2 =
(𝑘𝑘 2 − 𝜅𝜅 2 )2 sinh2 2𝜅𝜅𝑎𝑎 + (2𝑘𝑘𝜅𝜅)2

M. Khari Secario Page 5