5.

61 Fall 2007 Lecture #8 page 1

QUANTUM MECHANICAL PARTICLE IN A BOX

Summary so far:

∞ ∞
( )
V x < 0, x > a = ∞ ( )
ψ x < 0, x > a = 0
⎛ nπ x ⎞
V (0 ≤ x ≤ a ) = 0 ψ ( 0 ≤ x ≤ a ) = B sin ⎜
V(x)

n
⎝ a ⎟⎠
0
n2 h2 nπ 2a
0 a En = k= λ= n = 1,2,3,...
x 8ma 2 a n

What is the “wavefunction” ψ x ?

()
Max Born interpretation:

() () ()
2
ψ x =ψ * x ψ x is a probability distribution or probability density
for the particle

()
2
∴ ψ x dx is the probability of finding the particle in the interval
between x and x + dx

This is a profound change in the way we view nature!! We can only know the
probability of the result of a measurement – we can’t always know it with
certainty! Makes us re-think what is “deterministic” in nature.

Easy implication: Normalization of the wavefunction

xxx≤≤
()
x2 2 12
⇒ ∫ x1
ψ x dx = probability of finding particle in interval

The total probability of finding the particle somewhere must be 1.

For a single particle in a box,

5.61 Fall 2007 Lecture #8 page 2

() ∫ ( )
∞ 2 a 2
∫ −∞
ψ x dx =
0
ψ x dx = 1 Normalization condition

a ⎛ nπ x ⎞ 2
∫0
B 2 sin 2 ⎜
⎝ a ⎟⎠
dx = 1 ⇒ B=
a

2 ⎛ nπ x ⎞
()
ψn x =
a
sin ⎜
⎝ a ⎟⎠
n = 1,2,3,... Normalized wavefunction

()
2

( ) ( )
Interpretation of ψ x
2
ψ 4 = 2 a sin 4π x a 2

based on measurement

Each measurement of the

( ) ( )
2
ψ = 2 a sin 3π x a 2
position gives one result.
()()
3
2232sin3axaψπ=
Many measurements give
a probability distribution
of outcomes.
( ) ( )
2
ψ 2 = 2 a sin 2 2π x a

( ) ( )
2
ψ 1 = 2 a sin 2 π x a

Expectation values or average values

For a discrete probability distribution

0.4

0.35

0.3

0.25
e.g.
0.2
P

0.15

0.1

0.05

2 4 6 8 10 12 14
x
5.61 Fall 2007 Lecture #8 page 3

<x > = average value of x

= 4(0.1) + 6(0.1) + 8(0.2) + 10(0.4) + 12(0.2)

= 4(P4) + 6(P6) + 8(P8) + 10(P10) + 12(P12)

where Px is probability that measurement yields value “x ”

⇒ x = ∑ xPx

Now switch to continuous probability distribution

()
2
Px → ψ x dx

∑ → ∫

()
∞ 2
⇒ x = ∫ −∞
x ψ x dx

Similarly

()
∞ 2
x2 = ∫ −∞
x 2 ψ x dx

Often written in “sandwich” form

() ()
∞
x = ∫ −∞
ψ * x xψ x dx

= ∫ ψ * ( x ) x ψ ( x )dx
∞
x2 2
−∞

For particle in a box

2 a ⎛ nπ x ⎞
x = ∫
a 0
x sin 2 ⎜
⎝ a ⎟⎠
dx
5.61 Fall 2007 Lecture #8 page 4

a
Integrate by parts → x =
2

The average particle position is in the middle of the box.