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arXiv:1110.1582 · Physical Review A

Displacement operator for quantum systems with position-dependent mass

R. N. Costa Filho, Murilo Pereira de Almeida, G. A. Farias, José S. Andrade

Published Nov 22, 2011• 127 citations
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Abstract

A translation operator is introduced to describe the quantum dynamics of a position-dependent mass particle in a null or constant potential. From this operator, we obtain a generalized form of the momentum operator as well as a unique commutation relation for $\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{x}$ and ${\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{p}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$. Such a formalism naturally leads to a Schr\"odinger-like equation that is reminiscent of wave equations typically used to model electrons with position-dependent (effective) masses propagating through abrupt interfaces in semiconductor heterostructures. The distinctive features of our approach are demonstrated through analytical solutions calculated for particles under null and constant potentials like infinite wells in one and two dimensions and potential barriers.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.84.050102

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A translation operator is introduced to describe the quantum dynamics of a position-dependent mass particle in a null or constant potential. From this operator, we obtain a generalized form of the momentum operator as well as a unique commutation relation for x\ifmmode^\elseˆ\fi\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{x}x\ifmmode^\elseˆ\fi and p\ifmmode^\elseˆ\fi\ensuremathγ{\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{p}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}p\ifmmode^\elseˆ\fi​\ensuremathγ​. Such a formalism naturally leads to a Schr"odinger-like equation that is reminiscent of wave equations typically used to model electrons with position-dependent (effective) masses propagating through abrupt interfaces in semiconductor heterostructures. The distinctive features of our approach are demonstrated through analytical solutions calculated for particles under null and constant potentials like infinite wells in one and two dimensions and potential barriers.
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In the context of quantum mechanics reformulated in a modified Hilbert space, we can formulate the Feynman’s path integral approach for the quantum systems with position-dependent mass particle using the formulation of position-dependent infinitesimal translation operator. Which is similar a deformed quantum mechanics based on modified commutation relations. An illustration of calculation is given in the case of the harmonic oscillator, the infinite square well and the inverse square plus Coulomb potentials.
Using a recently developed technique to solve Schrödinger equation for constant mass, we studied the regime in which mass varies with position i.e position dependent mass Schrödinger equation(PDMSE). We obtained an analytical solution for the PDMSE and applied our approach to study a position dependent mass m(x)m(x)m(x) particle scattered by a potential V(x)\mathcal{V}(x)V(x). We also studied the structural analogy between PDMSE and two-level atomic system interacting with a classical field.
Abstract In this work, an alternative approach for finding exact solutions of Schrödinger equations with a position‐dependent mass is presented. Essentially, the method consists in transforming the position‐dependent mass Schrödinger equation into a standard constant mass Schrödinger equation. The constant mass equation is formulated in terms of a new variable and includes, as effective potential, a term related to the position‐dependent mass and another term connected with the original potential. For exactly solvable potentials, our proposal leads to a Riccati equation for an equivalent Witten superpotential, which means that this kind of problems can be studied within the quantum supersymmetric framework with the aim to find the explicit solutions and the energy spectra. To show the usefulness of the proposed approach, we consider the particular case of exactly solvable Schrödinger equations for different position‐dependent mass situations in a null potential. However, the method can directly be applied to other effective potentials as well as to find isospectral potentials for specific position‐dependent mass distributions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007
The position dependent mass Schrödinger equation (PDMSE) has a wide range of quantum applications such as the study of semiconductors, quantum wells, quantum dots and impurities in crystals, among many others. On the other hand, the Morse potential is one of the most important potential models used to study the electronic properties of diatomic molecules. In this work, the solution of the effective mass one-dimensional Schrödinger equation for the Morse potential is presented. This is done by means of the canonical transformation method in algebraic form. The PDMSE is solved for any model of the proposed kinetic energy operators as for example the BenDaniel-Duke, Gora-Williams, Zhu-Kroemer or Li-Kuhn. Also, in order to solve the PDMSE with Morse potential, we consider a superpotential leading to a special form of the exactly solvable Schrödinger equation of constant mass for a class of multiparameter exponential-type potential along with a proper mass distribution. The proposed approach is general and can be applied in the search of new potentials suitable on science of materials by looking into the viable choices of the mass function.