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Journal of Mathematical Physics

The effect of a one-dimensional potential of finite range on the statistical parameters of an incident ensemble of particles. II. Localized states

John E. G. Farina

Published Jul 1, 1987• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

If an ensemble of particles moving parallel to the x axis in the positive direction impinges on a piecewise continuous potential confined to the interval [−a,a] (a>0) it will divide into a transmitted ensemble and a reflected ensemble. It is shown that the classical results for the means, variances, and covariance of position and velocity of the transmitted and reflected ensembles hold in quantum mechanics if the position and momentum probability densities of the incident ensemble are assumed to be sufficiently localized, both in momentum and position. It is also assumed that the support of the probability density of momentum is bounded and positive, and on it the moduli and arguments of the transmission and reflection coefficients are sufficiently well behaved.

DOI
10.1063/1.527464

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If an ensemble of particles moving parallel to the x axis in the positive direction impinges on a piecewise continuous potential confined to the interval [−a,a] (a>0) it will divide into a transmitted ensemble and a reflected ensemble. It is shown that the classical results for the means, variances, and covariance of position and velocity of the transmitted and reflected ensembles hold in quantum mechanics if the position and momentum probability densities of the incident ensemble are assumed to be sufficiently localized, both in momentum and position. It is also assumed that the support of the probability density of momentum is bounded and positive, and on it the moduli and arguments of the transmission and reflection coefficients are sufficiently well behaved.
If an ensemble of particles moving parallel to the x axis in the positive direction impinges on a piecewise continuous potential confined to the interval [−a,a] (a>0) it will divide into a transmitted ensemble and a reflected ensemble. It is shown that the classical results for the means, variances, and covariance of position and velocity of the transmitted and reflected ensembles hold in quantum mechanics if the incident state is assumed to be pure and defined by a C∞ wave function whose Fourier transform has bounded, positive support, on which the modulus and argument of the transmission and reflection coefficients are C∞.
In one-dimensional scattering, the portion of particles that is transmitted in general vanishes as the kinetic energy of the incident particles approaches zero. Based upon published results from the literature, the present work shows that for a potential consisting of two Dirac δ functions of arbitrary strength, a finite portion of the incident particles is transmitted at threshold for certain choices of the set of parameters defining the potential. The underlying reasons are shown to be related to the structure of the bound levels of the potential. It is shown that for a potential with a finite range but of general shape the reflection coefficient in general tends to unity near threshold, which is what is usually observed. However, in the presence of a bound level at the onset of the continuum, a finite portion of the incident particles is transmitted at threshold for a potential with a general shape and, furthermore, it can be shown that if the potential V is symmetric with V(x)=V(−x) then resonance transmission is observed, i.e., the reflection coefficient vanishes at threshold.
Abstract We consider a quantum particle with energy E incident upon a one-dimensional potential. We show that the probabilities of transmission and reflection are the same for incidence upon a general potential from either side (from ‘the left’ or ‘the right’). This equality holds true for any potential which goes to constant values as x → ± ∞ and is finite for all x . We present a remarkably simple proof that the probabilities are equal. The simplicity of our proof is the most important pedagogical result of our paper, and will be easily understood by undergraduate students in second to fourth year. We discuss several cases, including the step potential and the potential barrier.
The study of quantum statistical mechanics begins with a review of the basic principles of quantum mechanics. Schrödinger’s equation is introduced and Eigenstates (or stationary states) are defined. Model probability for quantum statistics is assumed to have a uniform distribution in phases. Wave functions for many-body systems are defined. The density matrix is introduced. The Planck entropy and the microcanonical ensemble are defined. The differences between classical and quantum statistical mechanics are all based on the differing concepts of a microscopic ‘state’. While the classical microscopic state (specified by a point in phase space) determines the exact position and momentum of every particle, the quantum mechanical state determines neither; quantum states can only provide probability distributions for observable quantities.
The interaction between incident and target particles is inferred from the numbers and angular distribution of scattered particles and from their energy distribution. It is important to recognize that a scattering region, as represented for example by a rectangular barrier, is a region where, in classical terms, forces are applied to the incident particles. A full analysis of scattering events must, in principle, embody the description of a localized free particle that travels toward a center of force and is scattered by it. Quantum-mechanically, that implies a theoretical analysis in terms of packet states, with an explicit account of their change of position with time. One of the most striking effects described by quantum mechanics is the transmission of incident particles across a potential barrier whose height is greater than the particle energy. Classically, these particles lack the energy to get over the barrier, yet for quantum-mechanical systems some fraction of incident particles are transmitted.
Most of our knowledge about the structure of matter and interaction between particles is derived from scattering experiments. From a theoretical point of view, scattering problems are concerned with the continuous (and positive) energy eigenvalues and unbound eigenfunctions of the Schro¨dinger equation. We have already encountered one-dimensional examples of scattering in Chapter 4, in the discussion of reflection and transmission of an incident particle with definite momentum from a potential step or barrier. In this chapter we consider scattering from a more formal point of view. We will confine our discussion to elastic scattering (scattering without loss or gain of energy by the projectile) from central potentials although many of the concepts and results are applicable to inelastic scattering.