Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Jordan Journal of Physics

Exact Treatment of the Infinite Square Well in One Dimension with λδ^' (x) Potential

Published Jun 30, 2023• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract: This work considered the infinite square well in one dimension with a contact potential. The Dirac delta derivative function potential λδ^' where λ is a coupling constant was used to represent the contact potential. Using Green’s function technique, exact implicit expressions of the energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions were obtained. The energy eigenvalues were expressed using a transcendental equation. The energy eigenfunctions satisfy the Schrödinger equation and the infinite square well boundary conditions. Also, the eigenfunctions and their first derivative were shown to be discontinuous. The values of these discontinuity jumps agreed with the required conditions for a self-adjoint extension Hamiltonian. In the weak coupling region, the energy eigenvalues are close to that of the even parity solution before adding the contact potential. The energy eigenvalues in the strong coupling regime reveal the energy eigenvalues of the odd parity solution. Keywords: Point interactions, Infinite square well, Green’s function technique. PACS numbers: 03.65.-w, 03.65.Db, 03.65.Ge

DOI
10.47011/16.2.11

Related papers

The Quantum Harmonic Oscillator with λδ' (x) Potential

M A Dalabeeh

Abstract: In this work, the problem of the quantum harmonic oscillator with a delta-derivative potential λδ^' (x), where λ is a coupling constant, is solved using the Green’s function technique. A transcendental equation that governs the energy eigenvalues of the problems for each coupling constant is obtained. The eigenfunctions and their first derivative are proved to be discontinuous at the origin. The values of the discontinuity jumps are found to agree with the requirements of having a self-adjoint extension Hamiltonian. In the large coupling limit, the even energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions for the quantum harmonic oscillator are annihilated, and only the odd parts survive. The dependence of the energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions on the sign of λ was made clear. A mapping between the sign of λ and the positions of the particle was used to explain the discontinuity of the solution. In the large-λ regime, an educated guess for the wave functions was proposed. The proposed solutions led to the correct energy eigenvalues and obeyed the required conditions to have a self-adjoint extension Hamiltonian.

Jordan Journal of Physics•Aug 31, 2025•0 citations

An exact treatment of the Dirac delta function potential in the Schrödinger equation

Daniel A. Atkinson, Horace W. Crater

This paper presents several cases in which the effects of the addition of a delta function potential on bound states can be computed exactly. In the case of the one dimensional Schrödinger equation, a Green’s function technique is used to compute an exact implicit expression that gives the effect of the one−dimensional delta function potential on the bound states eigenvalues. It is also shown that the weak coupling limit of the implicit expression agrees with the perturbative treatment of the delta function. It is pointed out that this technique cannot be applied to obtain an exact treatment of the delta function potential δ3(r) in the three−dimensional Schrödinger equation. Instead, an alternate definition of the delta function in three dimensions as a limit of a sequence of square well potentials is used. Unlike the one dimensional case, the exact effect on the eigenvalue does not agree in the limit of weak coupling with the perturbative results. This indicates that the three−dimensional delta function potential should not be used to approximate strongly coupled short range potentials for which perturbation theory is inadequate.

American Journal of Physics•Apr 1, 1975•62 citations

Completeness and orthonormality of the energy eigenfunctions of the Dirac delta derivative potential

M A Dalabeeh, Noureddine Chair

Abstract The orthonormality and completeness of the energy eigenfunctions solution for the Schrödinger equation are usually hard to prove explicitly. There are few examples treated in the literature that give an explicit demonstration of these properties. In this work, we are going to orthonormalize the energy eigenfunctions of the solutions of the Schrödinger equation with contact potential given by the Dirac delta derivative potential λδ′(x), where λ is the coupling constant and prove that they are complete. The solutions for this problem include both continuum and discrete energy spectra. This makes it a perfect choice in the sense that it covers all possible cases of the solutions in quantum mechanics. The bound states solutions are normalized as usual, while the scattering states are normalized in continuum sense. The scattering solutions are shown to be orthogonal to each other and to the bound states. Using these orthonormal eigenfunctions an explicit demonstration of the completeness is given. It is found that both the bound and scattering solutions should be considered to ensure completeness. The calculation shows that the scattering state solutions are complete by themselves except for a certain value of the energy eigenvalue. This energy eigenvalue was shown to be precisely consistent with the energy eigenvalue of the bound state.

European Journal of Physics•Jan 18, 2022•1 citation

Infinite Square Well, Self-Adjointness, and the Dirac Delta Function

Marcos Amaku, Francisco Antônio Bezerra Coutinho, E. Massad +1 more

Abstract One hundred years ago, Dirac presented a groundbreaking method for quantizing classical Hamiltonians. Simplicity is one of the virtues of the procedure, but certain classes of problems require special care. Here, we discuss one such class, the quantization of confined systems, with emphasis on the one-dimensional square well. We examine two presentations of the problem. The first presentation restricts the analysis to the interval $$0\le x\le L$$ . The second presentation considers the entire x axis, but an infinite potential traps the particle in the region $$0\le x\le L$$ . In contrast with the typical treatment in quantum mechanics textbooks, the first presentation imposes nontrivial boundary conditions. Proper treatment of the problem in the second presentation demands the use of delta functions or distributions.

Brazilian Journal of Physics•Mar 19, 2026•0 citations

Point and surface interactions in quantum mechanics

Rutger‐Jan Lange

Much of the literature on point interactions in quantum mechanics has focused on the differential form of Schrodinger's equation. This paper, in contrast, investigates the integral form of Schrodinger's equation. While both forms are known to be equivalent for smooth potentials, this is not true for distributional potentials. Here, we assume that the potential is given by a distribution defined on the space of discontinuous test functions. First, by using Schrodinger's integral equation, we confirm a seminal result by Kurasov, which was originally obtained in the context of Schrodinger's differential equation. This hints at a possible deeper connection between both forms of the equation. We also sketch a generalisation of Kurasov's result to hypersurfaces. Second, we derive a new closed-form solution to Schrodinger's integral equation with a delta prime potential. This potential has attracted considerable attention, including some controversy. Interestingly, the derived propagator satisfies boundary conditions that were previously derived using Schrodinger's differential equation. Third, we derive boundary conditions for `super-singular' potentials given by higher-order derivatives of the delta potential. These boundary conditions cannot be incorporated into the normal framework of self-adjoint extensions. We show that the boundary conditions depend on the energy of the solution, and that probability is conserved. This paper thereby confirms several seminal results and derives some new ones. In sum, it shows that Schrodinger's integral equation is viable tool for studying singular interactions in quantum mechanics.

•Jan 29, 2014•0 citations

Resonant tunnelling through short-range singular potentials

Alexander V. Zolotaryuk, Peter Leth Christiansen, Sofia V Iermakova

A three-parameter family of point interactions constructed from sequences of symmetric barrier–well–barrier and well–barrier–well rectangles is studied in the limit, when the rectangles are squeezed to zero width but the barrier height and the well depth become infinite (the zero-range limit). The limiting generalized potentials are referred to as the second derivative of Dirac's delta function ±λδ''( x ) with a renormalized coupling constant λ > 0 or simply as ±δ''-like point interactions. As a result, a whole family of self-adjoint extensions of the one-dimensional Schrödinger operator is shown to exist, which results in full and partial resonant tunnelling through this class of singular potentials. The resonant tunnelling occurs for countable sets of interaction strength values in the λ-space which are the roots of several transcendental equations. The comparison with the previous results for δ'-like point interactions is also discussed.

Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical•Apr 30, 2007•18 citations
Abstract: This work considered the infinite square well in one dimension with a contact potential. The Dirac delta derivative function potential λδ^' where λ is a coupling constant was used to represent the contact potential. Using Green’s function technique, exact implicit expressions of the energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions were obtained. The energy eigenvalues were expressed using a transcendental equation. The energy eigenfunctions satisfy the Schrödinger equation and the infinite square well boundary conditions. Also, the eigenfunctions and their first derivative were shown to be discontinuous. The values of these discontinuity jumps agreed with the required conditions for a self-adjoint extension Hamiltonian. In the weak coupling region, the energy eigenvalues are close to that of the even parity solution before adding the contact potential. The energy eigenvalues in the strong coupling regime reveal the energy eigenvalues of the odd parity solution. Keywords: Point interactions, Infinite square well, Green’s function technique. PACS numbers: 03.65.-w, 03.65.Db, 03.65.Ge
Abstract: In this work, the problem of the quantum harmonic oscillator with a delta-derivative potential λδ^' (x), where λ is a coupling constant, is solved using the Green’s function technique. A transcendental equation that governs the energy eigenvalues of the problems for each coupling constant is obtained. The eigenfunctions and their first derivative are proved to be discontinuous at the origin. The values of the discontinuity jumps are found to agree with the requirements of having a self-adjoint extension Hamiltonian. In the large coupling limit, the even energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions for the quantum harmonic oscillator are annihilated, and only the odd parts survive. The dependence of the energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions on the sign of λ was made clear. A mapping between the sign of λ and the positions of the particle was used to explain the discontinuity of the solution. In the large-λ regime, an educated guess for the wave functions was proposed. The proposed solutions led to the correct energy eigenvalues and obeyed the required conditions to have a self-adjoint extension Hamiltonian.
This paper presents several cases in which the effects of the addition of a delta function potential on bound states can be computed exactly. In the case of the one dimensional Schrödinger equation, a Green’s function technique is used to compute an exact implicit expression that gives the effect of the one−dimensional delta function potential on the bound states eigenvalues. It is also shown that the weak coupling limit of the implicit expression agrees with the perturbative treatment of the delta function. It is pointed out that this technique cannot be applied to obtain an exact treatment of the delta function potential δ3(r) in the three−dimensional Schrödinger equation. Instead, an alternate definition of the delta function in three dimensions as a limit of a sequence of square well potentials is used. Unlike the one dimensional case, the exact effect on the eigenvalue does not agree in the limit of weak coupling with the perturbative results. This indicates that the three−dimensional delta function potential should not be used to approximate strongly coupled short range potentials for which perturbation theory is inadequate.
Abstract The orthonormality and completeness of the energy eigenfunctions solution for the Schrödinger equation are usually hard to prove explicitly. There are few examples treated in the literature that give an explicit demonstration of these properties. In this work, we are going to orthonormalize the energy eigenfunctions of the solutions of the Schrödinger equation with contact potential given by the Dirac delta derivative potential λδ′(x), where λ is the coupling constant and prove that they are complete. The solutions for this problem include both continuum and discrete energy spectra. This makes it a perfect choice in the sense that it covers all possible cases of the solutions in quantum mechanics. The bound states solutions are normalized as usual, while the scattering states are normalized in continuum sense. The scattering solutions are shown to be orthogonal to each other and to the bound states. Using these orthonormal eigenfunctions an explicit demonstration of the completeness is given. It is found that both the bound and scattering solutions should be considered to ensure completeness. The calculation shows that the scattering state solutions are complete by themselves except for a certain value of the energy eigenvalue. This energy eigenvalue was shown to be precisely consistent with the energy eigenvalue of the bound state.
Abstract One hundred years ago, Dirac presented a groundbreaking method for quantizing classical Hamiltonians. Simplicity is one of the virtues of the procedure, but certain classes of problems require special care. Here, we discuss one such class, the quantization of confined systems, with emphasis on the one-dimensional square well. We examine two presentations of the problem. The first presentation restricts the analysis to the interval 0≤x≤L0\le x\le L0≤x≤L . The second presentation considers the entire x axis, but an infinite potential traps the particle in the region 0≤x≤L0\le x\le L0≤x≤L . In contrast with the typical treatment in quantum mechanics textbooks, the first presentation imposes nontrivial boundary conditions. Proper treatment of the problem in the second presentation demands the use of delta functions or distributions.
Much of the literature on point interactions in quantum mechanics has focused on the differential form of Schrodinger's equation. This paper, in contrast, investigates the integral form of Schrodinger's equation. While both forms are known to be equivalent for smooth potentials, this is not true for distributional potentials. Here, we assume that the potential is given by a distribution defined on the space of discontinuous test functions. First, by using Schrodinger's integral equation, we confirm a seminal result by Kurasov, which was originally obtained in the context of Schrodinger's differential equation. This hints at a possible deeper connection between both forms of the equation. We also sketch a generalisation of Kurasov's result to hypersurfaces. Second, we derive a new closed-form solution to Schrodinger's integral equation with a delta prime potential. This potential has attracted considerable attention, including some controversy. Interestingly, the derived propagator satisfies boundary conditions that were previously derived using Schrodinger's differential equation. Third, we derive boundary conditions for `super-singular' potentials given by higher-order derivatives of the delta potential. These boundary conditions cannot be incorporated into the normal framework of self-adjoint extensions. We show that the boundary conditions depend on the energy of the solution, and that probability is conserved. This paper thereby confirms several seminal results and derives some new ones. In sum, it shows that Schrodinger's integral equation is viable tool for studying singular interactions in quantum mechanics.
A three-parameter family of point interactions constructed from sequences of symmetric barrier–well–barrier and well–barrier–well rectangles is studied in the limit, when the rectangles are squeezed to zero width but the barrier height and the well depth become infinite (the zero-range limit). The limiting generalized potentials are referred to as the second derivative of Dirac's delta function ±λδ''( x ) with a renormalized coupling constant λ > 0 or simply as ±δ''-like point interactions. As a result, a whole family of self-adjoint extensions of the one-dimensional Schrödinger operator is shown to exist, which results in full and partial resonant tunnelling through this class of singular potentials. The resonant tunnelling occurs for countable sets of interaction strength values in the λ-space which are the roots of several transcendental equations. The comparison with the previous results for δ'-like point interactions is also discussed.