What is Potential well: Definition and 231 Discussions

A potential well is the region surrounding a local minimum of potential energy. Energy captured in a potential well is unable to convert to another type of energy (kinetic energy in the case of a gravitational potential well) because it is captured in the local minimum of a potential well. Therefore, a body may not proceed to the global minimum of potential energy, as it would naturally tend to due to entropy.

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  1. S

    Particle in an infinite potential well, showing the uncertainty in x

    I've got this question and I'm absolutely clueless, any help will be greatly appreciated: The nth energy level for a particle of mass m confined in an infinite potential well is : E = h^2n^2/8ml^2 where L is the width of the well and h is Planck’s constant. Assuming that the uncertainty...
  2. Z

    Do Perturbations in a Quantum Well's Bottom Shape Affect Particle Eigenvalues?

    d) Show that the eigenvalues of a particle in a well aren’t affected by the structure of the bottom of the well by applying perturbation theory. As an example, investigate the case where the bottom of the well is deeper in the middle (x = a2) than at the sides (x = 0 and x= a). To do this:- i...
  3. M

    Potential well with two electrons

    I've been meaning to ask this question for a while but I thought I'd google it first. I found out that this question was put to this forum a few years ago by peter038, without a definite resolution. So I thought maybe we could try again. Part of the problem is to decide exactly what is the best...
  4. C

    Calculating Reflection Coefficient for a Potential Well

    Homework Statement A potential well with V(x)=0 for x<0 and V(x) = Vo for x>0. The particle has energy E greater than Vo and is incident from the left side. Calculate the reflection coefficient. Homework Equations Relfection coefficient is given by R= (B*B)/(A*A) The Attempt at a...
  5. K

    One dimensional infinite potential well problem

    hi, I am not getting idea to solve below problem A particle of mass m is in a one-dimensional ,rectangular potential well for which V(x)=0 for 0<x< L and V(x)=infinite elsewhere. The particle is intially prepared in the ground state ψ1 with eigen energy E1. Then , at time t=0, the potential...
  6. N

    Calculating States in a 3D Cubic Potential Well

    Homework Statement I am to calculate the number of states in a 3Dcubic potential well with impenetrable walls that have energy less than or equal to E Homework Equations \ E_n=\frac{\hbar^2\pi^2}{\ 2 \ m \ a^2}\ (\ {n_x}^2 + \ {n_y}^2 + \ {n_z}^2) The Attempt at a Solution We may...
  7. C

    Heisenberg and energy of an electron in a potential well

    [SOLVED] Heisenberg and energy of an electron in a potential well Homework Statement An electron is confined within a one dimensional potential well that measures 1 nm. using the uncertainty principle, estimate the order of magnitude for the ground state energy of the electron in the well in...
  8. D

    Calculating Electron Energy in a One-Dimensional Potential Well

    [SOLVED] Energy in a Potential Well I so need help with this! "The width of a one-dimensional potential well of an electron can be assumed to be about 2 A (there's a weird-looking bubble on top of the A). Calculate the energy of an electron (in Joules and in eV) from this information for...
  9. V

    Can Classical Physics Explain the Infinite Potential Well in Quantum Mechanics?

    I've been told about the infinite potential well using quantum-mechanics, with mathematical proof. Is there any websites I can look at to understand this theory with less math, but instead, with a theoratical approach? Would classical-physics be able to describe this result? thanks
  10. michael879

    Double Potential Well: Wave Function & Forces

    I remember this homework assignment I did a while back, where we "found" the wave function of a particle in a double potential well. The distance between them was variable and we found that as the distance decreased, the energy of the system went down. This would suggest a force pulling the...
  11. N

    Infinite potential well problem

    Homework Statement Hi, Particle of mass m is found in one-dimensional infinite potential well with walls 0<=x<=a. In t=0 the normalized wave function is: \psi(x,t=0)=A[1+Cos(\frac{\pi x}{a})]Sin(\frac{2 \pi x}{a}) find psi(x,t) Homework Equations ? The Attempt at a Solution...
  12. V

    I do still not understand definition of potential well

    I do still not understand definition of potential well. Could you help me answer this question? What is the meaning of Potential well in modern physics? What is difference between Potential well in modern physics and classical physics?
  13. U

    What the heck is a Potential Well?

    Hi, I'm reading my semiconductors book and I have NO idea about what this is. I don't really understand what a potential well is. They say that it can form new devices, but never says how. Wikipedia isn't helping either. Anyone care to jump in?
  14. P

    Ground and Excited States in a Potential Well (QM)

    Here's the problem: http://www.phys.washington.edu/users/karch/324/2007/hw3.pdf Just the first one. Okay, so my understanding is that the first state of Psi (ground state) is just an arc, like a Gaussian distribution, starting from 0 at E0 and finishing at 5a also at the level of E0...
  15. D

    Solving 1D Quantum Potential Well Problem

    Hi I'm trying to solve a one-dimensional quantum well problem. The problem itself is probably (or: hopefully) not too hard to solve, but I'm having a difficult time to understand how the given potential actually works. The incident particles is coming from the left, and the potential well...
  16. T

    What is an Infinite Potential Well?

    Hi I am just found this forum and I was wondering if anyone could help me find out what exactly is a Infinite Potential Well. I am just trying to understand what exactly a Infinite Potential Well is as well as what all the equations are really solving for. Sorry if this has been posted before I...
  17. V

    Help particel in spherical delta potential well

    Homework Statement A particle with mass M is moving in a spherical delta-potential well, V(r)=-Vo*delta(r-a); Vo>0, a>0 Find the minimum Vo value so that there is at least 1 bounded eigenstate for the particle. Homework Equations looking through my quantum book (griffiths of course)...
  18. U

    How Does the Uncertainty Principle Relate to Energy in a V-Shaped Potential?

    Homework Statement Consider a particle of mass m in a vee-shaped potential whose analytic form is V(x)= -bx (x<=0) V(x)= bx (x>=0) Use what is known about the uncertainty principle and the simple harmonic oscillator to show that the lowest state energy is ((hbar)^2(b)^2/m)^(1/3). Show...
  19. R

    One-dimensional potential well problem

    My head's melting right now, because I've been stuck on this for the past 6 hours. There's a particle of mass moving in a potential well where V(x) = infinity at x<0 V(X)=0, 0<x<a V(x)= Vo, x>a Vo>0 E<Vo I'm assuming that the wavefunction at x<0 is 0, since there's an infinite...
  20. Y

    The Potential Well In Quantum Mechanics

    My calculations always come out all right, but I still feel that I need help conceptualizing the potential well. 1.What does the width(or length) of the well represent? 2.What does the depth of the well represent? Sincerely appreciative, Yonderboy
  21. S

    What are the energy levels and wavefunctions of a 3D SHO potential well?

    We have a particle moving in a 3-D potential well V=1/2*m*(omega^2)*(r^2). we use separation of variables in cartesian coords to show that the energy levels are: E(Nx,Ny,Nz)=hbar*omega(3/2 + Nx + Ny + Nz) where Nx,Ny,Nz are integers greater than or equal to 1. Therefore we can say that...
  22. G

    1D infinite potential well with origin shift

    Hi guys, I am solving the 1D infinite potential well for a particle, but in this case instead of the potential being 0 from -a to a, its shifted to 0 to 2a. I have calculated that the even parity solution is zero. My question is, I have calculated that k=n*Pi/(2*a) by applying the boundary...
  23. J

    Particle in an infinite potential well

    Hi all, I have an exam tomorrow and this problem concerns me greatly. An electron is located in an infinitely deep one-dimensional square potential well. The width of the well is 1.00 nm. (e) Light is shone on the electron causing it to jump from the ground state to the n = 3 state...
  24. A

    Why Wave Function Extends in Finite Potential Well

    I need to explain why, as the energy of a bound state in a finite potential well increases, the wave function extends more outside of the well. I need to do this from both a mathematical and a physical point of view. I think I know the mathematical explanation (see attached image). Can anyone...
  25. E

    Is the Potential in a Particle's Potential Well Always Real?

    let be a particle in a potential well with mass m=1/2 so we have the equation: (p^{2}+V(x))\phi=E_{n}\phi we don,t know if V is real or complex but we have that if En is an energy,its complex conjugate En^*=Ek is also another energy of the system,my question is if the potential is real...
  26. C

    How Does a Perturbation Affect Energy Levels in an Infinite Potential Well?

    Sorry for all the questions - I tend to save them till I'm done with assignments: Here's the question: Consider a particle of mass 'm' in a one-dimensional infinite potential well of width 'a' V (x) = \left\{\begin{array}{c} 0 \ \ \ if \ \ \ 0 \leq x \leq a \\ \infty \ \ \ otherwise...
  27. I

    How Wide is the Potential Well When an Electron Emits a Photon?

    hey guys i am kinda stumped on this problem, if anyone can give me a helping hand, it's be much appreciated, thanks! An electron is trapped in a one-dimensional infinite potential of width L. As the electron falls from the n=3 to the n=2 eigenstate, it emits a photon with a wavelength of...
  28. F

    Infinite potential well

    At t=0 an electron in an infinite potential well has a wave function corresponding to the lowest level of energy. The wave function is equal to the eigenfunction of the Hamiltonian where n=1. I am asked to calculate the uncertainty of the electron's momentum. I don't really know where to...
  29. A

    Infinite-Finite Potential Well

    I need help with this question. I'm not sure exactly what it wants (what does it mean by bound state) and how should I start the problem? Here it is: Consider a particle of mass m moving in the following potential:\infty for x \leq 0-V_0 for 0 < x \leq a \ (V_0 > 0)0 for x > aCalculate the...
  30. Y

    Particle in a potential well Gre. 93

    What concepts are involved here? 93. A particle of mass m moves in the potential shown here. The period of the motion when the particle has energy E is The potential is V = 1/2kx^2 for x <0 and V= mgx for x > 0. A. Sqrt[k/m] B. 2*pi*Sqrt[m/k] c . 2*Sqrt[2E/(mg^2)] D. pi*Sqrt[m/k] +...
  31. T

    Time is slower deep down in a potential well

    1) If you lift a clock to a greater height, you have to do work on it - the work done appears as gravitational energy stored in the clock; This shows up in the guise of extra tick-tock energy, as a result of which the clock ticks a bit faster. ------- 2) Time is slower deep down in a...
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