Particle in a Box: Degeneracy Explained

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of degeneracy in a particle inside a box (infinite square well) and whether it can occur for different energy eigen states. The conversation also touches on the idea of operators that commute with the Hamiltonian and how degeneracy cannot occur in a 1D system.
  • #1
Joydeep Munshi
7
1
Hi,
in case of a particle inside a box (infinite square well), can degeneracy occur for different energy eigen states?
please explain...
 
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  • #2
What do you think? Can you get the same value of energy with two different values of n?
 
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  • #3
Joydeep Munshi said:
Hi,
in case of a particle inside a box (infinite square well), can degeneracy occur for different energy eigen states?
please explain...
Is this homework?
 
  • #4
@jtbell yes degeneracy should not occur in that case...was in doubt about the concept of degeneracy... Thanks
 
  • #5
Degeneracy in energy usually arises when there are one or more operators which commute with the Hamiltonian. Moreover, in 1D system it can be shown that degeneracy cannot occur, for example see http://www.physicspages.com/2012/08/23/degenerate-solutions-dont-exist-in-one-dimension/
 
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Related to Particle in a Box: Degeneracy Explained

What is a "particle in a box"?

A "particle in a box" is a simplified theoretical model used in quantum mechanics to explain the behavior of a particle confined to a one-dimensional space. It assumes that the particle is completely free to move inside the box, but cannot leave its boundaries.

What is degeneracy in the context of a particle in a box?

Degeneracy refers to the fact that multiple states of a particle in a box can have the same energy level. This means that there can be more than one possible configuration of the particle with the same energy, leading to degenerate energy levels.

Why is degeneracy important in understanding the behavior of a particle in a box?

Degeneracy is important because it affects the possible energy levels and configurations of a particle in a box. It also plays a crucial role in explaining phenomena such as the heat capacity of solids and the electronic structure of atoms and molecules.

What is the equation for calculating the degeneracy of a particle in a box?

The equation for calculating the degeneracy of a particle in a box is given by: degeneracy = nx * ny * nz, where nx, ny, and nz represent the number of energy levels in the x, y, and z directions, respectively.

How does the degeneracy of a particle in a box change when the box size is altered?

The degeneracy of a particle in a box increases as the box size increases. This is because a larger box allows for more possible energy states and therefore, more degeneracy. On the other hand, as the box size decreases, the degeneracy decreases as there are fewer possible energy levels for the particle to occupy.

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