Particle in a box experiment confirmation

In summary, the conversation discusses the difficulty of measuring the position of confined electrons and how confirming the predictions of a "particle in a box" model regarding energy measurements is sufficient. There have been experiments for atoms trapped in an optical lattice potential or using trapped ions that confirm quantized motion. However, there are no specific experiments that confirm the momentum spectrum for a particle in a box.
  • #1
ftr
624
47
Is there any experiments that validate the results of particle in a box with infinite or finite potential. Thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #3
Thanks. But I was more interested in the confirmation of electron position probabilty, the article is more about the energy. Also the references are behind a pay wall.
 
  • #4
Is there something wrong with my question, because I don't get any reply?
 
  • #5
ftr said:
I was more interested in the confirmation of electron position probabilty

Measuring the position of confined electrons is a lot more difficult than measuring their energy. For one thing, a sufficiently accurate position measurement at the scales of many such confinement wells for electrons will have enough momentum uncertainty to have a significant chance of kicking the electron out of the confinement well.

Also, if you know the wave function of the electron in the energy basis, you know it in any basis, since switching basis is just a matter of a mathematical transformation. So confirming the predictions of a "particle in a box" model regarding energy measurements is sufficient; you don't need to also test it with position measurements.
 
  • #6
Thanks, I take that as no (no experiment). Then, Is there any experiment that confirms the momentum spectrum when the particle is sufficiently localized.
 
  • #7
Not particle-in-a-box per se, but there have been many experiments for atoms trapped in a optical lattice potential or using trapped ions:
P. S. Jessen et al., Observation of quantized motion of Rb atoms in an optical field, Phys. Rev. Lett. 69, 49 (1992)
G. Grynberg et al., Quantized motion of cold cesium atoms in two- and three-dimensional optical potentials, Phys. Rev. Lett. 70, 2249 (1993)
D. Leibfried et al., Quantum dynamics of single trapped ions, Rev. Mod. Phys. 75, 281 (2003)
 

Related to Particle in a box experiment confirmation

1. What is the "particle in a box" experiment?

The "particle in a box" experiment is a thought experiment used in quantum mechanics to illustrate the behavior of a particle confined to a one-dimensional space.

2. How is the "particle in a box" experiment conducted?

In the experiment, a particle is placed inside a one-dimensional box with impenetrable walls. The particle's position and momentum are measured at different times to observe its behavior.

3. What does the "particle in a box" experiment confirm?

The experiment confirms the wave-particle duality of quantum mechanics, where the particle exhibits both wave-like and particle-like behavior depending on how it is observed.

4. Why is the "particle in a box" experiment important?

The experiment is important because it helps us understand the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics and how particles behave in confined spaces. It also has practical applications in fields such as nanotechnology and electronics.

5. What are the implications of the "particle in a box" experiment?

The experiment has significant implications for our understanding of the behavior of matter at the subatomic level. It also challenges our classical understanding of particles as solid, tangible objects and highlights the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics.

Similar threads

Replies
42
Views
2K
  • Quantum Physics
Replies
9
Views
939
Replies
11
Views
1K
  • Quantum Physics
2
Replies
36
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
981
Replies
1
Views
723
  • Quantum Physics
Replies
3
Views
884
Replies
22
Views
661
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • Quantum Physics
Replies
12
Views
1K
Back
Top