Identical Fermions in an infinite square well

In summary, there is a discussion about the state of 2 identical, noninteracting Fermions in an infinite 1 dimensional square well. One person suggests a state with spin-up and spin-down particles in the ground state, while another person references Griffiths' solution which does not have the same energy state. It is mentioned that the first person's solution is antisymmetric, an eigenstate of the Hamiltonian, and has lower energy than the Griffiths solution, but there is a clarification that fermions in Quantum Mechanics only refer to particles with fermi-dirac statistics, and the equivalence of spin1/2 particles and fermions is only in relativistic quantum field theory.
  • #1
msumm21
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19
If you have 2 identical, noninteracting Fermions in an infinite 1 dimensional square well of width a, I was thinking the state would be:
[tex]\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\psi_1(x_1)\psi_1(x_2)(\uparrow\downarrow - \downarrow\uparrow )[/tex]
where [tex]\psi_1[/tex] is the ground state of the single particle well problem.

However, I just looked in Griffths "Introduction to QM, 2nd Ed" and it says there is no state with the energy of that state and that in fact the ground state is [tex]\psi_1(x_1)\psi_2(x_2)-\psi_2(x_1)\psi_1(x_2)[/tex].

The state I gave seems to be (1) antisymmetric, (2) an eigenstate of the Hamiltonian, and (3) have lower energy than the ground state given by Griffths.

Do you see a problem with ground state I gave?
 
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  • #2
You've put two fermions on the ground state of the potential, with their spin making up a singlet. I think your GS is fine. Griffith's solution may be referred to spinless particles.
 
  • #3
In the same line as jrlaguna said, fermions in QM just refers to particles with fermi-dirac statistics. The equivalence of spin1/2 particles and fermions are only in relativistic quantum field theory.
 

FAQ: Identical Fermions in an infinite square well

What are identical fermions in an infinite square well?

Identical fermions in an infinite square well refer to a theoretical model used in quantum mechanics to study the behavior of particles that follow the rules of Fermi-Dirac statistics. It involves a 1-dimensional potential well with infinite barriers, where identical fermions (particles with half-integer spin) are confined and interact with each other.

What is the significance of studying identical fermions in an infinite square well?

This model helps us understand the behavior of fermions in a confined space, which has implications in various fields such as solid-state physics, nuclear physics, and atomic physics. It also helps us understand the properties of matter at a microscopic level.

What are the main properties of identical fermions in an infinite square well?

The main properties include the exclusion principle, where no two identical fermions can occupy the same quantum state, and the degeneracy of energy levels, where multiple fermions can occupy the same energy level due to the infinite potential well.

How does the number of identical fermions affect the energy levels in an infinite square well?

As the number of identical fermions increases, the energy levels become more closely spaced, leading to a higher degeneracy. This is due to the exclusion principle, where each fermion must occupy a unique quantum state, leading to a more evenly distributed energy spacing.

Can identical fermions in an infinite square well exhibit wave-like behavior?

Yes, identical fermions can exhibit wave-like behavior in the infinite square well, as described by the Schrödinger equation. This allows us to predict the probability of finding a fermion at a certain position within the well, similar to the wave-like behavior of particles in the double-slit experiment.

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