A question regarding finite potential wells

In summary, the conversation is about potential wells with finite potential. The person is asking for clarification on how the waves would look like for different energy states in a potential well with infinite potential to the left and an increasing potential to the right. It is mentioned that the wave extends slightly into the areas of finite potential but rapidly dampens to zero. The person also asks for more details on the extension and how to determine wavelength and damping given an increasing potential.
  • #1
dogmatic
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0
Hi guys! This is my first post on Physics Forums even, and I have a question regarding potential wells with finite potential. I understand the infinite potential well but what if the well is finite? For example, if we a potential well with infinite potential to the left of 0, but with increasing potential (say linear with respect to x for simplicity) to the right, what would the waves look like for the different energy states? Are there even bound states or is it completely unbound? I'm having trouble thinking about this. Thanks in advance!
 
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  • #2
The "wave" extends slightly into the areas of finite potential, but damp rapidly to 0.
 
  • #3
Hi HallsofIvy. Thanks for the response. Could you be a little more specific on what the "extension" looks like? For the lowest energy state for example, would the wave just undergo half an oscillation then damp to zero? How could we determine wavelength, or the damping, etc. given an increasing potential?
 

Related to A question regarding finite potential wells

1. What is a finite potential well?

A finite potential well is a theoretical concept in physics and quantum mechanics that describes a potential energy barrier that has finite height and width. It is used to model the behavior of particles in confined spaces, such as atoms or molecules.

2. How does a finite potential well affect particle behavior?

A particle inside a finite potential well can either be trapped within the well, or it can escape if it has enough energy to overcome the potential barrier. This leads to interesting quantum effects, such as tunneling and energy quantization.

3. What are the applications of finite potential wells?

Finite potential wells have many applications in physics, particularly in the study of quantum mechanics and solid state physics. They are used to model the behavior of particles in nanoscale devices, such as transistors, and in understanding the properties of materials at the atomic level.

4. How is the behavior of particles inside a finite potential well calculated?

The behavior of particles inside a finite potential well is described by the Schrödinger equation, which is a fundamental equation in quantum mechanics. By solving this equation, we can determine the allowed energy levels and the probability of finding a particle at a certain location inside the well.

5. Are finite potential wells only found in theoretical models?

No, finite potential wells can also be found in real-world systems. For example, electrons in atoms can be thought of as being in a finite potential well due to the attractive force of the nucleus. Additionally, nanoscale devices, such as quantum dots, can also exhibit properties of finite potential wells.

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