3.II.16A

Quantum Mechanics
Part IB, 2008

What is the probability current for a particle of mass mm, wavefunction ψ\psi, moving in one dimension?

A particle of energy EE is incident from x<0x<0 on a barrier given by

V(x)={0x0V10<x<aV0xaV(x)=\left\{\begin{array}{cc} 0 & x \leqslant 0 \\ V_{1} & 0<x<a \\ V_{0} & x \geqslant a \end{array}\right.

where V1>V0>0V_{1}>V_{0}>0. What are the conditions satisfied by ψ\psi at x=0x=0 and x=ax=a ? Write down the form taken by the wavefunction in the regions x0x \leqslant 0 and xax \geqslant a distinguishing between the cases E>V0E>V_{0} and E<V0E<V_{0}. For both cases, use your expressions for ψ\psi to calculate the probability currents in these two regions.

Define the reflection and transmission coefficients, RR and TT. Using current conservation, show that the expressions you have derived satisfy R+T=1R+T=1. Show that T=0T=0 if 0<E<V00<E<V_{0}.