Quantum Electronics I (2018 Spring) by Jiun-Yun Li

Problem Set # 2 Quantum mechanics +

Semiconductor Physics

 Due date: due before final report week

 Total credits = 4220 points

1. [Double potential barriers] (300%)

In Fig. 1, a double barrier potential is the fundamental unit of resonant
tunnel diode (RTD).
(a) By the same procedure in problem 4, write down
= =
=
= +
= +
Find M1, M2, … , M8, and M (180%)
(b) Since L = 0 (no incident wave from the right), we can write
down the transfer matrix as follows:
= → =
0
The transmission coefficient is
∗
1
( )= ∗
= ∗

For barrier width of 10 nm and V0 = 0.1 eV, please plot T(E) vs.
E for quantum well width of 2 nm, 5 nm, and 10 nm (120%)

Energy

Aeikx V0
Keikx

Beikx Leikx
x
-b -a a b
Fig. 1

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 Quantum Electronics I (2018 Spring) by Jiun-Yun Li

2. [Perturbation theory] (120%) ∞ ∞

Suppose we have an infinite square potential well (Fig. 2).
Now there exists a small energy bump
= ( − )
2
where  is a constant
(a) Find the first-order correction to the original unperturbed
energies. (60%)
(b) Find the first three non-zero terms for the corrected
eigenfunction to the ground state. (60%) 0 a
Fig. 2
3. [Variational principle] (150%)
Apply the variational principle to estimate the ground state energy of a
particle in a 1D box where V = 0 for –a < x < a and  (a) = 0. Try
the following trial functions:
( + ) ≤0
(a) ( ) = (50%)
( − ) ≥0
−| | ≤| |≤
(b) ( ) = , where try b = 0 first, then
− | |≤
improve your answer by optimizing b. (100%)

4. [WKB Method] (1200%)

Consider the case of a symmetric double well, such as the one pictured
in Figure 4. We are interested in bound states with E < V(0).

Fig. 4

(a) Write down the WKB wave functions in regions (i) x > x2 (ii) x1 < x
< x2, and (iii) 0 < x < x1. Impose the appropriate connection formulas
at x1 and x2 , to show that

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 Quantum Electronics I (2018 Spring) by Jiun-Yun Li

ψ(x)
1
⎧ exp − | ( )| ,
⎪ ( ) ℏ
⎪
2 1
≅ sin − | ( )| + ,
⎨ ( ) ℏ 4
⎪ ( ) ( )
⎪ 2 ℏ∫ + ℏ∫ ,
⎩ ( )
where
1
θ≡ ( ) (4. a)
ℏ
(b) Because V(x) is symmetric, we need only consider even (+) and odd
(-) wave functions. In the former case (0) = 0, and in the latter
case (0) = 0. Show that this leads to the following quantization
condition:
= ±2 (4. b)
where
1
≡ | ( )| (4. c)
ℏ
(4.b) determines the (approximate) allowed energies (note that E
comes into x1 and x2, so θ and ϕ are both functions of E).
(c) We are particularly interested in a high and/or broad central barrier,
in which case is large, and is huge. Equation (4.b) then tells
us that θ must be very close to a half-integer multiple of π. With
this in mind, write = ( + 1/2) + , where | | ≪ 1, and show
that the quantization condition becomes
1 1
≅ + ∓
2 2
(d) Suppose each well is a parabola:
1
( + ) , <0
( )= 2
1
( − ) , >0
2
Sketch this potential, find (Equation 4.a), and show that

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 Quantum Electronics I (2018 Spring) by Jiun-Yun Li

± 1 ℏ
≅ + ℏ ∓
2 2
Comment: if the central barrier were impenetrable (ϕ → ∞ ), we
would simply have two detached harmonic oscillators, and the
energies, En = (n+1/2)ℏ , would be doubly degenerate, since the
particle could be in the left well or in the right one. When the barrier
becomes finite (putting the two wells into “communication”), the
degeneracy is lifted. The even states (ψ ) have slightly lower energy,
and the odd ones ( ) have slightly higher energy.
(e) Suppose the particle starts out in the right well – or, more precisely,
in a state of the form
1
Ψ(x, 0) = ( + )
√2
which, assuming the phases are picked in the “natural” way, will be
concentrated in the right well. Show that it oscillates back and forth
between the wells, with a period
2
τ=
(f) Calculate , for the specific potential in part (d), and show that for
V(0) >> E, ~ /ℏ

5. Kronig-Penny model (1000%)

In Fig. 3-11 (lecture note p. 99), assume free electron (m* = m0 =9.11 x
10-31 kg), please plot Fig. 3-12 and Fig. 3-13 in lecture note (word format)
or you can refer to slide 148 in handout (powerpoint version) for the
following cases:
(a) a = 10 nm, b = 1 nm, and V0 = 1 eV (250%)
(b) a = 1 nm, b = 10 nm, and V0 = 1 eV (250%)
(c) a = 10 nm, b = 1 nm, and V0 = 0.5 eV (250%)
(d) a = 10 nm, b = 1 nm, and V0 = 0.1 eV (250%)

6. [Nearly Free Electron Approximation] (1300%)

Consider a one-dimensional solid whose “empty lattice” E (n, k) is shown
in Fig. 5. We are interested in the evolution of the electronic states in this
solid as a weak periodic potential is introduced. Use appropriate

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 Quantum Electronics I (2018 Spring) by Jiun-Yun Li

perturbation theory (1st and 2nd order) to answer the following questions.
Let ( , ) , ( , ) , and ( , ) represent the wavefunction, energy,
and group velocity of electrons occupying a state (n, k), where n is index
and k is wave vector in 1st B.Z. Consider 6 specific k-values as indicated
in Fig. 1, where =0 = , = , = , = , and

n=3

n=2 = 16

n=1

k1 k2 k3 k4 k5 k6
k
Fig. 5 E-k relation Fig. 6 Kronig-Penney model

(a) (300%) Write down expression for ( , ) , ( , ) , and

( , ) for the states (n = 1, k5), (n = 2, k6), (n = 3, k6), assuming
no periodic potential is present (empty lattice or free electron)
(b) (400%) Assuming a periodic potential of the form ( ) =
ℏ
cos , where = is now introduced. How
much does this potential change E (n = 1, k5), E (n = 1, k6), E (n =
3, k6), v (n = 1, k6), v (n = 2, k5)? (Give the percentage change)
(c) (200%) For the potential of part (b), write the approximate
expressions for ( = 1, ) and ( = 2, ).
(d) (400%) Suppose that the periodic potential is that of the
Kronig-Penney model as shown in Fig. 6. What are the
percentage change in E (n = 1, k6), E (n = 2, k1), E (n = 3, k4), E (n
= 3, k6) with respect to the empty lattice energies. Assume =
ℏ
.