Introduction

Suppose we consider the similar particle as in chapter but this time it is constrained to shift in a rectangular box of dimensions a, b and c in length. Within the box (i.e. between x= 0 and a; y = 0 and b and z = 0 and c), the potential energy is zero. At the walls and everywhere outside the box, the potential is.

Definition of Particle in a Three-Dimensional Box

The Schrodinger wave equation for 3 dimensional (3D) box is

    δ²φ/δx² + δ²φ/δy² + δ²φ/δz² + 8 π²m/h²(E-V) φ =0

where   and V are  (x,y,z).

since V = 0 inside the box, then the equation becomes

 δ²φ/δx² + δ²φ/δy² + δ²φ/δz² + 8 π²m/h²Eφ=0

Equation may be solved by writing the wave function as the product of 3 functions, each depending on one coordinate.

φ(x, y, z) = X(x)Y(y)Z(z)

differentiating equation gives

     δφ/δx = Y (y) Z (z) δx/δx

     δ²φ/δx²= Y (y) Z(z)  δ²x/δx²

and by a similar reasoning

      δ²φ/δy² = X (x)Z(z) δ²y/δy²   

       δ²φ/δz² = X(x)Y(y) δ²z/δz²

Y(y)Z(z)δ²x/δx² + X(x)Z(z) ) δ²y/δy² + X(x)Y(y) δ²z/δz² + 8 π²m/h² EX(x)Y(y)Z(z) = 0 dividing all through by Y(y)X(x)Z(z) one obtains

    -h²/8 π² m* 1/X(x) δ²x/δx² +1/Y(y) * δ²y/δy²   + 1/Z(z) δ²z/δz² = E

We can write the energy as the sum of three contributions associated with the coordinates.

E = E_x + E_y + E_z 

using equation, we can divide the expression attained into 3 equations.

-h²/8 π² m *1/x δ²x/δx² = E_x

-h²/8 π² m *1/y δ²y/δy² = E_y   

-h²/8 π² m *1/z δ²z/δz² = E_z

Each of the last three equations is similar to the expression for the particle in  a  one-dimensional  box  discussed  in  chapter.  Hence their solutions are respectively:

X = [√(²/a)]sin nπx/a

En,x =  n²_xh²/8ma²

Y =  [√(2/b)]sin nπy/b

E_n,y  = n²_y h²/ 8mb²

 X = [√(²/c)] sin nπx/c

E_n,z =  n²_z h²/ 8mc²

Where a, b, c are length in x, y, z directions, correspondingly. Also, nx, ny, nz are the quantum numbers correspondingly.

Since φ (x, y, z) = X(x)Y(y)Z(z) and E = E_x  + E_y + E_z, then 

ψ (x,y,z) = √a/v sin(nπx/a) sin(nπy/b) sin(nπz/c)  

where V is the volume of the box.

E_x,y,z  =  h²/δm * n²_x/a² + n²_y/b² [+ n²_z/c²]

Whenever the three dimensional box has geometrical symmetry, more interesting results are often obtained. For example, in a cubic box, a = b =c, thus equation becomes

E = h²/ φm(n²_x + n²_y + n²_z)

Suppose n_x =3, n_y = n_z =2, then

Ψ(x,y,z) = [/(8/v)] sin3πx/a* sin2πy/a*sin2πz/a]

 E =  h²/8ma²(3² + 2²+ 2²) =  17h²/8ma²

Assuming we have another set of values n_x =2, n_y =3, n_z  =2, then

Ψ(x,y,z) = [/(8/v )]sin 2πx/a sin3πy/a  sin2πz/a 

E =   h²/8ma² (2² + 3²+ 2²) = 17h²/8ma²

Suppose n_x =2, n_y =2, n_z =3, then

Ψ(x,y,z) = [/( 8/v)]sin2πx/a sin2πy/a sin3πz/a

E = h²/8ma²(2² + 2²+ 3²) = 17h²/8ma²

Even though such states are different, the values of the energies are the same. The three states are said to be degenerate since they have equal energy.

For a situation where nx = ny = nz = 1, it corresponds to only one state of the system. The same is true of nx = ny = nz = 2, but situations such as nx ≠ ny = nz three degenerate states are obtained as shown in the Figure below.

Fig: Quantized Energy Levels of a Particle in a Cubic Box

Suppose we wish to calculate the transition energy between the levels E2,2.2  and E3,2,1  then the energy difference is calculated as

ΔE = hν = 14h²/8ma² - 12h²/8ma² = 2h²/8ma² = h²/4ma²

Given suitable data, it should be possible for us to calculate the frequency (ν) of the transition between the two states.

Zero point energy

According the old quantum theory, the energy level of a harmonic oscillator is E = hv.

The lowest energy level via n = 0 would have zero energy. Depend on the wave treatment of the system, the energy level corresponds to the state with quantum numbers n_x = n_y =  n_z =1. The dissimilarity between such 2 values is termed the zero point energy.

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