The double-well potential in quantum mechanics: a simple, numerically exact formulation

DOI10.1088/0143-0807/33/6/1651zbMATH Open1277.81045arXiv1209.2521OpenAlexW2015134266WikidataQ99713281 ScholiaQ99713281MaRDI QIDQ2867199FDOQ2867199

Authors: V. Jelic, F. Marsiglio 

Publication date: 10 December 2013

Published in: European Journal of Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: The double well potential is arguably one of the most important potentials in quantum mechanics, because the solution contains the notion of a state as a linear superposition of `classical' states, a concept which has become very important in quantum information theory. It is therefore desirable to have solutions to simple double well potentials that are accessible to the undergraduate student. We describe a method for obtaining the numerically exact eigenenergies and eigenstates for such a model, along with the energies obtained through the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) approximation. The exact solution is accessible with elementary mathematics, though numerical solutions are required. We also find that the WKB approximation is remarkably accurate, not just for the ground state, but for the excited states as well.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1209.2521

Recommendations

• Solution of the Schrödinger equation for parabolic double-well potential
• DOUBLE WELL POTENTIAL: PERTURBATION THEORY, TUNNELING, WKB (BEYOND INSTANTONS)
• Exactly solvable piecewise analytic double well potential VD(x) = min[(x + d)2, (x − d)2] and its dual single well potential VS(x) = max[(x + d)2, (x − d)2]
• Heun functions and quasi-exactly solvable double-well potentials
• Excited-state energy eigenvalue and wave-function evaluation of the Gaussian symmetric double-well potential problem via numerical shooting method. I

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Closed and approximate solutions to the Schrödinger, Dirac, Klein-Gordon and other equations of quantum mechanics (81Q05) Semiclassical techniques, including WKB and Maslov methods applied to problems in quantum theory (81Q20) Software, source code, etc. for problems pertaining to quantum theory (81-04)

Cited In (27)

• Approaching certain central-field Schrödinger problems through the harmonic oscillator Green's function
• DOUBLE WELL POTENTIAL: PERTURBATION THEORY, TUNNELING, WKB (BEYOND INSTANTONS)
• Unbiased Estimation Using Underdamped Langevin Dynamics
• Unbiased estimation using a class of diffusion processes
• Calculating bound states resonances and scattering amplitudes for arbitrary 1D potentials with piecewise parabolas
• Solution of the Schrödinger equation for parabolic double-well potential
• Energy splitting in a finite periodic multiple-well potential
• Motion in an asymmetric double well
• On the calculation of bound-state energies supported by hyperbolic double well potentials
• Manifestation of classical instability in the quantum density of states of a double well potential
• Coherent destruction of tunnelling in a symmetrical double well driven by a series of time dependent δ functions
• Numerical simulation of quantum anharmonic oscillator, embedded within an infinite square well potential, by matrix methods using Gnumeric spreadsheet
• Numerical methods for the mean exit time and escape probability of two-dimensional stochastic dynamical systems with non-Gaussian noises
• Information entropy as a measure of tunneling and quantum confinement in a symmetric double-well potential
• Low-lying states of two-dimensional double-well potentials
• Exactly solvable piecewise analytic double well potential VD(x) = min[(x + d)2, (x − d)2] and its dual single well potential VS(x) = max[(x + d)2, (x − d)2]
• The ‘flea on the elephant’ effect
• Excited-state energy eigenvalue and wave-function evaluation of the Gaussian symmetric double-well potential problem via numerical shooting method. I
• Double exponential sinc-collocation method for solving the energy eigenvalues of harmonic oscillators perturbed by a rational function
• Double well potential function and its optimization in the \(N\)-dimensional real space. I
• A two-dimensional ``flea on the elephant phenomenon and its numerical visualization
• An alternative approach to energy eigenvalue problems of anharmonic potentials
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• The quantum Zeno effect in double well tunnelling
• Excited-state energy eigenvalue and wave-function evaluation of the Gaussian asymmetric double-well potential problem via numerical shooting method 2
• Extensions of the Bohr–Sommerfeld formula to double-well potentials
• An exactly soluble model of a shallow double well

This page was built for publication: The double-well potential in quantum mechanics: a simple, numerically exact formulation

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q2867199)