Skip to main content
Question Protected by Qmechanic
added 48 characters in body; edited tags
Source Link
Qmechanic
  • 213.1k
  • 48
  • 590
  • 2.3k

The wave function outside an infinite well is zero, owing to the fact that we assume particles to have finite energies. But in the case of a delta function potentialdelta function potential $\delta(x-a)$, the wave function is non-zero at the point $a$.

To find the states of a delta function, we use the continuity of the wave function and the discontinuity of it's first derivative. Why don't we set the wave function to zero at $a$?

The wave function outside an infinite well is zero, owing to the fact that we assume particles to have finite energies. But in the case of a delta function potential $\delta(x-a)$, the wave function is non-zero at the point $a$.

To find the states of a delta function, we use the continuity of the wave function and the discontinuity of it's first derivative. Why don't we set the wave function to zero at $a$?

The wave function outside an infinite well is zero, owing to the fact that we assume particles to have finite energies. But in the case of a delta function potential $\delta(x-a)$, the wave function is non-zero at the point $a$.

To find the states of a delta function, we use the continuity of the wave function and the discontinuity of it's first derivative. Why don't we set the wave function to zero at $a$?

Source Link
Sidd
  • 1.2k
  • 9
  • 23

Why is the wave function inside a delta potential non-zero?

The wave function outside an infinite well is zero, owing to the fact that we assume particles to have finite energies. But in the case of a delta function potential $\delta(x-a)$, the wave function is non-zero at the point $a$.

To find the states of a delta function, we use the continuity of the wave function and the discontinuity of it's first derivative. Why don't we set the wave function to zero at $a$?