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Tutorial 3: Quantum Mechanics

and Particle Physics

(x)

Question 1. [Particle in an Infinite Potential Box]

Consider a particle of mass m that is confined to a one-dimensional
box of length L in quantum theory.
(a) What are the allowed wavelengths a particle wave function y can
take in the box? Express your answer in terms of the quantum number
n, where n = 1,2,3, . . .
(b) What are then the allowed momenta and energies of the particle?
(c) Suppose the particle is in the n = 4 state, which parts of the box is
it most likely to be found, and which parts is it least likely to be
found?

( x)

2
n x
sin
; n 1, 2, 3 ...
L L

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Allowed wavelengths:

2L
n

Allowed momentum:

h
pn

Allowed energies:

p n2
1 nh
En

2m 2m 2 L

pn

nh
2L

n2h2

; n 1, 2, 3 ...
8 mL 2

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Wave function for a particle in an infinite well (n=4 case):

L 3L 5 L 7 L
, , ,
8 8 8 8
L L 3L
,L
Positions least likely to find the particle: x 0, , ,
4 2 4

Positions most likely to find the particle: x

Question 2. [Hydrogen Atom]

The 1s, 2s and 3s orbitals of the hydrogen atom have been
discussed in lecture.
(a) Based on these examples, guess the shape of the 4s orbital and
then sketch or otherwise describe it.
(b) Using your results in (a), qualitatively plot the probability ||2
against radial distance r from the centre of the atom.

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1s orbital: the highest probability region to find electrons is at r = r1

(the first allowed radius in the Bohr model)

2s orbital: the highest probability region to find electrons are

r r1 (the first allowed radius in the Bohr model)
r r2 (the second allowed radius in the Bohr model)

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3s orbital

4s orbital

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Leptons (light): electron, muon, neutrino,

Mesons (middle): pion, kaon,
Baryons (heavy): proton, neutron, , , ,

Example of Baryon

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Leptons interact via electroweak (electromagnetic + weak)

force, but do not interact in strong force!

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Consider the elementary particle interactions below and, for each one, state
whether or not it can occur and, if not, explain what rules or principles
forbid it (if there is more than one rule, mention all). Do not forget
conservation of energy!

Not all particles that appear above will be familiar to you from lecture so
make sure to look up anything you havent seen. The particle listings at
http://pdg.lbl.gov are an excellent authoritative resource freely available
from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California.

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This interaction is allowed fundamentally.

No violation of conservation law. However, the

interaction is still not allowed fundamentally
(except electron is really carries a lot of KE) as
muon is much massive than electron.

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This interaction is not allowed fundamentally.

The interaction is allowed fundamentally as

strangeness is not conserved in weak interaction!

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