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Question

A particle of mass $m$ is confined in a two dimensional square well potential of dimension $a$. This potential $V(x,y)$ is given by
$V(x,y)=0$ for $-a<x<a$ and $-a<y<a$
$= \infty$ elsewhere
The energy of the first excited state for this particle is given by,

The correct answer is
$\frac{5\pi^2\hbar^2}{2ma^2}$

2D Square Well Particle Energy Basics

The problem asks for the energy of the first excited state of a particle with mass $m$ confined to a two-dimensional square well potential. The energy levels in such a system are determined by the well's dimensions and quantum numbers.

Energy Formula Calculation

The energy eigenvalues for a particle in a 2D square well of side length $L$ are given by:

$ E_{n_x, n_y} = \frac{\pi^2\hbar^2}{2mL^2} (n_x^2 + n_y^2) $

Where $\hbar$ is the reduced Planck constant, and $n_x, n_y$ are positive integers ($n_x \ge 1, n_y \ge 1$) representing the quantum states. To match the provided options, we interpret the well dimension 'a' in the question as the side length, so $L=a$.

First Excited State Energy Derivation

We calculate the energies for the lowest quantum states:

  • Ground State ($n_x=1, n_y=1$): This is the state with the minimum energy. $ E_{1,1} = \frac{\pi^2\hbar^2}{2ma^2} (1^2 + 1^2) = \frac{\pi^2\hbar^2}{2ma^2} (2) = \frac{\pi^2\hbar^2}{ma^2} $
  • First Excited State: The next energy level corresponds to the first excited state. This occurs for the quantum number combinations $(n_x=1, n_y=2)$ and $(n_x=2, n_y=1)$. These states are degenerate (have the same energy). $ E_{1,2} = E_{2,1} = \frac{\pi^2\hbar^2}{2ma^2} (1^2 + 2^2) = \frac{\pi^2\hbar^2}{2ma^2} (1 + 4) = \frac{5\pi^2\hbar^2}{2ma^2} $

Final Energy Result

The energy of the first excited state is $\frac{5\pi^2\hbar^2}{2ma^2}$.

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Important Questions from Schrödinger Equation 1D Potentials Harmonic Oscillator

  1. The wavefunction of a particle in an infinite one-dimensional potential well at time $t$ is 
    $\Psi(x, t) = \sqrt{\frac{2}{3}} e^{-iE_1t/\hbar}\psi_1(x) + \frac{1}{\sqrt{6}} e^{i\pi/6}e^{-iE_2t/\hbar}\psi_2(x) + \frac{1}{\sqrt{6}} e^{i\pi/4}e^{-iE_3t/\hbar}\psi_3(x)$ 
    where $\psi_1, \psi_2$ and $\psi_3$ are the normalized ground state, the normalized first excited state and the normalized second excited state, respectively. $E_1, E_2$ and $E_3$ are the eigen-energies corresponding to $\psi_1, \psi_2$ and $\psi_3$, respectively. The expectation value of energy of the particle in state $\Psi(x, t)$ is

  2. A particle is subjected to a potential 
    $V(x) = \begin{cases} \infty, & x \le 0 \\ V_0, & a \le x \le b \\ 0, & \text{elsewhere} \end{cases}$ 
    Here, $a > 0$ and $b > a$. If the energy of the particle $E < V_0$, which one of the following schematics is a valid quantum mechanical wavefunction ($\Psi$) for the system?

  3. The wavefunction for a particle is given by the form $e^{-(iax+\beta)}$, where $a$ and $\beta$ are real constants. In which one of the following potentials $V(x)$, the particle is moving?
  4. A particle of mass $m$ is moving in the potential 
    $V(x) = \begin{cases} V_0 + \frac{1}{2}m\omega_0^2x^2, & x > 0, \\ \infty, & x \le 0, \end{cases}$ 
    Figures P, Q, R and S show different combinations of the values of $\omega_0$ and $V_0$. 

    $E_j^{(P)}, E_j^{(Q)}, E_j^{(R)}$ and $E_j^{(S)}$ with $j = 0, 1, 2, ...$, are the eigen-energies of the $j$-th level for the potentials shown in figures P, Q, R and S, respectively. Which of the statement is/are true?

  5. Young's double slit experiment is performed using a beam of $C_{60}$ (fullerene) molecules, each molecule being made up of 60 carbon atoms. When the slit separation is 50 nm, fringes are formed on a screen kept at a distance of 1 m from the slits. Now, the experiment is repeated with $C_{70}$ molecules with a slit separation of 92.5 nm. The kinetic energies of both the beams are the same. The position of the 4th bright fringe for $C_{60}$ will correspond to the $n^{th}$ bright fringe for $C_{70}$. What is the value of $n$ (rounded off to the nearest integer) ?
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