Reflection from Wells and Barriers
What we have done so far applies also to waves
in quantum mechanics provided we keep in mind the fact that the
waves are complex and we are plotting only their real or imaginary
parts. Waves in quantum mechanics have an additional property which mechanical
waves and optical waves (at least at normal incidence) do not: the k-vector
can be an imaginary quantity, i.e. its square can be negative. Our complex
algebra has no problem treating k as imaginary - it is the physical
significance of an imaginary k-vector that is the problem. Consider the
following situation: a wave is travelling along a long string. A segment of the
string one wavelength long is replaced by a piece with a linear mass
density that is different - either heavier or lighter. A heavier segment will
have a higher k (shorter wavelength) and a lighter segment will have a
lower k (longer wavelength). We can calculate the amplitude of the
transmitted wave and plot it as a function of the square of the k ratio.
This is what is done in the next example.
The "in" and "out" labels on k anticipate the quantum application -
for the string "in" is the segment and "out" is the rest of the string.
Whenever the k-ratio is an integer or half integer an integral
number of half-wavelengths fit into the inserted segment and there is no
reflection. Note that as the ratio tends to zero the transmitted amplitude
decreases, but does not go to zero. The values plotted in the negative region
are those resulting from the algebra with an imaginary value for the
k-ratio. These values have no physical significance for the string - the
mass of the inserted segment cannot be less than zero. Quantum mechanics
differs from classical mechanics in that it allows kinetic energy to have a
negative value, so the negative region is physically significant. The next
example explores the significance of the negative region by looking at the
point at -.25 (k-ratio i/2).
The wave "tunnels" through the region of negative kinetic energy and a
small fraction appears on the far side as a transmitted wave. Amusing though the
example may be, it is somewhat misleading. What is plotted is the real (or
imaginary) part of the wavefunction. This is done so we can see our
boundary-condition matching algebra in action. Waves in quantum mechanics are
complex, and neither the modulus of the wavefunction nor its square, the
probability density, is time dependent. The probability density exhibits
standing waves in the incident region, but has no
spatial dependence in the transmission region.