Electron on Helium Surface

An electron close to the surface of liquid helium experiences an attractive force due to the electrostatic polarization of the helium and a repulsive force due to the exclusion principle(hard core). To a reasonable approximation for the potential when helium fills the space where Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle z<0 } :

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle V(z) = \begin{cases} -\frac{Q^2e^2}{z} &\mbox{if} \qquad z>0\\ \infty &\mbox{if} \qquad else \end{cases} }

Note: the potential is infinite when Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle z<=0} because the cannot penetrate the helium surface.

(a) Solve the Schrödinger equation. Find the Eingenenergies and Eigenvalues.

(b) An electric field is turned on at t=0 which produces the perturbation:

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle V(z) = \begin{cases} eE_0ze^{t/\tau} &\mbox{if} \qquad t>=0\\ 0 &\mbox{if} \qquad else \end{cases} }

If the electron is initially in its ground state, find the probability makes a transition to its first excited state for times Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle t >> \tau } .

Solution...

(a) Solve the Schrödinger equation.

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle H = -\frac{\hbar^2}{2m}\nabla^2 + V(z) }

The Schrödinger equation for when Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle z>0} is:

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \left[ \frac{\hbar^2}{2m} \left( \frac{\partial ^2}{\partial x^2} + \frac{\partial ^2}{\partial y^2} + \frac{\partial ^2}{\partial z^2} \right) -\frac{Q^2e^2}{z} \right] \psi (\mathbf{r}) = E\psi (\mathbf{r}) }

Using separation of variables:

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \psi (x,y,z) = X(x)Y(y)Z(z) }

For X and Y we get place waves.

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle X(x)Y(y) = Ae^{i(k_x x + k_y y)} }

This corresponds to motion parallel to the helium surface.

For z-component the Schroedinger equation becomes:

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \left[ \frac{\hbar^2}{2m}\frac{\partial ^2}{\partial z^2} - \frac{Q^2e^2}{z} \right] Z(z) = }

This has the same form as the same form as the hydrogin atom with l=0 (s-wave). Since similar equations have similar answers, the solution to the z-component is:

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle Z(z) = zR_{n0}(z) }

where

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle R_{10} = \left( \frac{1}{a_0} \right) ^{3/2} z e^{ -\frac{z}{a_0} } }

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle R_{20} = \left( \frac{1}{2a_0} \right) ^{3/2} \left( 2-\frac{z}{a_0} \right) e^{ -\frac{z}{2a_0} } }

The total wave function and energies are:

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \psi = Ae^{i(k_x x + k_y y)}zR_{n0}(z) }

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle E_{k_xK_yK_z} = \frac{\hbar^2}{2m} \left( k_x^2 + k_y^2 \right) -\frac{Q^4e^4m}{2\hbar^2n^2} }

where n = 1,2,... is the quantum number for the z-direction and the bohr radius has become

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle a_0 = \frac{hbar^2}{mQ^2e^2} }