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Comparing classical and quantum probability distributions for an asymmetric infinite well

M A Doncheski-+ and R W Robinett++

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We compare the classical and quantum mechanical position-space probability densities for a particle in an asymmetric infinite well. In an idealized system with a discontinuous step in the middle of the well, the classical and quantum probability distributions agree fairly well, even for relatively small quantum numbers, except for anomalous cases which arise due to the unphysical nature of the potential. We are able to derive upper and lower bounds on the differences between the quantum and classical results. We also qualitatively discuss the momentum-space probability densities for this system using intuitive ideas about the amount of time a classical particle spends in various parts of the well. This system provides an excellent example of a non-trivial, but tractable, quantum mechanical bound state problem where the correlations between the amplitude and curvature of quantum mechanical wavefunctions can be easily compared to classical intuition about particle motion, with quantitative success, but also warning of possible surprises in non-physical limiting cases.


PACS

03.65.Ge Solutions of wave equations: bound states

45.05.+x General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems

Subjects

Mathematical physics

Quantum information and quantum mechanics

Dates

Issue 3 (May 2000)

Received 17 November 1999, in final form 11 February 2000



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