Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
2 2 2 2m
2 2 2 2 E ( x, y, z ) 0...............................(1)
x y z
After solving and putting boundary condition similar to 1D box we get following energy eigen
values
2 2 2
E n
nx n y nz 2 2 ..................................(2)
8mL2
where
2
n2 n n n
2 2
x y z
WAVE FUNCTIONS
The wave function of a particle in 3D box whose energy is E are obtained in similar fashion as
in 1D box and are
2
3/ 2
n n y n
n sin x x . sin y . sin z z ....................(3)
x n y nz
L L L L
This gives a more physically realistic expression for the available energies and wave functions
for contained particles. This expression is used in determining the density of possible energy
states for electrons in solids.
Degeneracy or Degenerate states:
9 2 2
En 2
..................................(2)
8mL
where
9 1 2 2
2 2 2
This means that for three different sets of quantum numbers we get same eigen values of energy.
1 2 2
1, 2, 2 A sin x . sin y . sin z ....................(3a)
L L L
2 1 2
2,1, 2 A sin x . sin y . sin z ....................(3b)
L L L
2 2 1
2, 2,1 A sin x . sin y . sin z ....................(3c)
L L L
Thus for the same energy eigen value there corresponds three different eigen
functions. Such functions are called degenerate functions and this is termed as
3- fold degeneracy.
This concept is used to explain the splitting on spectral lines in atom i.e. fine structure of spectral
lines.