English

Particle in a box with a delta-function potential: strong and weak coupling limits

Other Condensed Matter 2009-07-21 v2 Physics Education

Abstract

A particle in a one-dimensional delta-function potential and particle in a box are two well-known pedagogical examples; their combination, particle in a box with a delta-function potential V_\lambda(x)=\lambda\delta(x-x_0), too, has been recently explored. We point out that it provides a unique example that is solvable in the weak (\lambda->0) and the strong (1/\lambda->0) coupling limits. In either limit, the attractive and repulsive potentials lead to identical spectra, with the possible exception of a single negative-energy state that is present when the potential is attractive. We numerically obtain the spectra near the strong-coupling limit and discuss the consequences of the degeneracy that arises when 1/|\lambda|=0.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0901.3155,
  title  = {Particle in a box with a delta-function potential: strong and weak coupling limits},
  author = {Yogesh N. Joglekar},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0901.3155},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

minor corrections; a module for numerical results is http://demonstrations.wolfram.com/ParticleInABoxSpectraForDeltaFunctionPerturbation/

R2 v1 2026-06-21T12:03:01.542Z