Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 40 - One-Dimensional Quantum Mechanics - Exercises and Problems - Page 1213: 21

Answer

a) ${\bf 4.95}\;\rm eV $ b) ${\bf 4.80 }\;\rm eV $ c) ${\bf 4.55 }\;\rm eV $

Work Step by Step

We know that the probability that an electron will tunnel is given by $$P_{\text{tunnel}} = e^{-2w/\eta} $$ where $\eta = \dfrac{\hbar}{\sqrt{2m(U_0 - E)}} $ , so $$P_{\text{tunnel}} = e^\left[\dfrac{-2w\sqrt{2m(U_0 - E)}}{\hbar} \right] $$ Taking the natural logarithm. $$\ln(P_{\text{tunnel}}) = \dfrac{-2w\sqrt{2m(U_0 - E)}}{\hbar} $$ Solving for $E$ since we need to find the electron energy. $$\dfrac{\hbar\; \ln(P_{\text{tunnel}})}{-2w} = \sqrt{2m(U_0 - E)}$$ Squaring both sides $$\dfrac{\hbar^2\; \ln(P_{\text{tunnel}})^2}{4w^2} = 2m(U_0 - E) $$ $$U_0 - E=\dfrac{\hbar^2\; \ln(P_{\text{tunnel}})^2}{8mw^2} $$ Thus, $$ E=U_0 -\dfrac{\hbar^2\; \ln(P_{\text{tunnel}})^2}{8mw^2} $$ Plug the known; $$\boxed{ E=(5\times 1.6\times 10^{-19})-\dfrac{(1.05\times 10^{-34})^2\; \ln(P_{\text{tunnel}})^2}{8(9.11\times 10^{-31})(1\times 10^{-9})^2}} $$ $$\color{blue}{\bf [a]}$$ when $P_{\text{tunnel}}=10\%=0.1$, plug into the boxed formula, $$ E=(5\times 1.6\times 10^{-19})-\dfrac{(1.05\times 10^{-34})^2\; \ln(0.1)^2}{8(9.11\times 10^{-31})(1\times 10^{-9})^2} $$ $$E=\bf 7.92 \times 10^{-19}\;\rm J=\color{red}{\bf 4.95}\;\rm eV $$ $$\color{blue}{\bf [b]}$$ when $P_{\text{tunnel}}=1\%=0.01$, plug into the boxed formula, $$ E=(5\times 1.6\times 10^{-19})-\dfrac{(1.05\times 10^{-34})^2\; \ln(0.01)^2}{8(9.11\times 10^{-31})(1\times 10^{-9})^2} $$ $$E=\bf 7.68 \times 10^{-19}\;\rm J=\color{red}{\bf 4.80 }\;\rm eV $$ $$\color{blue}{\bf [c]}$$ when $P_{\text{tunnel}}=0.1\%=0.001$, plug into the boxed formula, $$ E=(5\times 1.6\times 10^{-19})-\dfrac{(1.05\times 10^{-34})^2\; \ln(0.001)^2}{8(9.11\times 10^{-31})(1\times 10^{-9})^2} $$ $$E=\bf 7.28 \times 10^{-19}\;\rm J=\color{red}{\bf 4.55 }\;\rm eV $$
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