Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2002/ib/paper-1/18d/c/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2002 ib Paper 1 18D c Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
For the symmetric double-delta potential, take an odd state at , . On odd parity selects . For , decay and continuity give ; extend to negative by oddness. At the jump condition isFor a nonzero state this means , and thereforeOddness makes the jump at follow automatically: both its derivative jump and its required wavefunction value have the corresponding opposite signs.
There is a positive solution precisely when . To see this, rewrite the equation asThe right side decreases strictly from to zero as increases from zero to infinity: its derivative has the sign of . Hence for there is exactly one positive solution, while is a nonnormalizable zero-energy threshold and gives no odd bound state. This verifies the stated sufficiently-small- condition and identifies its exact boundary, consistent with the odd bound state of a symmetric double-delta potential.
New to topics? Read the docs here!