= First-order parity selection in an infinite well
For $0<x<w$, normalized states $\psi_n=\sqrt{2/w}\sin[(n+1)\pi x/w]$ have centre-reflection eigenvalue $(-1)^n$. Since $x-w/2$ is odd, off-diagonal electric-dipole matrix elements vanish between equal-parity states. Ground state n=0 cannot reach n=2 at first order; an initial n=1 can reach even labels including n=0. This does not impose an all-orders prohibition: two dipole interactions can restore the original parity. The general nonzero elements follow from <position matrix elements in a symmetric infinite square well> after shifting the origin.
Back to article page
