Lowest parity states of a symmetric double well (source code)

= Lowest parity states of a symmetric double well
{title2=$\Phi_\pm=(\phi_L\pm\phi_R)/\sqrt{2(1\pm s)}$}

For normalized localized states related by reflection and real overlap $s=\langle\phi_L|\phi_R\rangle$, the displayed superpositions are normalized even and odd states. The even state is lower for the lowest tunnelling pair; the odd state has one central node. Small overlap explains nearly identical probability densities in the two distant wells, but the relative phase remains different. A localized one-well state is a superposition of the pair rather than an exact stationary parity eigenstate.