Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2002 ib Paper 1 18D c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 ib Paper 1 15B b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-05
A bound state has and , since outside the delta potentials a square-integrable solution must decay exponentially. The wavefunction is continuous at each delta: a jump would produce a delta derivative in with no matching term in the equation. Integrating the Time-independent Schrodinger equation across either givesThe symmetry of the symmetric double-delta potential permits even and odd solutions. Up to a nonzero normalization factor, the even candidate is for , and outside. Its derivative jump at givesThe odd candidate is inside and outside. Its jump givesParity ensures the jump at as well. Put and . The continuous strictly increasing function ranges from to infinity, so there is exactly one even bound state for every . The continuous strictly increasing function ranges from to infinity, so the odd bound state of a symmetric double-delta potential exists if and only if . Strict increase follows from the allowed monotonicity facts plus the strictly increasing term . ThereforeAt equality the odd limiting solution has and is not square integrable, so it is not a bound state. No nonnegative energy can supply another full-line square-integrable state, since its exterior solutions are oscillatory or affine.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2020 ii Paper 1 35C Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
In the Parity basis of a one-dimensional S-matrix, parity acts as . Parity invariance requiresand thereforeIndependently, unitarity givesCombining parity and unitarity leaves two phases,
For the symmetric double-delta potential, consider the odd channel on . Choose the asymptotic conventionand write for ; the sine enforces odd parity at the origin. Continuity and the delta potential derivative jump at giveEliminating yields the Odd-parity S-matrix of a symmetric double-delta potentialUsing rewrites this as the requested expressionFor real , the two factors in the ratio are complex conjugates, directly confirming .
A bound state occurs at a pole , . Setting the denominator to zero givesorFor , write . The right-hand side is increasing and concave, starts at zero with slope , and approaches , whereas the left-hand side is the straight line . A positive intersection therefore exists exactly whenThis is the odd bound state of a symmetric double-delta potential; equality is its zero-energy threshold.
For , analytically continue the same pole equation into the lower half of the complex -plane. PutIt becomesWhen , the lowest odd mode lies near the hard-wall value . Writing and expanding givessoIn particular, the odd resonance of a strongly repulsive symmetric double-delta potential hasThe negative imaginary part identifies a decaying scattering resonance. Ifthen, to leading nonzero order,Its time-dependent amplitude is proportional toso its survival probability decays as and its lifetime isPhysically, this is the lowest odd standing wave trapped for a long time between two strong repulsive barriers and leaking out by quantum tunnelling.