Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / ib / Paper 3 / 8B / a

Inside the infinite square well, the time-independent Schrodinger equation is $-({\hslash }^2/(2m)){\psi }^{\prime \prime }=E\psi$. The infinite exterior potential imposes $\psi (0)=\psi (a)=0$. For $E>0$, the first condition leaves a sine and the second requires $ka=n\pi$. A zero or negative energy gives only the zero solution under these conditions. The normalized energy eigenstates and eigenvalues areThe wavefunctions vanish outside the well, and a constant phase is immaterial. Normalization uses ${\int }_0^a{\sin }^2(n\pi x/a)dx=a/2$.