A continuum limit for the Kronig-Penney model

Abstract

We investigate the transmission properties of a quantum one-dimensional periodic system of fixed length $L$, with $N$ barriers of constant height $V$ and width $λ$, and $N$ wells of width $δ$. In particular, we study the behaviour of the transmission coefficient in the limit $N\to \infty$, with $L$ fixed. This is achieved by letting $δ$ and $λ$ both scale as $1/N$, in such a way that their ratio $γ= λ/δ$ is a fixed parameter characterizing the model. In this continuum limit the multi-barrier system behaves as it were constituted by a unique barrier of constant height $E_o=(γV)/(1+γ)$. The analysis of the dispersion relation of the model shows the presence of forbidden energy bands at any finite $N$.