Exercises for Quantum Mechanics

(TFFY54)
Johan Henriksson and Patrick Norman
Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology,
Linkoping University, SE-581 83 Linkoping, Sweden
Spring Term 2007

1
we know that
For a Hermitian operator ,
Z
Z  

dr =

dr,

Show that

2
1

dr =

Z 

2 dr,

.
1 , 2 .

Hint: Consider a linear combination = c1 1 + c2 2 , where c1 , c2 C.

2
Consider a one-dimensional harmonic oscillator with mass m and characteristic
frequency . At time t = 0, the state is given by
1
(x) = (0 (x) + 1 (x)),
2
where n (x) are eigenstates to the Hamiltonian with energies En = ~(n+1/2).
Determine the time-dependent state vector (x, t) for t > 0.

3
Let (x) be a solution to the time-independent Schrodinger equation with a
potential V (x) that is symmetric with respect to the origin, i.e., V (x) = V (x).
a) Show that (x) also is a solution with the same energy eigenvalue.
b) If the energy levels are nondegenerate (i.e., there is at most one eigenfunction associated with a given energy), show that (x) = (x) or
(x) = (x), i.e., the eigenfunctions are either symmetric or antisymmetric with respect to the origin.

4
A particle (mass m) is incident from the left towards the potential step
(
0
x0
V (x) =
V0 x > 0
The energy of the particle is E = 2V0 , V0 > 0.
a) Solve the time-independent Schrodinger equation.
Note: Since the particle is unbounded it is not possible to normalize the
wave function.
b) Calculate the probability current density j.
c) Define and calculate the transmission T using the result in b).
d) Define and calculate the reflection R using the result in b).
e) Calculate R and T and check that R + T = 1.
1

5
Show that the expectation value of the momentum operator h
pi is real for the
wave packet
Z
1
eixp/~ (p) dp.
(x) =
2~

6
Determine the wave function in x-space corresponding to
a)
(k) =

(2)1/2
0

|k|
otherwise

b)


1
k2
(k) =
exp 2
2
2

7
Consider the time-dependent Schrodinger equation
i~

(r, t) = H(r,
t).
t

If the potential is time-independent, i.e., V (r) 6= V (r, t), show that it is possible
to find solutions separable in space and time, i.e., (r, t) = (r)f (t). Find the
explicit form of f (t) and show that (r) is a solution of an eigenvalue problem.

8
A particle of mass m in a one-dimensional box
(
0 0xa
V (x) =
otherwise
is in a mixed state composed of the ground state and the first excited state. The
normalized wave function can be written as
(x) = c1 1 (x) + c2 2 (x),
where c1 and c2 are constants and 1 (x) and 2 (x) are eigenfunctions corresponding to the ground state and the first excited state, respectively. The
2 2
average value of the energy is ma~2 . What can be said about c1 and c2 ?

If h||i
is real for all , show that
2 i = h2 ||
1 i
h1 ||
is Hermitian.
for all 1 and 2 . N.b., solve the problem without assuming that
Hint: Consider the linear combinations = 1 + 2 and = 1 + i2 , respectively.

10
Let {n } be a complete set of orthonormal functions which are solutions to the
n = En n . At t = 0 the system is
time-independent Schr
odinger equation H
described by the wave function
1
1
1
(x) = ei 1 (x) + ei 2 (x) + ei 3 (x).
2
3
6
a) Write down (x, t).
b) At time t a measurement of the energy of the system is performed. What
is the probability to obtain the result E2 ?

c) Calculate hHi
d) Is the mean value of the energy equal to any of the possible outcomes of
a measurement?

11
A particle of mass m is moving in the one-dimensional potential
(
0 0xa
V (x) =
.
otherwise
At a certain time the particle is in a state given by the wave function
(x) = N x(a x)
where N is a normalization constant.
a) Calculate the probability that a measurement of the energy yields the
ground state energy.
b) Calculate the probability that a measurement of the energy yields a result
2 2

between 0 and 3~
ma2 .

12
Consider a particle (mass m) in a one-dimensional box (0 x a). At time
t = 0, the particle is described by the wave function
"r

#
  r2
4
2
(x) = N
sin
x +
sin
x .
a
a
a
a
a) Determine N and (x, t).
b) Calculate hxit = h(x, t)|
x|(x, t)i.
Hint: sin() sin(4) = [cos(3) cos(5)]/2

13
Verify the following relations for matrix exponentials.
a) exp(A) = exp(A )
b) B exp(A)B1 = exp(BAB1 )
c) exp(A + B) = exp(A) exp(B) if [A, B] = 0
d) exp(A) exp(A) = 1
e)

d
d

exp(A) = A exp(A) = exp(A)A,

A 6= A()

f) exp(A)B exp(A) = B + [B, A] + 12 [[B, A], A] +

1
3! [[[B, A], A], A]

+ ...

Hint: Consider the Taylor expansion of exp(A)B exp(A) around = 0.

14
Define the trace of an operator as
=
Tr()

X
i

=
hi||ii

ii

and the density operator, commonly used in many applications, as = |ih|.

)
= Tr(
).

a) Show that Tr(

b) If the basis |ii is transformed by a unitary transformation, i.e., |i i = U|ii,

show that the trace of the operator is unchanged in the new basis.
c) Show that Tr(
) = 1.
d) Show that it is possible to use to express the expectation value of an
= Tr(

operator as hi
).
Comment: This means that expectation values of observables are not affected
by the choice of representation (basis) we make for our wave functions since the
trace is invariant under unitary transformations.
4

15
In a three-dimensional vector space, assume that we have found the commuting
and
corresponding to some physical observables. We choose a
operators
basis |ni, n = {1, 2, 3}, for which none of the operators are diagonal but given
by the matrix representations

3
i 2 i
2 0 i

1
= 0 1 0 and = i 2
2 .
2
2
i 0 2
i
2
3

a) Solve the eigenvalue problem |i

= |i to find which values of the
observable we can measure.

b) Since one eigenvalue is degenerated, the eigenstates are not uniquely defined through the eigenvalues . To resolve this problem, we can use the
Show that is block diagonal in the basis |i.
commuting operator .
c) Diagonalize the 2 2 block in to find a basis in which both and
are diagonal.
d) The pairs of eigenvalues |, i uniquely defines the eigenstates. Which are
the three pairs of eigenstates?
Comment: This exercise is closely related to real problems such as the hydrogen
atom where one of the observables usually is the Hamiltonian and you encounter
degenerate energy levels.

16

Consider a Hermitian operator .

is unitary.
a) Show that exp(i)
b) Given the result in a), show that a wave function normalized at t = t0 will
remain normalized at any t > t0 .
are orthogonal.
c) Show that nondegenerate eigenstates of
are real.
d) Show that eigenvalues and expectation values of

17
In a three-dimensional vector space the

2
=0
i

can be represented as
operator

0 i
1 0 .
0 2

Find the matrix representation of the operator

when squared yields the operator .

p
i.e., the operator which
,

18

Let U(a)
be a unitary operator defined as

U(a)
= eiap/~
,

where a is a real number of dimension length. Furthermore, define the transfor as

mation of an arbitrary operator
=U
(a)
U
(a).

a) What does this transformation correspond to in your laboratory?

Note: The wave function will be left unchanged in this case.
b) Determine the transformed coordinate and momentum operators x and p.
c) If you got the correct answers in b), it is trivial to determine the expectation values h
xi and h
pi. These averages should reflect your answer in a).
Determine these expectation values.
d) If we, instead of transforming the operators, transform our state vectors
according to
= U(a)|i,

|i

correspond to in your laboratory? Note that the observwhat does |i

i
= h||i.

ables, of course, will be unaltered, i.e., h||

19
A harmonic oscillator of mass m is in a state described by the wave function
i
i
1
1
(x, t) = ei 0 (x)e ~ E0 t + ei 1 (x)e ~ E1 t ,
2
2

where is a real constant, 0 and 1 are the ground and the first excited
states, respectively, and E0 and E1 are the corresponding energies. Determine
and x
the expectation values of H
.

20
Consider a harmonic oscillator of mass m with eigenstates |n i and energy levels
= p2 /2m + m 2 x
En = ~(n + 21 ). The Hamiltonian for this system is H
2 /2.
For this system, show that
 +
* 
 H

En
 
= n 
 n .
 

Comment: This is a direct result of the much more general HellmanFeynman

theorem in quantum mechanics.

21
A particle of mass m is located in the potential V (x) = m 2 x2 /2 . The particle
is not in a stationary state and is at time t = 0 described by the wave function
|(0)i =

n=0

cn |ni.

We can assume that the wave function is real at t = 0, i.e., all cn are real
numbers. Show that the time-dependent average value of the position h
xit is
h
xit = h
xit=0 cos t.
Comment: The average of the position is oscillating with a frequency (much
like a classical particle). The frequency is related to the energy in the usual
way, i.e., En = ~(n + 1/2).

22
Consider a one-dimensional harmonic oscillator (mass m) in state n .
a) Show that the uncertainty product in this state is given by


1
(x)n (p)n = n +
~, n = 0, 1, 2, . . .
2
b) What is so special with the case n = 0?
c) Show that
hTin = hV in =

1
1
En = hHi
n.
2
2

23

Consider a harmonic oscillator in the energy basis {|ni}, with H|ni

= En |ni
and En = ~(n + 1/2). In order to make a transition from energy basis to a
representation in ordinary space, n (x), we can exploit the properties of the
creation and annihilation operators, a
|0i = |1i and a
|1i = |0i, where




d
d
1
1

+
a
=
and a
=
.
d
d
2
2
Determine 0 () and 1 ().

24
A particle in a system with V (x) = V (x) is described by the wave function
(x) = 1/2 1/4 e

2 x2
2

If (x) is expanded in eigenfunctions to the Hamiltonian,

(x) =

cn n (x),

n=0

half of the coefficients can be determined using a simple symmetry argument.

How?

25
A particle is moving in a central potential, V (r), corresponding to a potential
function approaching zero as the distance r to the center approaches infinity.
The particle is in a stationary state where the time-independent part of the
wave function is given by
(x, y, z) = N xyer ,
where N is a normalization constant and is a given positive constant.
2 and L
z and state the
a) Calculate the possible results when measuring L
corresponding probabilities.
b) Determine the potential V (r).

26
A hydrogen atom is in the 2p state with ml = 0 and ms = 1/2. The system is
thus represented by the wave function
 
1 iE2 t/~
e
.
2,1,0, 21 (r, , , t) = R2,1 (r)Y1,0 (, )
0
At time t = 0, a measurement of the orbital angular momentum along the x-axis
is performed.
a) Motivate why the magnitude of the orbital angular momentum remains
unchanged by the measurement, i.e., the state at time t > 0 will still be
2 with eigenvalue l = 1.
an eigenstate of L
b) Determine the possible values and corresponding probabilities in the measurement performed at time t = 0.

27
a) For a centrosymmetric system with V = V (r), show that
z , V ] = 0 and [L
z , p2 ] = 0.
[L
=
b) Show furthermore that if H

p2
2m

+ V , it follows that

z , H]
= 0 and [L
2 , H]
= 0.
[L
c) What consequences do these results have?
8

28
2 .
For a system with l = 1, determine the matrix representation of L
x

29
Study a state |i given by hr, , |i = (r, , ) in coordinate basis. In this

basis, determine the transformed state ei0 Lz /~ |i.

Hint: The effect of Lz in the coordinate basis is i~/.

30
Consider (r, , ) = f (r) Yl,m (, ), where Yl,m (, ) is a spherical harmonic.
We want to make a simultaneous measurement of Lx and Ly , but an uncertainty
in the measurement is unavoidable.
a) Why?
b) For a given (fixed) value of the quantum number l, find the value of m
which leads to the largest possible accuracy if Lx and Ly are measured
simultaneously.
2

Hint: Minimize D(m) = (Lx ) + (Ly )

c) What is the smallest possible accuracy if Lx , and Ly is measured simultaneously?

d) What happens in the special case of l = 0?

31
Consider a particle of mass m moving in the potential
(
0 0xa
V (x) =
.
otherwise
In nonrelativistic quantum mechanics (i.e., v c) the energy levels, as we all
know, are determined by
n2 2 ~2
, n = 1, 2, 3, . . .
2ma2
and the corresponding normalized wave functions are given by
(q


2
sin nx
0xa
a
a
n (x) =
0
otherwise.
En =

We want to make an approximation of the relativistic correction to the energy

En using perturbation theory. For the kinetic energy we have (according to the
theory of relativity)
#
"r
 p 2
p
2
2
2
2
2
1+
1
Ek = (pc) + (mc ) mc = mc
mc
9

If this is expanded for small linear momenta this yields

Ek =

p2
p4
+ ...,

2m 8m3 c2
4

which gives us a correction 8mp3 c2 to the nonrelativistic expression

kinetic energy.

p2
2m

for the

a) What is, quantum mechanically, the perturbative part of the Hamiltonian?

b) Use this Hamiltonian to make a first -order perturbation theory calculation
(0)
of the relativistic correction to the unperturbed energy level En and
(0)
compare quantitatively the correction term with En .

32
In a hydrogen atom, the electrostatic interaction between the electron and the
proton in the nucleus results in the potential energy given by (in spherical coordinates)
e2 1
V (r, , ) = V (r) =
.
40 r
The time-independent Schr
odinger equation is separable, (r, , ) = n (r) Yl,m (, ),
where Yl,m (, ) are spherical harmonics. In spherical coordinates, the Hamiltonian is given by
2
2
2
2
L
= ~ 1 d r e
+
,
H
2 r dr2
(40 )r
2I
where is the reduced mass of the electron and the proton, I is the moment of
is the angular momentum operator.
inertia, and L
a) Use the variational principle to estimate the ground state energy for the
electron in a hydrogen atom.
Hint: Due to the fact that the potential energy does not depend on the
angles and , a suitable trial function for the ground state is = (r) =
N exp(r), where 0 is the variational parameter.
b) How good/bad is the estimate? Why so?

33
Consider a particle with mass m moving in the two-dimensional potential
(
0 0 x a and 0 y a
V (x, y) =
.
otherwise
Using first-order perturbation theory, show that the degeneracy of the first excited state is lifted by the perturbation
=
H
x2 ,
where is small. Visualize the energy levels schematically in a graph. Which
are the proper zeroth-order eigenfunctions?
10

34
A hydrogen atom in state |1, 1, 0, + 21 i is subjected to a time-dependent magnetic field, B(r, t) = B0 ex sin(t). Neglecting terms quadratic in the magnetic
field, the interaction between the electron and the external magnetic field, B, is
described by the Hamiltonian
= B (L
+ 2S)
B,
H
~
where B is the Bohr magneton. Determine the possible final states. Comment
on these final states in comparison with those of an perturbing electric field?

35
Using the variational principle, estimate the ground state energy for a onedimensional anharmonic oscillator with potential V (x) = x4 . Make the assumption
s
2 2

(x) = e x /2 , h|i = 1.

36
A one-dimensional harmonic oscillator (mass m, force m 2 xex ) is perturbed
by a small force mxex where 0 < . Using perturbation theory, determine the corrections to the unperturbed energy levels to second order. Furthermore calculate the exact energy levels of the perturbed system and compare the
results.

37


A particle with spin 21 is in the state |i = 10 . If the spin is measured along
the en -direction forming an angle with the z-axis, what are the probabilities
of getting the results + ~2 and ~2 , respectively?

38
Consider a particle of spin s = 1/2 in a time-dependent magnetic field B =
= B B
B cos(t)ez . The Hamiltonian becomes H
z cos(t). Assume that the
spin state at time t = 0 is |(0)i = |x i.
a) Calculate |(t)i.
b) Calculate h(t)|Sx |(t)i.

11

39
In spin space it is possible to describe an infinitesimal rotation around the
y-axis by the unitary operator
( ey ) = I i Sy .
U
~
(ey ) = exp(i
a) Show that U
y /2).
(ey ) operate on an arbitrary state and show that this is equivalent
b) Let U
to a rotation of the spin vector by an angle /2 in spin space.
c) What is the expected result of a rotation by the angle 2? Make a 2
rotation, and compare to the expected result. How many turns must a
spin vector be rotated in order to get back to its original state?

40
In magnetic resonance, the magnetic moment, m, of a particle interacts with
the applied magnetic field. This interaction is described by the Hamiltonian
= m
B,
H
where the components of the magnetic dipole moment operator are m
i = B
i
and B is the Bohr magneton. Assume that a constant magnetic field B = Bez
is applied. At time t = 0, the spin is measured to be +~/2 in the x-direction,
i.e., |(0)i = |x i.
a) Calculate |(t)i by using the propagator

|(t)i = eiHt/~ |(0)i.

b) Calculate |(t)i by solving the time-dependent Schrodinger equation using
the assumption


a(t)
|(t)i =
.
b(t)
c) Let t > 0. Calculate the probability to obtain the result ~/2 in a measurement of the spin along the x-direction.
d) Let t > 0. Calculate the probability to obtain the result +~/2 in a measurement of the spin along the z-direction.

41
where en = (sin , 0, cos ) and
Determine the eigenvalues of the operator en S,

S is the spin operator for a particle with spin 12 . The eigenvalues correspond to
the possible measured values when measuring spin along the direction en .

12

42
Consider the spin operators



~ 0 1
~ 0
Sx =
,
Sy =
2 1 0
2 i
a) Show that Sx2 = Sy2 = Sz2 =


i
,
0

~
Sz =
2


1 0
.
0 1

~2
4 I.

b) Determine the eigenvalues and eigenvectors to Sx and Sy .

c) Show the anticommutation relation [Sx , Sy ]+ = Sx Sy + Sy Sx = 0.

43
The spin and angular dependent part of the wave function for an electron is
given by:
r
r
2l
1
(, ) =
Yl,l1 (, )|i +
Yl,l (, )|i
2l + 1
2l + 1
2 and
where Yl,m (, ) are normalized spherical harmonics (eigenfunctions to L
z ) and
L
 
 
1
0
|i =
and |i =
0
1
are eigenstates to S2 and Sz .
Show that (, ) is an eigenfunction to the z-component of the angular
z + Sz , and calculate the corresponding expectation
momentum operator, Jz = L
value.

44
At time t = 0, the spin state of an electron is given by
 
1
2
.
|(0)i =
2 1+i
a) Determine the direction

sin cos
en = sin sin
cos

along which to apply a magnetic field, i.e., B = B0 en , such that, at time

t = t0 , the spin state is given by
 
1
|(t0 )i =
.
0
b) How long time will you need to apply the magnetic field?
= B B ,
where B is the
Hint: The Hamiltonian of the system is H
Bohr magneton.
13

45
From the point of view of the electron, the orbital motion of the proton in
hydrogen creates an magnetic field of considerable strengththe numerical value
of the magnetic field experienced by the electron is in the order of 0.4 Tesla.
Due to this strong internal magnetic field, the energy of the atom will depend
on the orientation of the electron spin.
The interaction operator that needs to be added to the nonrelativistic Hamiltonian in order to describe spin-orbit interaction is
SO = ~ 1 L
S,

H
2m2 c r3
where m is the electron mass, c is the speed of light, and is the dimensionless
fine-structure constant ( 1/137).
Consider hydrogen in its 2p-state. Without consideration made to the spinorbit interaction this state is sixfold energy degenerate.
a) Give a complete set of commuting observables for hydrogen when spinorbit interaction is accounted for.
b) Describe qualitatively how the energy degeneration of the six states will
change in this case.
c) Determine numerical values of any energy splittings you have proclaimed
above. Also, give the energy separation between the 1s and 2p levels in
order to make sure that the corrections are small in absolute terms.

46
At time t = t0 a hydrogen atom, described by the wave function
! 
p
x2 + y 2 + z 2
1
,
(x, y, z, t0 ) = N x exp
i
2a0
where N is a normalization constant and a0 is the Bohr radius, is placed in
a constant external magnetic field B = B0 ez . The Hamiltonian describing
= B B0
the interaction with the external field is H
z . Calculate the timedependent expectation values of the spin projection along the x-, y-, and z-axes.

47
At time t0 , the wave function of a hydrogen atom is given by
! 
p
x2 + y 2 + z 2
1
(x, y, z, t0 ) = N x exp
,
i
2a0
where N is a normalization constant and a0 is the Bohr radius.
a) If we measure the orbital angular momentum projection along the z-axis,
which values will we measure and what are their respective probabilities?
b) If we measure the projection of the spin along the x-, y, and z-axes, which
values will we measure and what are their respective probabilities?
14

48
a) Using the variational method, show that the virial theorem
2hTi + hV i = 0,
where hTi is the kinetic energy and hV i is the potential energy, is satisfied
for a hydrogen atom.
Hint: Assume that the true normalized wave function is (x, y, z) and use
as a normalized variational wave function
(x, y, z) = 3/2 (x, y, z)
where is a scaling parameter. Here = 1 corresponds to the exact
solution.
b) For a hydrogen-like system in its ground state, calculate
 
1
1
, h
p2x i, h
p2y i, h
p2z i, and h
p2 i.
,
h
ri
r

49
Consider a spinless particle with mass m and charge e in the potential
(
1
m 2 x2 , y [0, a]
V (x, y) = 2
,
otherwise
where

3 2 ~
.
2ma2
The system is in the first excited state when a weak electric field is applied
according to E = Een , en = cos ex + sin ey . To first order, determine the
effect of the perturbing electric field on the energy of the system. Comment on
the -dependence of the perturbation.
Hint:
Z a
 nx 
a2
dx =
x sin2
a
4
0
=

50
A hydrogen atom is in the 2p state with ml = 0 and ms = 1/2, and the system
is thus represented by the wave function


1
2,1,0,1/2 (r, , ) = R2,1 (r)Y1,0 (, )
.
0
Determine the expectation value of the total angular momentum J2 .

15

51
A complete set of commuting observables for the hydrogen atom is given by
L
2, L
z , S2 , and Sz and the set common eigenkets can
the set of operators H,
be denoted as |n, l, ml , 1/2, ms i. The 2p-level of the hydrogen atom is sixfold
degenerate due to the different values ml and ms .
Another complete set of commuting observables is given by the set of op J2 , Jz , L
2 , and S2 and the set common eigenkets can in this case
erators H,
be denoted as |n, j, mj , l, 1/2i. In terms of the above old eigenkets, derive
explicit expressions for the six wave functions that correspond to the 2p-level in
this new basis .

52
The spin-orbit interaction operator is given by
SO = A L
S,

H
where A is a scalar that is independent of (, ). By re-writing the spin-orbit
operator, motivate why this problems involving this operator should be solved
in the basis |j, mj i that are eigenvectors of J2 and Jz .

53
Assume that the electron in hydrogen is in a d-orbital, i.e., l = 2. If one considers
the interaction between the spin and orbital motion, this level will no longer be
10-fold energy degenerate. The energy operator that describes the interaction
is
SO = A L
S,

H
where A is a scalar that is independent of (, ).
a) The possible values of j are l 1/2, what are the interaction energies in
these two cases?
b) Express |j, mj i = |5/2, 5/2i in terms of the oldbasis vectors |l, ml , s, ms i.
Show with an explicit calculation that your linear combination of old basis
2 and Jz .
vectors is an eigenstate of J

54
Let us consider a hydrogen atom described by the wave function


1
2 Y1,0 (, )
(r) = R2,1 (r)
.
Y1,1 (, )
3
a) Is this state an eigenstate to total angular momemtum operators J2 and
Jz , and, if so, what are the values of the corresponding quantum numbers
j and mj ?

16

b) With use of first-order perturbation theory, determine the shift in energy

relative to the 2p-level in hydrogen as due to spin-orbit coupling.
S,
where m is the
SO = ~2 13 L
Hint: The spin-orbit coupling operator is H
2m c r
electron mass, c is the speed of light, and is the dimensionless fine-structure
constant ( 1/137). The following integral may be needed hr3 iR2,1 =
a03 /24, where a0 is the Bohr radius.

55
At t = 0 the wave function for the electron in hydrogen is given by


1
(x, y, z, 0) = N yzer/3a0
,
2i
where N is a normalization constant. Determine the possible values and prob z and Sz .
abilities in measurements of Jz , L

17

Answers
2.
(x, t) =

1 (0 (x)eit/2
2

+ 1 (x)ei3t/2 )

4.
a) (x, t) =

Ai ei(2 mV0 x/~t) + Ar ei(2 mV0 x/~+t) , x 0

At ei(

2mV0 x/~t)

x>0

q
q
V0
2
2 V0 (|Ai |2 |Ar |2 ) = 8 2
m |Ai | , x 0
3+2 2
b) jx = q m
q
V0
2V0 |A |2 = 8 2
2
x>0
t
m
m |Ai | ,
3+2 2
c) T =

d) R =


Ar =

At =

2
4
3+2 2

322
3+2 2

6.
a) (x, 0) = ()1/2 sin(x)/x
b) (x, 0) = (2)1/2 exp( 2 x2 /2)
7.
a) N = 21/2

8.



2
2
2
2
(x, t) = a1/2 sin(x/a)ei ~t/2ma + sin(4x/a)ei8 ~t/ma
|c1 |2 =

2
3

|c2 |2 =

1
3

10.
a) (x, t) =

1 ei(E1 t/~) 1
2

1 ei(E2 t/~) 2
3

b) P2 = 1/3
=
c) hHi

E1
2

E2
3

E3
6

d) No
11.
P(E1 ) = |c1 |2 =

960
6

P(E2 ) = |c2 |2 = 0
P(0 E

3~2 2
ma2 )

= |c1 |2 + |c2 |2 =

18

960
6

1 ei(E3 t/~) 3
6

21 Ai
2+1


2 2

A
i
2+1

12.
a) N = 21/2

(x, t) = a1/2 sin

b) h
xit =

a
2

2a
2

15.

1
9

x
a
1
25



2 ~t
+ sin
exp i 2ma
2

cos

E4 E1
t
~

4x
a



2
~t
exp i 8
ma2

a) 1 = 1 |1 i = 21/2 (1, 0, i)T

2 = 1 |2 i = (0, 1, 0)T
3 = 3 |3 i = 21/2 (1, 0, i)T

1 i 0
b) U U = i 1 0
0 0 2
c) |1 , 1 i = 21/2 (|1 i i|2 i)
|2 , 2 i = 21/2 (|1 i + i|2 i)
|3 , 3 i = |3 i

d) |, i = {|1, 0i, |1, 2i, |3, 2i}

17.

=
18.

1+ 3
1
0
2
(1 3)i

0 ( 3 1)i
2
0
0
1+ 3

a) The system is fixed, but you are performing measurement w.r.t. to a translated coordinate system.
b) x
=x
+ a and p = p
c) h
xi = h
xi + a and h
pi = h
pi
d) The system is moved within the laboratory.
19.
hEi = 12 (E0 + E1 ) = ~ where =
h
xi =
23.

~
2m

 12

cos(t + 2)

0 () =

2
1
e /2
1/4

1 () =

2
21/2
e /2
1/4

24.
cn = 0 if n is an odd number.

19

E0 +E1
2~ .

25.
2 is 6~2 (with probability 1).
a) The only possible measurement result for L

Possible results when measuring Lz are 2~, each with probability 21 .

2

b) The potential is V (r) = 3~

mr .

26.
2 and L
z are commuting observables.
a) L
b) The measured values are ~, both with probability 1/2.
28.
L2x =

~2
2

29.

0 1
2 0
0 1

1
0
1

ei0 Lz /~ |i = (r, , 0 )
30.
x, L
y ] 6= 0
a) [L
b) D(m) = l(l + 1)~2 m2 ~2
c) ~2 l(l + 1)
x and L
y simultaneously.
d) D(m) = 0, i.e., it is possible to determine both L
31.

b) Enpert = En0 1

0
En
2mc2

32.

a) E0 32e
2 ~2 2
0

33.
The shifts in energy are
34.
l = 0,

1

1
2 2

a2 and

ml = 1, ml = 0
ml = 0,
ml = 1

35.
Emin =
36.

34/3
4

~2
2m

2/3

1/3

Enpert = Enexact = ~ n +

1
2

2
2m 2

20

1

1
8 2

a2 , respectively.

37.
P = cos2

P = sin2

38.

h




i
iB B
BB
a) |(t)i = exp i
sin(t)
|
i

exp
sin(t)
|
i
/ 2
z
z
~
~


BB
sin(t)
b) h(t)|Sx |(t)i = ~2 cos 2~

40.

a) |(t)i = [exp(iB Bt/~)|z i + exp(+iB Bt/~)|z i] / 2



c) Px = cos2 B~Bt

d) Pz =

1
2

41.
2

= ~2
42.

b) Sx : + ~2
Sy : + ~2

1
2
1
2

1
1


1
i

and ~2

and ~2

1
1
.
2 1

1
1
.
2 i

43.
hJz i = (l 12 )~
44.
a) en = 21/2 (1, 1, 0)T
b) t0 =

~
4B B

45.
J2 , Jz , L
2 , and S2
a) H,
(c) E 4.5 105 eV
46.
hSx it =

~
2

sin

hSy it = ~2 cos
hSx it = 0

B B
~ (t


t0 )

B B
~ (t


t0 )

21

47.
a) Measuring Lz yields ~, both with probability 1/2.
b) Measuring Sx yields ~/2, both with probability 1/2.
Measuring Sy yields ~/2.
Measuring Sz yields ~/2, both with probability 1/2.
48.
b)

1
h
ri

2Z
= 3a
0

1
Z
r = a0

~Z
a0

A~2

h
p2x i = hp2y i = hp2z i =

1
3

2

49. First excited state is double degenerate with E1 = E2 = 11 2 ~2 /(4ma2 ).

The first-order energy correction is the same for both states and equals E1 =
E2 = 21 aeE sin .
2
50. hJ2 i = 11
4 ~
51. The |j, mj , l, 1/2i kets take the form

q
lmj +1/2
Y
(,
)

l,m
1/2
j
l,s=1/2
2l+1
.
Yj=l1/2,mj (, ) = q
lmj +1/2
Y
(,
)
l,mj +1/2
2l+1

53. a)

l;
j = l + 1/2
l 1; j = l 1/2

54.
a) j = 3/2, mj = 1/2
SO i =
b) hH

~3
96m2 ca30

55. The measurements of angular momenta give:

Operator
Sz
z
L
Jz

Value
~/2
~/2
~
~
3~/2
~/2
~/2
3~/2

22

Probability
1/5
4/5
1/2
1/2
1/10
4/10
1/10
4/10

Summary
Commutator relations

A
eA Be
Time evolution

B
C]
= [A,
B]
C + B[
A,
C]

[A,
h
h
i
h
ii
[A,
B]
+ 1 A,
A,
[A,
B]

+ [A,
B]
+ 1 A,
+ ...
=B
2!
3!

|(t)i = e

iHt/~

d
1 D E
hi =
[, ] +
dt
i~

|(0)i

Uncertainty relations
1

2 |h[, ]i|

Momentum basis

 px 
1
exp i
hx|pi =
~
2~

Translations and rotations



T (aen ) = exp ia en p

U
~




R (en ) = exp i en J
U
~

Harmonic oscillator
r

m~
a
a

a
|ni = n + 1|n + 1i

~
x
=
a
+ a

2m

a
|ni = n|n 1i

p = i

Angular momentum
J
= i~J

1
Jy = 2i
(J+ J )
Jx = 12 (J+ + J )
J = Jx iJy
p
p
J |j, mi = ~ j(j + 1) m(m 1)|j, m 1i = ~ (j m)(j m + 1)|j, m 1i

Spin angular momentum

|n i =



cos 2 ei 2

sin 2 e

|n i =

+i
2



sin 2 ei 2

cos 2 e+i 2

Variational principle
E0
Perturbation theory

h|H|i
h|i

Time-independent, nondegenerate:
D   E
 
En(1) = n H
 n


E
X hm | H
|n i
 (1)
|m i
n =
(0)
(0)
m6=n Em En

Time-independent, degenerate:

o
n
(1)
det Hn Ej I = 0

Time-dependent:
d(1)
n (t) =

1
i~

E
D  
  (1)
En(2) = n H
 n

Zt

dt eini t Hni
(t )

(t) = A sin(t)
H

24
=

Pf i (t, ) =

2
 t

Z



1
Pf i (t) = 2  dt eif i t Hf i (t )
~ 

0

|Af i |2
4~2

2

 1 ei(f i +)t
1 ei(f i )t 


 f i +
f i