- Problem Set 3 (due October 11th, 2010, Monday) -

PHSX661 / PHSX761 / EPHX661

2
p
~
1. The nonrelativistic Hamiltonian is given by H = 2m + V . In the presence of electromagnetic fields,
the new Hamiltonian is obtained by the following replacement:

H −→ H − eφ (1)
~.
~p −→ ~p − eA (2)

The new Hamiltonian,

~ 2


p~ − eA
H= + V + eφ (3)
2m
can be rewritten as follows to understand spin effect under the electromagnetic fields,
1 ~ ~σ · p~ − eA


~ + V + eφ ,


H= ~σ · p~ − eA (4)
2m
~ ~σ · B~ = A ~·B
~ + i~σ · (A
~ × B),
~ and therefore



where σi is
the Pauli’s

matrix. Note that ~σ · A
2
~p = ~σ · ~
p ~σ · p~ .

~ ~σ · p~ − eA
~ = (~ ~ 2 − e~σ · B.
~ Following relations might be useful



(a) Show ~σ · ~
p − eA p − eA)
σi σj = δij + iǫijk σk (5)
∂
pi = −i = −i∂i (6)
∂xi
~ = ∇ × A)
Bk = ǫijk ∇i Aj = ǫijk ∂i Aj (B ~ (7)
(2 points)
ge ~
(b) Magnetic moment (due to spin) is defined as ~µS = 2m S. Show g = 2 from the above Hamil-
tonian. The term is called Pauli’s term and it shows interaction between spin and magnetic
field, −~ ~ Proton and neutron also have magnetic moment but they are composite of
µS · B.
three quarks and therefore their magnetic moments are not simply given by 2. (1 point)
(c) Show that above Hamiltonian contains a term, −~µL · B, ~ where ~µL = e L ~ is the magnetic
2m
moment due to orbital angular momentum. Use the fact that vector potential can be chosen
as A~ = 1B~ ×~ e ~
x. Together with spin, two terms can be written as 2m ~ · B,
(L + 2S) ~ they explain
2
energy splitting due to normal and anomalous Zeeman effect. (2 points)

2. A spin-up proton state is written as

1  
|p ↑i ≡ √ |u ↑i ⊗ |u ↓i ⊗ |d ↑i + |u ↓i ⊗ |u ↑i ⊗ |d ↑i − 2|u ↑i ⊗ |u ↑i ⊗ |d ↓i + permutations , (8)
18
and in the nonrelativistic approximation, its magnetic moment is defined as
 
µp = hp ↑ | µu σ3 ⊗ I ⊗ I + I ⊗ µu σ3 ⊗ I + I ⊗ I ⊗ µd σ3 |p ↑i , (9)

Qq ge ~ Qq e Qq e
where magnetic moment of each is µ
~q = 2m S = 2mq ~σ, and the magnitude is µq = 2mq . Qq is the
electric charge of the quark q.

(a) Show µp = 13 4µu − µd . (2 point)

(b) Show µu = −2µd in the limit that mu = md . (1 point)

 µn
(c) By symmetry, magnetic moment of neutron is µn = 13 4µd − µu . Show = − 23 in the above


µp
limit and compare with experimental value. (1 point)

3. Consider four Hermitian 2 × 2 matrices, I, σ1 , σ2 and σ3 , where I is the unit matrix and the
others satisfy {σi , σj } ≡ σi σj + σj σi = 2δij . You must prove the following without using a specific
representation or form for the matrices.
(a) Prove tr(σi ) = 0. (1 point)
(b) Show that the eigenvalues of σi are ±1 and det(σi ) = −1. (1 point)
(c) Show that the four matrices are linearly independent and therefore that any 2 × 2 matrix can
be expanded in terms of them. (1 point)
P3
(d) From (c) we know that M = m0 I + i=1 mi σi = mµ σµ , where M is any 2 × 2 matrix and
σµ = (I, σi ). Derive an expression for mi (i = 0, 1, 2, 3) in terms of M and σi . (1 point)

4. Complete the table below. (3 points)

process allowed (Y)/disallowed (N) reason if not allowed

n→p+e −
N Lepton number
ν + n → p + e−
ν̄ + n → p + e−
p → e+ + γ
π + p → π0 + Λ
−

π− + p → K 0 + n
π− + p → K 0 + Λ
K − + p → Ω− + K + + K 0

5. An Ω− (spin 3/2, mass 1672 MeV, intrinsic parity +) can decay via the weak interaction into a Λ
(spin 1/2, mass 1116 MeV, intrinsic parity +) and a K − meson (spin 0, mass 494 MeV, intrinsic
parity -), i.e., Ω− → Λ + K − .
(a) Assume Ω− is at rest and its spin configuration is |j, mi = | 32 , 32 i. After the decay, the final
state can be represented as follows:
1
|l, mi ⊗ | , sz i , (10)
2
where |ℓ, mi represents angular momentum of Λ + K − system, and | 21 , sz i shows spin config-
uration of Λ. What are the possible values of ℓ, m and sz for this decay ? (2 points)
(b) If parity were conserved in this decay process, what would be the possible choice for ℓ, m
and sz ? The spherical harmonics Yℓm (θ, φ) transforms as (−1)ℓ Yℓm (θ, φ) under the parity
transformation, i.e., P : |ℓ, mi → (−1)ℓ |ℓ, mi. Compare the total parity before and after the
decay. (1 point)