1. A particle in a two dimensional box of sides a.

If a perturbation
V 0 = λxy
is applied, find the change in the energy of the ground state and the first excited
state.
Unperturbed Wavefunctions and energies:
2  mπx   nπy 
ψm,n (x, y) = sin sin (1)
a a a
2 2
(0) h̄ π
m2 + n 2


Em,n = (2)
2ma2
where m, n = 1, 2, . . ..
The ground state corresponds to m = 1 and n = 1 and is non-degenerate. First
order correction:
(1)
E1,1 = hψ1,1 |λxy|ψ1,1 i (3)
 2 Z L Z L
2  πx   πy 
= λ x sin2 dx y sin2 dy (4)
a 0 a 0 a
λa2
= (5)
4
The first excited level is two-fold degenerate. The two degenerate states are ψ 1,2
and ψ2,1 . The perturbation matrix in this subspace is
2
a

2 !
8a
λ 4
9π 2 (6)
8a 2 a2
9π 2 4

After diagonalising the matrix, we get first order correction to energy

 2 !
2 1 8
λa ±
4 9π 2

2. A rotator whose orientation is specified by the angular coordinates θ and φ

performs a hindered rotation described by the Hamiltonian
H = AL2 + Bh̄2 cos 2φ
with A >> B. Calculate the S, P and D energy levels of this system in the first
order perturbation theory, and work out unperturbed energy eigenfunctions.
Let H0 = AL2 and H1 = Bh̄2 cos 2φ. Eigenstates of H0 are Ylm (θ, φ) with energies
El = Ah̄2 l(l + 1) and degeneracy 2l̄ + 1 . Ylm (θ, φ) = Plm (cos θ) eimφ .


Z Z
0
(Ylm , cos 2φYlm ) =
0 Plm (cos θ) Plm (cos θ) d cos θ ei(m −m)φ cos 2φdφ
0

= Cδm,m0 ±2
For S state, there is no first order correction. For P states, The hamiltonian matrix
is

0 Bh̄2 a
 
0
 0 0 0  (7)
2
Bh̄ a 0 0
3
Rπ 3 R 2π 2iφ
dφ = − 21 . Hence the P
R ∗
where a = Y1−1 Y11 dΩ = − 8π 0 sin θdθ 0 cos (2φ) e
level splits into three levels.

1
3. For a particle of mass m moving in the potential
1 2 1 2
V = kx + ky + λxy
2 2
Find the approximate expressions for energy of the ground state and the first
excited state.
Unperturbed system is isotropic harmonic oscillator. Energies are given by (nx +
ny + 1)h̄ω. Corresponding eigenstates are denoted by |nx , ny i. Perturbation is
h̄λ
H 0 = λxy = (ax + a†x )(ay + a†y )
2mω
Ground state is non-degenerate. First order correction is zero. Excited state is
two-fold degenerate. The states are |0, 1i and |1, 0i. The perturbation matrix is
h̄λ
 
0 2mω
h̄λ
2mω 0
h̄λ
Perturbed energies are then ± 2mω .
4. A particle of mass m and a charge q is placed in a box of sides (a, a, b), where
b < a. A weak electric field
~ = E(y/a, x/a, 0)
E
is applied. Find the energy of the ground state and the first excited state.
The potential energy due to applied electric field is −qExy/a. Unperturbed energies
are
h̄2 π 2 l2 + m2 n2
 
El,m,n = + (8)
2m a2 b2
Ground state is nondegenerate. First excited state is two-fold degerate. What is the
degeneracy of the second excited state? Solution is simillar to that of problem 1.
5. Find the shift in the ground state energy of a 3D harmonic oscillator due to
relativistic correction to the kinetic energy.
Relativistic Correction: H 0 = −p4 /(8m3 c2 ). Ground state wavefunction is
 3/2
α 2 2
ψ000 (~r) = √ e−α r /2
π
p
where α = mω/h̄. The correction term is given by
1
En(2) = − hp4 i (9)
8m3 c2
1
= − h(p2 /(2m))2 i (10)
2mc2
1
= − h(H0 − (1/2)mω 2 r2 )2 i (11)
2mc2
1 (0) (0)
= − ((E0 )2 − E0 mω 2 hr2 i + (1/4)m2 ω 4 hr4 i) (12)
2mc2
Using
 3 Z ∞
2 α 2 2 3
hr i = √ r2 e−α r
(4πr2 dr) = (13)
π 0 2α2
 3 Z ∞
α 2 2 15
hr4 i = √ r4 e−α r
(4πr2 dr) = (14)
π 0 4α4
(2)
We get, En = (7/32)(h̄ω)2 /(mc2 )

2
6. If the general form of a spin-orbit coupling for a particle of mass m and spin S
moving in a central potential V (r) is

1 1 dV (r)
HSO = S·L ,
2m2 c2 r dr
what is the effect of the coupling on the spectrum of 3D harmonic oscillator?
For HO, the perturbation is

ω2
HSO = S·L
2mc2
We can solve the HO in spherical polar coordinates (See Mathews and Venkatesan
pg:142). The energy eigenvalues are given by Enlm = (n + 3/2)h̄ω, where n =
0, 1, . . ., l = n, n − 2, . . .. The corresponding wavefunctions are ψnlm = Rnl Ylm χ,
where χ is a spin state. Here we can use the states |nlsjm >J . Alternatively, use
nondegenerate perturbation theory. The correction is given by

h̄2 ω 2
 l
(1) 2 if j = l + 1/2
Enlsjm =
2mc2 − l+1
2 if j = l − 1/2