PHY 154 Homework 4

Due 2 Dec 2019

Numbers in square brackets are approximate marks available.

1. 3D infinite well
A particle of mass m is confined in a cubic box of side L, with infinitely
high walls.
Show that the energy spectrum of quantized levels is characterized by
three quantum numbers, such that

h̄2 π 2
Enx ,ny ,nz = × (n2x + n2y + n2z ) (1)
2mL2
where nα are positive integers. [5]

When the box size is very large, L → ∞, show that the energy level
distribution approximates a continuum, with the density of states n(E)
(defined by the number of levels between E and E + dE) as [10]

n(E)dE
∝ E 1/2 dE (2)
L3

How does this density of states differ from massless particles (e.g.
photons, see the lectures on black-body radiation) [5]

2. Measurement
Which of these pairs of quantities can possibly be measured simulta-
neously and precisely:

(a) x-coordinate of position and y-coordinate of position: x, y [4]

(b) x-coordinate of position and momentum in x-direction: x, px [4]
(c) x-coordinate of position and momentum in y-direction: x, py [4]

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 (d) z-component of angular momentum and total angular momen-
tum squared: Lz , L2 [4]

In the cases where simultaneous measurement is possible, what is the

condition on the wavefunction that would have to be satisfied in order
for the measurement to be precise. [4]

3. Relativistic energy shift

The Schroedinger equation is non-relativistic, but it can be used to
estimate relativistic corrections to energy levels by using atomic eigen-
functions to calculate the expectation value h∆Erel i of

∆Erel = Erelativistic − Enon−relativistic (3)

the difference between relativistic and non-relativistic expressions for

the total energy E.
Show that for momentum p not too large, [6]

p4 E 2 + V 2 − 2EV
∆Erel ' − = − (4)
8m3 c2 2mc2

and hence, for the state ψn,l,m (r) = |nlmi [6]

(En − hnlm| V (r) |nlmi)2

h∆Erel i ' − (5)
2mc2

Show that the order of magnitude of this quantity is

h∆Erel i ' α2 Rydberg (6)

where α = e2 /(4πo h̄c) ' 1/137 is the fine structure constant. [8]

4. Quantum key distribution

“The quantum mechanical time-evolution of a wavefunction is deter-
ministic, but quantum measurement is probabilistic”. Explain. [5]
Alice is sending a sequence of photons to Bob, where it has been agreed
in advance that they will be either polarized along vertical/horizontal
rectilinear axes (labelled here“+”) or on diagonal orthogonal axes (la-
belled “X”). Alice chooses to send using either the + or X basis at
random. Bob does not know her sequence and so chooses to measure
at random.

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 Alice uses the following basis (initially unknown to Bob) and sends
the following string (the arrows assign orientation and not direction):
+ + X + X + X + + +
↑ → % ↑ & → % ↑ → ↑
Bob uses the following axes as the basis, and makes the corresponding
measurements
+ X X + + X + + X +
↑ & % → → % ↑ ↑ % ↑
Alice and Bob then communicate over a “classical” public channel
and announce their basis choice (but not the actual polarization sent
or received). How many bits would they expect to have in a secret
shared code, given the particular basis choices made above? Why is
this code secret despite the public discussion? [4]
If an eavesdropper ‘Eve’ measures the polarization of a photon (again
without knowing in advance the basis) during the transmission from
Alice to Bob, what effect would that have? [4]
Are there any unexpected discrepancies in the results above? Would
Bob be aware of them without exchanging further information with
Alice? [3]
What practical protocol might Alice and Bob use to improve the se-
curity of their code? [You may assume that they can send and receive
large numbers of photons, and are happy to discard as many bits as
necessary.] [4]

5. Linear chain of atoms

Consider a model of a one-dimensional chain of atoms, equidistantly
spaced at a distance a., so that the nth atom is at the position n×a. We
will make a model of the electronic structure of this one dimensional
solid by assuming that there is a single energy level on each atom
(with energy E0 ) and that electrons can tunnel between neighboring
atoms (and only neighboring atoms) with a matrix element t. Hence
the basis set is the atomic orbitals labelled by the states |ni for n =
1, ...N , where N is the total number of atoms in the chain. To simplify
algebra, we will impose periodic boundary conditions, so that |N + 1i
is identified with |1i, and the chain becomes a ring.
Show that this model leads to the Hamiltonian matrix Hij :

Hij = E0 δij + t(δi,j+1 + δi,j−1 ) (7)

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where i, j refer to sites, and the δ is a Kronecker δ-function, which is
unity if the subscripts are identical, and zero otherwise. [5]
For N = 2 show that the energy eigenvalues of H are E =  ± 2t.
What are the corresponding eigenfunctions? [5]
Notice that the Hamiltonian matrix is tridiagonal, with identical values
on the diagonal and its neighbors (as well as an important element in
the (1,N) corners) - this form of a matrix is called a ‘circulant’ and has
special properties associated with the discrete translational symmetry
(i.e. according to a displacement of the origin by any integer multiple
of the lattice constant a).
Look for solutions of the form
X
|ψi = ci |ii (8)
i

such that
E0 − E
  
t 0 ... 0 t c1

 t E0 − E t ... 0 0 
 c2 

 0 t E0 − E ... 0 0  c3 
=0
  
... ... ... ... ... ... ...
 
  
  
 0 0 0 ... E0 − E t   cN −1 
t 0 0 ... t E0 − E cN
(9)
Show (by direct substitution, or otherwise) that there are a set of N
eigenstates |ψm i and energies E m labelled by an integer m: [10]

1 jm
 
(m)
cj = √ exp 2πi (10)
N N
2πm
 
E (m) = Eo + 2t cos m = 0, 1, ..., N − 1 (11)
N