Quantum Prelim Problems

dealing with Square Well (with Solutions)

Typeset on January 24, 2010

Spring 2009 Modern (Afternoon), Problem 1

Subjects: Quantum
Tags: Square Well, Basic Quantum
[30 pts] A particle of mass m is known to be localized in the left half of a one dimensional box with sides
at x = ±a/2 with wave function:
(q
2 a
ψ(x) = a , − 2 < x < 0;
0, 0 < x < a2 .

(a) (5 pts) Will the particle remain localized at later times? Why or Why not?
(b) (10 pts) If not write an expression for the wave function at later times. You may use a symbolic
expression but explain the terms in the expression.
(c) (15 pts) Calculate the probability that an energy measurement on the particle localized in the left half
of the box yields the ground state energy, the energy of the first excited state.

[Solution by you, perhaps?] No solution has been written up for this problem as of yet. If this is a problem
that you would benefit from mastering, please consider writing up a solution for it in LATEX. Take a look at
the prelim course home page for instructions on how to prepare and submit such a solution.

Spring 2009 Modern (Afternoon), Problem 2

Subjects: Quantum, Stat Mech
Tags: Ideal Fermi Gas, Square Well
[40 pts] Consider a solid containing N atoms each of which contributes q free electrons contained in a
volume V (which can be taken as a cube).
Nq
(a) (10 pts) Calculate the Fermi momentum kF = pF /~, in terms of the free energy density ρ ≡ V .

(b) (15 pts) Derive the expression for the total energy of the Fermi gas of electrons,

~2 (3π 2 N q)5/3 −2/3

Etot = V .
10π 2 me

(c) (15 pts) Derive the expression for the quantum pressure P (degeneracy pressure).

[Solution by you, perhaps?] No solution has been written up for this problem as of yet. If this is a problem
that you would benefit from mastering, please consider writing up a solution for it in LATEX. Take a look at
the prelim course home page for instructions on how to prepare and submit such a solution.

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Spring 2009 Modern (Afternoon), Problem 3
Subjects: Quantum
Tags: Identical Particles, Square Well, Spin
[20 pts] Consider two electrons described by the Hamiltonian

p21 p2
H= + 2 + V (x1 ) + V (x2 ),
2m 2m
where V (x) = ∞ for x < 0 and x > a; V (x) = 0 for 0 < x < a.

(a) (5 pts) What is the lowest energy of the two-electron state if the electrons are in the same spin state?
In different spin states?
(b) (5 pts) What is the energy eigenfunction for the ground states? For the same spin states and for
different spin states?
(c) (10 pts) What is the energy and wave function of the first excited state? For the same spin states and
for different spin states?

[Solution by you, perhaps?] No solution has been written up for this problem as of yet. If this is a problem
that you would benefit from mastering, please consider writing up a solution for it in LATEX. Take a look at
the prelim course home page for instructions on how to prepare and submit such a solution.

Fall 2008 Modern (Morning), Problem 3

Subjects: Quantum
Tags: Square Well, Perturbation Theory (non-degenerate), Perturbation Theory (time-dependent)
[15 pts] Particle in a box in one dimension.
A particle of mass m is confined in an infinite square well potential
(
0 0 ≤ x ≤ b;
V (x) =
∞ elsewhere.

(a) (3 points) What are the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of this particle?
(b) (5 points) Find the energy shifts for all the states to first order in V1 if a perturbation V1 of the following
form is applied to the system:
 πx 
V (x) → V (x) + V1 (x) where V1 (x, t) =  sin .
b

(c) (7 points) Now, instead of the perturbation in (b), let us consider that a time-dependent perturbation
V2 (x, t) of the following form is applied to the system:

V (x) → V (x) + V2 (x) where V2 (x, t) = λ(x − b/2) sin ωt.

lf the particle is in the ground state at t = 0, find the explicit time dependence of the probability (to
lowest order in V2 ) that the particle is in the first excited state at some later time t. What is the
probability (in same order in V2 ) that the particle is in the second excited state?

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 [Note: the following useful integrals were provided in the exam cover page:
Z π  
2 1
dx sin x(sin nx) = 1 + 2 for n = 1, 2, 3, . . .
0 4n − 1
Z π/2
4
dx x cos x sin 2x = .]
0 9

[Solution by you, perhaps?] No solution has been written up for this problem as of yet. If this is a problem
that you would benefit from mastering, please consider writing up a solution for it in LATEX. Take a look at
the prelim course home page for instructions on how to prepare and submit such a solution.

Fall 2008 Modern (Afternoon), Problem 6

Subjects: Quantum
Tags: Identical Particles, Square Well, Spin, Angular Momentum, Perturbation Theory (degenerate)
[?? pts] Attraction of two fermions. Two identical spin 1/2 fermions move in one dimension in an
infinite square well potential ranging from x = −L/2 to x = L/2.

a. Write the ground-state wave function and the ground-state energy when the two particles are con-
strained to a triplet spin state.

b. Repeat (a) when they are in the singlet spin state.

c. Now suppose that the two particles interact mutually via a very short range attractive potential that
can be approximated by
V = −λδ(x1 − x2 )
with λ > 0 and x1 and x2 being the coordinates of the two particles. Assuming that first-order
perturbation theory is valid even with such a singular potential, discuss what happens to the energy
levels obtained in (a) and (b). That is, does the energy change due to the interaction? If so, by how
much? Are any degeneracies lifted by the interaction?

[Solution by you, perhaps?] No solution has been written up for this problem as of yet. If this is a problem
that you would benefit from mastering, please consider writing up a solution for it in LATEX. Take a look at
the prelim course home page for instructions on how to prepare and submit such a solution.

Spring 2008 Modern (Morning), Problem 1

Subjects: Quantum
Tags: Identical Particles, Square Well, Spin
[20 pts] Two non-interacting particles, with the same mass m, are confined to a one-dimensional, infinite
square well. If just one of these particles were in this well, its ground state energy would be E0 .

(a) Find the four lowest energies of the system in terms of E0 .

(b) Find the degeneracies of these four energies if the two particles are:
(i) identical, with spin 1/2,

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 (ii) not identical, but each with spin 1/2,
(iii) identical, with spin 1.

Be sure to explain your reasoning. Please summarize your results in a table.

[Solution by you, perhaps?] No solution has been written up for this problem as of yet. If this is a problem
that you would benefit from mastering, please consider writing up a solution for it in LATEX. Take a look at
the prelim course home page for instructions on how to prepare and submit such a solution.

Fall 2007 Modern (Afternoon), Problem 4

Subjects: Quantum
Tags: Delta-function Potential, Identical Particles, Square Well, Perturbation Theory (non-degenerate)
[15 pts] Particles in a Box
Two identical particles of spin 1/2 obey Fermi statistics. They are confined in a cubical box whose sides
are 10−8 cm in length. There exists an attractive potential between pairs of particles of strength 10−3 eV,
acting whenever the distance between the two particles is less than 10−10 cm (treat as a δ-function). Using
perturbation theory, calculate the ground-state energy and wave function.

[Solution by you, perhaps?] No solution has been written up for this problem as of yet. If this is a problem
that you would benefit from mastering, please consider writing up a solution for it in LATEX. Take a look at
the prelim course home page for instructions on how to prepare and submit such a solution.

Spring 2005 Modern (Morning), Problem 3

Subjects: Quantum
Tags: Basic Quantum, Square Well
[?? pts] A particle of mass m is moving along x-axis in a potential of

+∞
 x ≤ −L,
V (x) = V0 Lδ(x) −L < x < L,

+∞ x ≥ L.


(a) Under the condition of large V0 [V0  ~2 /(2mL2 )], find the lowest two energy levels and the corre-
sponding wave functions Φ1 and Φ2 .
√ √
(b) Sketch Φ1 , √Φ2 , Φ = (Φ1 + Φ2 )/ 2, and Φ = (Φ1 − Φ2 )/ 2. If the particle is at a state of Φ =
(Φ1 + Φ2 )/ 2 at t = 0, show that the particle will oscillate back and forth between the left and right
wells. How long does it take for the particle to go from one well to the other?

[Solution by you, perhaps?] No solution has been written up for this problem as of yet. If this is a problem
that you would benefit from mastering, please consider writing up a solution for it in LATEX. Take a look at
the prelim course home page for instructions on how to prepare and submit such a solution.