Quantum Mechanics-II

Problem Set-02
Approximation Methods

1. Calculate the first order energy shifts for the first three states of the infinite square well of width 𝑎 in one
𝑥
dimension due to the perturbation 𝑉(𝑥) = 𝑉0 .
𝑎
1
2. A particle of mass 𝑚 moves in a 1-dimensional oscillator potential 𝑉(𝑥) = 2 𝑚𝜔2 𝑥 2 . In the nonrelativistic limit,
𝑝2
where the kinetic energy and momentum are related by, 𝑇 = 2𝑚, the ground state energy is well-known to be
1
𝐸0 = ℏ𝜔. Allow for relativistic corrections (to the order of 1/𝑐 2 ) in the relation between 𝑇 and 𝑝 and compute
2
the first order correction to the ground state energy.
3. The Hamiltonian of a one dimensional anharmonic oscillator is given by,
𝑝2 1
𝐻 = 2𝑚 + 2 𝑚𝜔2 𝑥 2 + 𝛾1 𝑥 3 + 𝛾2 𝑥 4 , where the perturbation is, 𝐻 ′ (𝑥) = 𝛾1 𝑥 3 + 𝛾2 𝑥 4 . Calculate the first order
energy correction to the |𝑛⟩ energy eigenstate of the unperturbed Hamiltonian.
1
4. Consider an electron oscillating in a one-dimensional harmonic potential 𝑉(𝑥) = 2 𝑚𝜔2 𝑥 2 . A weak constant
electric field 𝜀 is applied in the +𝑥-direction, so that the potential is perturbed by 𝑉 ′ (𝑥) = −𝑒𝜀𝑥.
(a) Show that there is no change in the energy levels to first order in 𝜀.
(b) Calculate the second-order change in the energy levels.
𝑞𝜀
(c) This problem can be solved exactly by changing variables to 𝑦 = 𝑥 − 𝑚𝜔2 . Show that the exact energy
levels agree with your results in parts (a) and (b).
(d) Now consider a weak magnetic field 𝐵 ⃗ = 𝐵𝑧̂ is applied to the electron trapped in simple harmonic potential.
Calculate the first order energy correction to the energy levels.
5. When an atom is placed in a uniform external electric field, the energy levels are shifted- a phenomenon known
as Stark effect.
(a) Now study the effect of an external weak electric field 𝜀 = 𝜀𝑧̂ on the ground state of hydrogen atom.
(b) Find an approximate value for the polarizability of hydrogen atom. [Polarizability 𝛼 of an atom which is
2Δ𝐸
subjected to an electric field 𝜀 is given in terms of the energy shift Δ𝐸 is 𝛼 = − 𝜀2
.
6. Calculate the first order Stark effect for the first excited state (𝑛 = 2) of the hydrogen atom. Show your result
would imply that a hydrogen atom in its (𝑛 = 2) states behaves as though it has a permanent electric dipole
moment 3𝑒𝑎0 , where 𝑎0 is the Bohr radius. Show the schematic diagram of the energy levels and indicate the
eigenfunctions associated with each other.
7. Consider a hydrogen atom which is subject to a small perturbation 𝐻𝑝 = 𝜆𝑟 2 . Use a first order perturbation
theory to calculate the energy corrections to (a) the ground state and (b) the 2𝑝 state.
8. Calculate the first order correction to the energy eigenvalues of the hydrogen atom due to the relativistic
correction to electron’s kinetic energy (to the order of 1/𝑐 2 ). Which degeneracy is lifted due to this correction?
Sketch the energy level diagram of hydrogen atom for 𝑛 = 1, 2, 3 levels with this correction. (No need to be
numerically precise for this diagram)
9. Show that for the hydrogenic atom, the spin-orbit interaction leads to the following perturbation in the
Hamiltonian,
1 𝑍𝑒 2
𝐻𝑆𝑂 = 𝑆. 𝐿⃗
2𝑚𝑒2 𝑐 2 𝑟 3
Calculate the first order energy correction to the energy levels due to this spin-orbit interaction and show that
the energy shift is given by,
 1
𝑍2𝛼 2 𝑙, 𝑗 =𝑙+2
Δ𝑛𝑙𝑗 =− 𝐸𝑛0 ( 1)
1 −(𝑙 + 1), 𝑗=𝑙−
2𝑛𝑙 (𝑙 + 2) (𝑙 + 1) 2
ℏ2
Where 𝛼 = 𝑚 2 and 𝐸𝑛0 is the unperturbed energy of the nth state.
𝑒𝑐

10. If a hydrogen like atom is placed in a uniform weak magnetic field, 𝐵⃗ = 𝐵𝑧̂ ; then calculate the energy shift due
to this magnetic field. This is called the Lande’s formula for anomalous Zeeman effect.
11. Use variational method to estimate the ground state energy of a one-dimensional harmonic oscillator using
𝜓0 (𝑥) = 𝐴𝑒 −𝛼|𝑥| as trial function with 𝛼 to be varied.
12. Estimate the ground state energy for a particle with Hamiltonian,
𝑝2 𝑥2
𝐻= − 𝑉0 (1 − 2 )
2𝑚 𝛼
2
with the trial wavefunction, 𝜓(𝑥) = 𝐴𝑒 −𝑏𝑥 , where 𝐴 is the normalization constant and 𝑏 is the variational
parameter.
13. Use the variational method to estimate the ground state energy of the hydrogen atom using 𝜓(𝑟) = 𝐴𝑒 −𝑟/𝛼 as
the trial wave function, where 𝐴 is the normalization constant and 𝛼 is the variational parameter.
14. Neglecting the spin-orbit interaction, find the ground state energy of a two-electron atom (consider Helium) in
the following ways:
(a) Use a first-order perturbation calculation; treat the Coulomb interaction between the two electrons as
perturbation.
(b) Use the variational method.

Compare the results and discuss the merits of the two approximation methods.

1
15. Determine the energy levels of the potential 𝑉(𝑥) = 𝑚𝜔2 𝑥 2 using the WKB method.
2
16. Find the bound state eigenvalues for a particle of mass 𝑚 in the potential,
𝐴𝑥 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 > 0
𝑉(𝑥) = { ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒, 𝐴 > 0
∞ 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 ≤ 0
17. Using the WKB approximation method, obtain the tunneling coefficient which plays a key role in the description
of nuclear alpha-decay.
18. Cold emission of electron from metal surface: In the absence of any external electric field, the electrons are
bounded by a potential of the type 𝑉(𝑥) = 𝑉0 for 𝑥 > 0, known as the work function of the metal. But when an
external electric field 𝜀 is applied, the potential seen by the electron becomes, 𝑉(𝑥) = 𝑉0 − 𝑒𝜀𝑥. This potential
barrier has a width through which electrons with energy 𝐸 ≥ 𝑒𝜀𝑥 can escape. Now, obtain the transmission
coefficient of this cold emission of electron from the surface of a metal.
+∞, 𝑥≤0
19. Consider a particle of mass 𝑚 moving in the potential 𝑉(𝑥) = { 1 2 2 Estimate the ground state
2
𝑚𝜔 𝑥 , 𝑥>0
2
energy of this particle using (a) the variational method with 𝜓(𝑥) = 𝑥𝑒 −𝑎𝑥 as the trial wave function and (b)
the WKB method. Compare the results with the exact ground state energy.
20. Consider a particle of mass 𝑚 that is bouncing vertically and elastically on a reflecting hard floor where, 𝑉(𝑧) =
𝑚𝑔𝑧, 𝑧>0
{ ; here 𝑔 is the gravitational constant.
+∞, 𝑧≤0
(a) Use variational method to estimate the ground state energy of this particle. Consider 𝜓(𝑧) = 𝐴𝑧𝑒 −𝛼𝑧 the
trial wave function. Where 𝐴 is the normalization constant and 𝛼 to be varied.
(b) Use the WKB method to estimate the ground state energy of this particle.