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Assignment 1: Deadline For Submission: 23 August 2021 11:59 PM

This document outlines 20 problems for Assignment 1 that is due on August 23rd, 2021. The problems cover topics such as: 1) normalizing a wave function and finding the expectation value of momentum, 2) finding the potential function given a wave function, 3) properties of stationary states, 4) verifying properties of operators in a basis of eigenstates, 5) checking for linearity and hermiticity of operators, 6) commutation relations of operators, 7) properties of eigenfunctions and eigenvalues, and 8) solving eigenvalue problems.

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Aryan Mishra
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35 views

Assignment 1: Deadline For Submission: 23 August 2021 11:59 PM

This document outlines 20 problems for Assignment 1 that is due on August 23rd, 2021. The problems cover topics such as: 1) normalizing a wave function and finding the expectation value of momentum, 2) finding the potential function given a wave function, 3) properties of stationary states, 4) verifying properties of operators in a basis of eigenstates, 5) checking for linearity and hermiticity of operators, 6) commutation relations of operators, 7) properties of eigenfunctions and eigenvalues, and 8) solving eigenvalue problems.

Uploaded by

Aryan Mishra
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Assignment 1

Deadline for submission: 23rd August 2021 11:59 PM


1. A particle constrained to move along the x-axis in the domain 0 ≤ x ≤ L has a wave
function ψ(x) = sin(nπx/L), where n is an integer. Normalize the wave function and
evaluate the expectation value of its momentum.

2. The wave function of a particle of mass m moving in a potential V(x) is Ψ(x, t) =


Aexp(−ikt − km
h̄
x2 ) where A and k are constants. Find the explicit form of the potential
V(x).

3. For a one-dimensional bound particle, show that


R∞
(a) dtd −∞ Ψ∗ (x, t)Ψ(x, t)dx = 0, Ψ need not be a stationary state.
(b) If the particle is in a stationary state at a given time, then it will always remain in
a stationary state.

hΨ| = i a∗i hi| gives


P P
P if ∗|Ψi = i ai |ii, taking the corresponding bra Rto be
4. Verify that
hΨ|Ψi = i ai ai , and that the same result is obtained from Ψ∗ (x)Ψ(x)dx

5. By expanding in the basis {|ii}, verify that if Q̂ |αi = |γi , then hγ| = hα| Q̂∗ .

6. Verify that Qij |ii hj| is equivalent to Q̂ if Qij = hi| Q̂ |ji.

7. Verify that if we expand |Ψi as ψ(x) |xi and similarly for |Φi , then hΦ|Ψi = φ(x)∗ ψ(x).
R R

( Hint: you will need to use a different integration variable, say x0 , in the expansion of
|Φi )

8. A and B are two operators defined by Aψ(x) = ψ(x) + x and Bψ(x) = dψ(x)/dx + 2ψ(x).
Check for their linearity.

9. If A and B are Hermitian operators, show that (i) (AB + BA) is Hermitian, and (ii) (AB
– BA) is non-Hermitian.

10. If operators A and B are Hermitian, show that i [A, B] is Hermitian. What relation must
exist between operators A and B in order that AB is Hermitian?

11. Show that (i) Operators having common set of eigen-functions commute; (ii) commuting
operators have common set of eigen-functions

12. Show that the commutator [x, [x, H]] = –h̄2 /m, where H is the Hamiltonian operator.

13. Prove the following commutation relations:

(a) [x, px ] = [y, py ] = [z, pz ] = ih̄


(b) [x, y] = [y, z] = [z, x] = 0
(c) [px , py ] = [py , pz ] = [pz , px ] = 0

14. Prove the following:

(a) If ψ1 and ψ2 are the eigen-functions of the operator A with the same eigenvalue,
c1 ψ1 + c2 ψ2 is also an eigen-function of A with the same eigenvalue, where c1 and
c2 are constants.

1
(b) If ψ1 and ψ2 are the eigen-functions of the operator A with distinct eigenvalues, then
c1 ψ1 + c2 ψ2 is not an eigen-function of the operator A, c1 and c2 being constants.

15. If x and px are the coordinate and momentum operators, prove that [x, pnx ] = nih̄pn−1
x .

16. Evaluate the commutator (i) [x, p2x ], and (ii) [xyz, p2x ].

17. If the wave function for a system is an eigen-function of the operator associated with the
observable A, show that hAn i = hAin

18. The operator eA is defined by,

A A2 A3
e =1+A+ + + ... (1)
2! 3!
Show that eD = T1 , where D = d/dx and T1 is defined by T1 f (x) = f (x + 1)

19. Find the eigenvalues and eigen-functions of the operator d/dx.


d2 2 d
20. Find the eigen-functions and nature of eigenvalues of the operator dx2
+ x dx

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