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Exercises Sheet 2

The document contains 10 exercises related to quantum mechanics. Exercise 2.1 asks to prove that two operators commute if they have a complete set of common eigenstates. Exercise 2.2 gives matrix representations of two operators and asks about their properties. Exercise 2.3 asks to show that an operator equal to the identity operator must itself be the identity. The remaining exercises involve properties of the quantum harmonic oscillator.

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Solomon Lemos
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48 views

Exercises Sheet 2

The document contains 10 exercises related to quantum mechanics. Exercise 2.1 asks to prove that two operators commute if they have a complete set of common eigenstates. Exercise 2.2 gives matrix representations of two operators and asks about their properties. Exercise 2.3 asks to show that an operator equal to the identity operator must itself be the identity. The remaining exercises involve properties of the quantum harmonic oscillator.

Uploaded by

Solomon Lemos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Quantum Mechanics, Advanced Course – FMFN01/FYSN17

Exercises – Sheet 2

Exercise 2.1 (Common eigenstates ) Two operators have the same eigen-
states. The set of eigenstates is complete in the Hilbert space (i.e., every state
can be written as a linear combination of the eigenstates). Prove that the oper-
ators commute. ♦

Exercise 2.2 (Eigenstates in matrix representation ) In a three dimensional


subspace two operators are represented by the matrices:
   
a 0 0 b 0 0
A = 0 −a 0  , B = 0 0 ib
0 0 −a 0 −ib 0

where a and b are real numbers.


(a) Show that A and B are Hermitian.
(b) Calculate the eigenvalues of A and B.
(c) Show that [A, B] = 0.
(d) Determine a basis of common eigenvectors. ♦

Exercise 2.3 (Operator properties ) Consider an observable  that has the


property that Â3 = 1 (the identity operator, 1|ψi = |ψi for all states |ψi). Show
that  = 1. ♦

Exercise 2.4 (Closure relation )

(a) Prove that if an orthonormal discrete set of kets {|ui i : i = 1, 2, . . .}


constitutes a basis, then it follows that the basis {|ui i} fulfills the closure
relation
|ui ihui | = 1 .
X

(b) Show that if the closure relation is valid for an orthonormal continuous
set {|wα i : α ∈]−∞, +∞[ },
Z
|wα ihwα | dα = 1

then this set constitutes a basis. ♦

— Continued on next page —

1
Quantum Mechanics, Advanced Course – FMFN01/FYSN17

The following problems deal with the one-dimensional harmonic oscillator, with
Hamiltonian Ĥosc = p̂2 /2m + mω 2 x̂2 /2 and eigenstates |φn i with eigenenergy
En = (n + 12 )~ω, where n = 0, 1, 2, . . .. The operators â and ↠are the corres-
ponding step operators.
Exercise 2.5 (Kinetic and potential energy ) Calculate the expectation val-
ues of the kinetic and potential energy,
 2  
p̂ 1 2 2
hT̂ i = and hÛ i = mω x̂
2m 2
if the oscillator is in its nth eigenstate. ♦

(From 9 Chickweed Lane by Brooke McEldowney, 2001-10-17)

Exercise 2.6 (Constructing eigenstates )


(a) Construct |φ2 i by operating twice with ↠on |φ0 i. Check that your |φ2 i
is an eigenfunction of the Hamiltonian Ĥosc – what is its eigenvalue?
(b) Show that â|φn i is an eigenstate to Ĥosc and determine the eigenvalue.

Exercise 2.7 (Uncertainty relation ) Calculate the uncertainty product ∆x̂∆p̂


in the nth eigenstate. ♦
Exercise 2.8 (Time dependence of expectation values ) Assume that the os-
cillator is in the state |Ψ(t)i. Lets denote hÔi(t) = hΨ(t)|Ô|Ψ(t)i for any oper-
ator Ô.
(a) Calculate h↠i(t) and hâi(t) for given initial values A0 = h↠i(0) and
B0 = hâi(0).
(b) Determine hp̂i(t). ♦

Exercise 2.9 (Matrix representation ) Calculate the matrix elements of p̂2 ,


hφm |p̂2 |φn i. ♦
Exercise 2.10 (Coherent state ) A so-called coherent state is described by a
wavefunction of the form:
∞
X βn † n
|φβ i = C (â ) |φ0 i
n=0
n!
(a) Show that |φβ i is an eigenstate of the operator â and determine the
eigenvalue.
(b) Determine C = C(t) and β = β(t) so that |φβ i satisfies the time depend-
ent Schrödinger equation. ♦

2
Quantum Mechanics, Advanced Course – FMFN01/FYSN17

Hints – Sheet 2

2.1: What does is mean for a state |ψi that the eigenstates are complete in the
Hilbert space? What happens when  and B̂ are applied to their eigenstates?
Use these to show that ÂB̂|ψi = B̂ Â|ψi for any state |ψi.

2.2: Make sure you remember how to multiply matrices and to find their
eigenvalues and eigenvectors – you’re going to need those in the course.

2.3: What are the eigenvalues of Â? Use that to show that Â|ψi = |ψi for any
state |ψi.

2.5: Write p̂ and x̂ in terms of ↠and â.

2.6: (b) [â, ↠] = â↠− ↠â = 1.

2.7: Remember that


p p
∆x̂ = hx̂2 i − hx̂i2 , ∆p̂ = hp̂2 i − hp̂i2

Note that you (implicitly) found hx̂2 i and hp̂2 i in Ex. 2.5.

2.8: For every time-independent operator  we have


d i
hÂi(t) = h[Ĥ, Â]i(t)
dt ~

2.9: Find p̂2 in terms of ↠and â (note Ex. 2.5).

2.10:
(a) Write â(↠)n as a normal ordered product (all ↠terms precede â).
(b) Plug |φβ i into the time-dependent Schrödinger equation and compare
coefficients.

3
Quantum Mechanics, Advanced Course – FMFN01/FYSN17

Answers – Sheet 2

2.2: (b) ±a and ±b. (d) [ 1 0 0 ]T , √1 [ 0 1 i ]T , √1 [ 0 1 − i ]T .


2 2

2.5: hT̂ i = hÛ i = 12 ~ω(n + 21 ) .

mω 1/4 √1 −ξ 2 /2
2.6: (a) |φ2 i = √12 (↠)2 |φ0 i (or φ2 (ξ) =

π~ 2
e (2ξ 2 − 1) ), eigen-
value 25 ~ω. (b) ~ω(n − 12 ).

2.7: ∆x̂∆p̂ = ~(n + 12 ).

2.8: (a) hâ†q i(t) = A0 eiωt , hâi(t) = B0 e−iωt ,


(b) hp̂i(t) = i m~ω A0 eiωt − B0 e−iωt = hp̂i(0) cos(ωt) − mωhx̂i(0) sin(ωt) .

2

h p
2.9: hφm |p̂2 |φn i = 21 m~ω (2n + 1)δm,n − (n + 1)(n + 2)δm,n+2
p i
− n(n − 1)δm,n−2

2.10: (a) Eigenvalue β. (b) C(t) = C(0)e−iωt/2 and β(t) = β(0)e−iωt

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