Chapter 4 Problems and Solutions

J.J. Sakurai and Jim Napolitano

Modern Quantum Mechanics, 2nd edition
(Pearson, 2011)

Masatsugu Sei Suzuki and Itsuko S. Suzuki

Department of Physics, SUNY at Binghamton
Binghamton, New York U.S.A.
(Date: 5-02-2023)

_______________________________________________________________________
((4-1))

((Solution))
The energy is given by

2 2 2
E (nx , n y , nz )  E0 (nx  n y  nz )

ℏ2  2
where E0  ( ) , and nx , n y , nz are positive integers.
2m L

We consider the Pauli principle.

1
(a) 3 noninteracting spin 1/2 particles

Ground state: E = 12 E0

Energy = 3E0 + 3E0 +6 E0 = 12 E0

degeneracy g0 = 2C2 x 6C1 = 6.

First excited state (1): E = 15 E0

2
 Energy = 3E0 + 6E0 +6 E0 = 15 E0
degeneracy g0 = 2C1 x 6C2 = 15 x 2 = 30 states

First excited state (2):E = 15 E0

Energy = 3E0 + 3E0 +9 E0 = 15 E0

degeneracy g0 = 2C2 x 6C1 = 1 x 6 = 6 states

Second excited state: E = 17 E0

3
 Energy = 3E0 + 3E0 +11 E0 = 17 E0
degeneracy g0 = 2C2 x 6C1 = 1 x 6 = 6 states

(b) Four noninteracting spin 1/2 particles

Ground state: E = 18 E0

4
 Energy = 3E0 + 3E0 +6 E0 + 6 E0= 18 E0
degeneracy g0 = 2C2 x 6C2 = 1 x 15 = 15 states

First excited state (1): E = 21 E0

Energy = 6E0 + 6E0 +6 E0 + 3 E0= 21 E0

5
 degeneracy g0 = 2C1 x 6C3 = 40 states

First excited state (2): E = 21 E0

Energy = 3 E0 + 3E0 +6 E0 + 9 E0= 21 E0

degeneracy g0 = 2C2 x 6C1 x 6C1 = 36 states

Second excited state: E = 23 E0

6
Energy = 3 E0 + 3E0 +6 E0 + 11 E0= 23 E0
degeneracy g0 = 2C2 x 6C1 x 6C1 = 36 states

7
((4-2))

((Solution))

(a)

 iP̂  d   iP̂  d  
Tˆd  exp  ,
 Tˆd   exp  

 ℏ   ℏ 

Tˆd r  r  d , Tˆd  r  r  d 

Tˆd Tˆd  r  Tˆd r  d   r  d  d 

Tˆd Tˆd r  Tˆd  r  d  r  d  d 

TˆdTˆd   Tˆd Tˆd

(b)
 i   i 
Rˆ (n, )  exp  Jˆ  n  , Rˆ (n,  )  exp  Jˆ  n'  
 ℏ   ℏ 

Rˆ (n' , ) r   n ' ( )r

Rˆ (n, ) Rˆ (n' , ) r   n ( )n ' ( )r

Similarly

Rˆ (n' ,  ) Rˆ (n, ) r   n ' ( ) n ( )r

In general

1
  n ( ) n ' ( )   n ' ( ) n ( ) (geometrically),

then

Rˆ (n,  ) Rˆ (n' , ) r  Rˆ (n' , ) Rˆ (n, )

(c)

Tˆdˆ r  Tˆd  r   r  d

ˆTˆd r  ˆ r  d   r  d

Therefore

Tˆdˆ  ˆTˆd

(d)

Since [ˆ , Jˆ ]  0

 i 
Rˆ (n,  )  exp  Jˆ  n 
 ℏ 

 i 
ˆRˆ (n, )ˆ  ˆ exp  Jˆ  n ˆ
 ℏ 
 i 
 exp  ˆJˆˆ  n 
 ℏ 
 i 
 exp  Jˆ  n 
 ℏ 
 Rˆ (n,  )

Then Rˆ (n,  ) is commutable with ˆ .

((Another method))

Rˆ ˆ r  Rˆ  r   r

ˆRˆ r  ˆ r   r

2
Rˆ ˆ  ˆRˆ .

3
________________________________________________________________________
((4-3))

((Solution))

Aˆ    
Bˆ    

From anticommutation relation

( Aˆ Bˆ  Bˆ Aˆ )   (   )   2   0 .

Then   0 or   0 .

We have the relation between ˆ and p̂ .

ˆpˆ  pˆ ˆ  0

pˆ p'  p' p'

(ˆpˆ  pˆ ˆ ) p'  ˆp' p'  pˆ ˆ p'

pˆ (ˆ p' )   p' (ˆ p' )

Therefore ˆ p' is the eigenket of p̂ with eigenvalue  p . Only the state p' with
p  0 is a simultaneous eigenfunction of the parity operator ˆ and the momentum p̂ .

1
________________________________________________________________________
((4-4))

((Solution))

The spin angular function in two component form is defined as follows.

l  m  1 / 2 m 1 / 2 l  m  1 / 2 m 1 / 2
ylj  l 1 / 2, m  Yl ( ,  )    Yl ( , )  
2l  1 2l  1

l  m  1 / 2 m 1 / 2 l  m  1 / 2 m 1 / 2
ylj  l 1 / 2, m   Yl ( , )    Yl ( , )  
2l  1 2l  1

where   is a two-component spinor (spinor wave function)

1 0
       ,       
 0 1 

 Y00 ( ,  ) 
y j 1 / 2 , m 1 / 2
l 0  Y ( ,  )    
0
0


 0 

where

1
Y00 ( , ) 
2 

 z x  iy  Y00 ( , )   zY00 ( ,  ) 
(σˆ  rˆ)Yl j 01 / 2, m 1 / 2     
 x  iy z  0   ( x  iy )Y00 ( ,  ) 

Here we note that

1 1 0
zY00 ( ,  )  r cos r Y1 ( ,  )
2  3

1
 1 1
( x  iy )Y00 ( , )  rei sin   rY11 ( , )
2  6

Then we have

r  Y1 ( ,  ) 
0
(σˆ  rˆ)Yl j 01 / 2,m1 / 2      rYl j11 / 2,m1 / 2

3   2Y1 ( ,  ) 
1

where

1  Y1 ( ,  ) 
0
1 0 2 1
Y j 1 / 2 , m
 Y1 ( ,  )    Y1 ( , )      
3   2Y11 ( ,  ) 
l 1
3 3

when m = 1/2

1 0 2 1
Yl j 11 / 2, m 1 / 2   Y1 ( , )    Y1 ( , )  
3 3
 1 0 
 Y1 ( , ) 
 3 
 2 1 
 Y1 ( , ) 
 3 
1   Y1 ( , ) 
0
  
3  2Y11 ( , ) 

((Note))

1 3 1 3
Y11 ( ,  )   sin e i , Y10 ( , )  cos ,
2 2 2 

1 3
Y11 ( , )  sin e  i
2 2

______________________________________________________________________
(b)

Parity operator:

Since ˆ  xˆˆ   xˆ , ˆ ˆ xˆ  ˆ x

ˆ  (σˆ  rˆ)ˆ  σˆ  rˆ

2
  '  (σˆ  rˆ) 

ˆ  '  ˆ (σˆ  rˆ)ˆ 1ˆ   (σˆ  rˆ)ˆ    (σˆ  rˆ)     '

where ˆ     . Thus the parity of  ' is different from that of  .In fact,

ˆ l , m  (1)l l , m .

When l = 1. the wave function has the odd parity. When l = 0, the wave function has the
even parity.

Rotation operator
Since Sˆ  rˆ is a pseudo scalar operator, it is invariant under the rotation. From the Wigner
–Eckart theorem,

 ' ; j ' , m' Tˆq(k00 )  ; j , m  j , k  0; m, q  0 j, k  0; j ' , m'  0

unless

m'  m and j '  j

In fact, the value of m and j does not change before and after the operation Sˆ  rˆ .

____________________________________________________________________
((Mathematica))

3
4
5
_______________________________________________________________________
((4-5))

((Solution))
From the perturbation theory,

n' , l ' , j ' , m' Vˆ n, l , j, m

Cn ' ,l ' , j ' m ' 
En.l , j , m  En'.l ', j ', m '

Parity operator:
Since

ˆ  pˆ xˆ   pˆ x , ˆ ˆ xˆ  ˆ x

we have

ˆ  ( Sˆ  pˆ )ˆ   Sˆ  pˆ ,

 '  ( Sˆ  pˆ )  ,

ˆ  '  ˆ ( Sˆ  pˆ )ˆ 1ˆ   ( Sˆ  pˆ )ˆ    ( Sˆ  pˆ )     '

Thus the parity of  ' is different from that of  .

1
In fact, ˆ n, l , j , m  (1)l n, l , j , m . The transition between n.l. j, m and
n.l '. j , m occurs only when l’- l = odd number.

Rotation operator
Since Sˆ  pˆ is a pseudo scalar operator, it is invariant under the rotation. From the Wigner
–Eckart theorem,

n' , l ' j ' , m' Tˆq(k00) n.l , j , m  j , k  0; m, q  0 j, k  0; j ' , m'  0

unless

m'  m and j '  j

In fact, the value of m and j does not change before and after the operation Sˆ  pˆ .

Since the perturbation potential is described by a Dirac Delta function, it is necessary for
that transition that Rnl (r  0)  0 and Rn 'l ' (r  0)  0 ; l = 1 and l’ = 0 or l = 0 and l’ = 1.

In conclusion:

We have nonzero-matrix elements only for

l '  0, j '  1 / 2, m'  1 / 2 Vˆ l  1, j  1 / 2, m  1 / 2  0

and

l  0 , j  1 / 2, m   1 / 2 Vˆ l '  1, j '  1 / 2 , m '   1 / 2  0

______________________________________________________________________

2
______________________________________________________________________
((4-6))

((Solution))

When potential is an even function, the wave function should have even parity or odd
parity.

[ˆ , Hˆ ]  0

ˆ is the parity operator.

ˆ 2  1 ˆ   ˆ  ˆ 1

ˆxˆˆ   xˆ . ˆpˆ ˆ   pˆ

Ĥ is the Hamiltonian.

pˆ 2
Hˆ   V ( xˆ )
2m

1
 pˆ 2
ˆHˆ ˆ  ˆ[  V ( xˆ )]ˆ
2m
1
 (ˆpˆ ˆ )2  V (ˆxˆˆ )
2m
1
 ( pˆ )2  V ( xˆ )
2m
1 2
 pˆ  V ( xˆ )
2m

since V ( xˆ )  V ( xˆ )

Then we have a simultaneous eigenket:

Hˆ   E  , and ˆ    

Since ˆ 2  1 ,

ˆ 2   ˆ   2   

Thus we have   1 .

or

ˆ    

x ˆ    x 

Since ˆ x   x , or x ˆ   x ˆ   x

 x   x

or

 ( x)   ( x )

We need to solve the Schrödinger equation.

ℏ2 d 2
  ( x)  V ( x) ( x)  E ( x)
2m dx 2

2
 2m 2m
k2  E, 2  (V0  E )
ℏ2 ℏ2

or

2m 2
(kb) 2  Eb   , b 2  2m2 (V0b 2  Eb2 )   0 2  
ℏ2 ℏ

and

2m
 02  2
(V0b 2 )
ℏ

or

(kb) 2  ( b) 2   0 ,
2

(a) The wave function with even parity

 I ( x )  A sin[ k ( x  a  b)]

 II ( x)  B cosh( x )

 III ( x )   A sin[ k ( x  a  b)]

d I ( x )
 Ak cos[ k ( x  a  b)]
dx

d II ( x)
 B sinh( x )
dx

((Boundary condition))

d ( x )
At x = a,  ( x) and are continuous.
dx

 A sin( kb)  B cosh( a )  0

Ak cos(kb)  B sinh(a )

We define the matrix M;

MX=0

3
where

  sin( kb)  cosh( a )   A

M    , X   
 k cos(kb)   sinh( a )   B

detM=0, leads to

k cos( kb) cosh(a)   sin(kb) sinh( a)  0

or

a
kb coth( b )  b tan(kb)  0
b

for the even parity

In summary

(kb) 2  ( b) 2   0 ,
2

a
kb coth( b )  b tan(kb)  0
b

For simplicity we use

X = kb, Y = b,

(I)
X 2  Y 2  0 ,
2
(1)
a
X coth(Y )  Y tan( X )  0 . (2)
b

(b) The wave function with odd parity

 I ( x )  A sin[ k ( x  a  b)]

 II ( x)  B sinh( x )

 III ( x )   A sin[ k ( x  a  b)]

d I ( x )
 Ak cos[ k ( x  a  b)]
dx

4
 d II ( x)
 B cosh( x)
dx

d III ( x )
  Ak cos[ k ( x  a  b)]
dx

((Boundary condition))

d ( x )
At x = a,  ( x) and are continuous.
dx

 A sin( kb)  B sinh( a)  0

Ak cos(bk )  B cosh(a )  0

We define the matrix M;

MX=0

where

  sin( kb)  sinh( a )   A

M    , X   
 k cos(kb)   cosh( a)   B

detM=0 leads to

k cos( kb) sinh( a )   sin( kb) cosh(a)  0

or

a
kb tanh( b )  b tan(kb)  0
b

for the odd parity

In summary

(kb) 2  ( b) 2   0 ,
2

a
kb tanh( b )  b tan(kb)  0
b

For simplicity we use

5
 X = ka, Y = a,

(II)
X 2  Y 2  0 ,
2

a
X tanh(Y )  Y tan( X )  0 . (3)
b

Case-1
In the limit of 0 →∞ (V0 = ∞), X = n for both the symmetric and antisymmetric wave
functions. Therefore the energy level is degenerate.

2
2m ℏ 2  n 
X  (kb)  2 Eb 2    n  ,
2
2 2
or E   with n = ±1, ±2, ±3,
ℏ 2m  b 

Case-2
In the limit of 0, the value of X for the symmetrical wave function is a little lower than
that for the antisymmetrical wave function. The solution of X = 0 is not included because
the wavefunction becomes zero.

b
 2.
a

6
10
y

x
0
0 2 4 6 8 10

Fig. Solutions with the even parity (red) and with the odd parity (green). The green
circle with x 2  y 2   0
2

7
_______________________________________________________________________
((4-7))

((Solution))
(a)

1 i E 
 p (r , t )  exp p  r  i t 
(2ℏ ) 2
3
ℏ ℏ 

1  i E 
 *p (r ,t )  3 exp  p  r  i t
(2ℏ) 2  ℏ ℏ 

1  i E 
 p (r , t )  3 exp  pr i t
(2ℏ) 2
 ℏ ℏ 

 p* (r ,t )   p (r , t )

(b)

 i 2   i 2 
 e cos   e sin 
  2 ,   2
 e i 2 sin    ei  2 cos  
n n

 2   2

ˆ  iˆ Kˆ
 y

 i  i 
ˆ 
 n
 iˆ y Kˆ [e 2
cos  e 2
sin ]
2 2
i  i  
 iˆ y [ 2
cos  e 2
in ]
2 2

Since ˆ y   i  , ˆ y   i  ,

1
ˆ  i 2   i 2 
 n
e cos  e sin    n
2 2

2
((4-8))

((Solution))

(a)
Hˆ 
ˆ 
ˆ Hˆ

Hˆ 
ˆ n 
ˆ Hˆ n  E 
n
ˆ n

ˆ n is the eigenket of Ĥ with En.


Since n is not degenerate

~ 
n ˆ n  n

~ ~  nr .
r n

Since

r~   r  r ,

we have

*
r n  nr  rn

=> r n is real.

(b)

n  p'

ˆ ˆ p2
H n  H p'  p'
2

1
E p  E p => p' and  p' are the eigenket of Ĥ with the same energy. But p' and
 p' are different states.

 p p  0

ˆ p'   p' )
(

=> r p is not a real but a complex number.

2
___________________________________________________________________
((4-9))

((Solution))

ˆ  p'  p'
Since 

p ' ~  p' 
~ *

or

 p ~  p ' 
*

or

p ~   p ' 
*
_________________________________________________________________________
4.10

((Solution))

We use the following definition.

j , m' Rˆ j, m  Dm( j',)m ( Rˆ )

(a)

ˆ Jˆ
 ˆ 1   Jˆ

ˆ Jˆ 
 ˆ 1   Jˆ , ˆ Jˆ 
 ˆ 1   Jˆ , ˆ Jˆ 
 ˆ 1   Jˆ
z z x x y y

ˆ Jˆ 
 ˆ 1  
ˆ ( Jˆ  iJˆ )
ˆ 1  ( Jˆ  iJˆ )   Jˆ
 x y x y 

ˆ Jˆ 
 ˆ 1  
ˆ ( Jˆ  iJˆ )
ˆ 1  ( Jˆ  iJˆ )   Jˆ
 x y x y 

or

Jˆz 
ˆ  
ˆ Jˆ ,
z Jˆ 
ˆ  
ˆ Jˆ ,
 Jˆ
ˆ  
ˆ Jˆ


Since

Jˆ z 
ˆ j , m  
ˆ Jˆ j, m  ℏ (m)
z
ˆ j, m

ˆ j, m  j, m . We also have

̂ j, m is the eigenket of Ĵ z with the eigenvalue (-m); 

Jˆ 
ˆ j , m  
ˆ Jˆ j , m   ℏ ( j  m)( j  m  1)

ˆ j, m  1

Jˆ 
ˆ j , m  
ˆ Jˆ j , m   ℏ ( j  m)( j  m  1)

ˆ j, m  1
 ˆ j, m  i 2 m j,m , then we have the
Suppose that , 

Jˆ j,m  ℏ ( j  m)( j  m  1) j ,m  1

Jˆ j ,m  ℏ ( j  m)( j  m  1) j,m  1

Note that ~  
ˆ j, m  i 2m j,m ,   j, m , satisfying the normalization condition.

~ ~     1

(b)

i
Rˆ (n,  )  exp[ (Jˆ  n)]
ℏ

 ˆ 1  exp[  
ˆ Rˆ (n, ) ˆ (iJˆ
ˆ 1 )  n]
ℏ
 ˆ ˆ 1 ˆ ˆ ˆ 1
 exp[ ( i )(J )  n]
ℏ
i
 exp[ Jˆ  n]
ℏ
 Rˆ (n, )

or

since ˆ i
 ˆ 1  i1̂ , and 
ˆ Jˆ
ˆ 1   Jˆ . Then we get

ˆ Rˆ (n,  )  Rˆ (n,  )
 ˆ

We note that

ˆ Rˆ j , m  Rˆ 
 ˆ j , m  i 2 m Rˆ j,m

We calculate the matrix element

j,m' Rˆ 
ˆ j, m  i 2 m j ,m' Rˆ j,m

 i 2 m D( mj )',  m ( Rˆ )
and
 ˆ Rˆ j , m  j , m' 
ˆ
j , m'   j, m" j, m" Rˆ j, mm"
*
ˆ j , m" j, m" Rˆ j , m
  j , m' 
m"
*
  i 2m" j , m' j, m" j, m" Rˆ j , m
m"
*
  i 2m" m ',m" j, m" Rˆ j , m
m"
*
 i 2 m ' j, m' Rˆ j, m
*
 i 2 m ' Dm( j',)m ( R)

From these two equations, we have

*
i 2 m D( mj )', m ( R )  i 2 m ' Dm( j',)m ( R )

or

*
Dm( j',)m ( R )  i 2 ( mm ') D( mj )', m ( R )  ( 1) mm ' D( mj )',  m ( R )

(c)

ˆ 2 j, m  
 ˆ i 2 m j , m
ˆ j , m
 ( i ) 2 m 
 (i) 2 m (i ) 2 m j, m
 (1) 2 m j , m
______________________________________________________________________________
4.11

((Solution))
Since Ĥ is invariant under time reversal,

ˆ Hˆ 
 ˆ 1  Hˆ , or ˆ Hˆ  Hˆ 
 ˆ

When n is an eigenstate of Ĥ with the energy eigenvalue E n ,

Hˆ 
ˆ  
n
ˆ Hˆ   E 
n n
ˆ
n

Thus ̂ n is also the eigenstate of Ĥ with the energy eigenvalue E n . Suppose that n is the
non-degenerate state. Then we have

~
n  ˆ n

The average of the orbital angular momentum is evaluated using the formula,

~ ˆ ˆ ˆ 1 ~ ~ ~
n Lˆ n  n L n   n Lˆ n   n Lˆ n

since

ˆ Lˆ 
 ˆ 1   Lˆ .

Then we have

n Lˆ n  0 (quenching of the orbital angular momentum).

Suppose that the wavefunction of the non-degenerate state is given by

r n   Flm (r )Yl m ( ,  ) (1)

l ,m

and

ˆ   r~ ~  r 
r
* * *
  Flm (r )[Yl m ( , )]*   Flm (r )(1) m Yl  m ( ,  ) (2)
n n n
l ,m l ,m

ˆ r  r~  r . In the present case, Eqs.(1) and (2) are equal except for the phase factor;
where 

since
* *
F
l ,m
lm (r )( 1) m Yl  m ( ,  )   Fl ,  m (r )(1) m Yl m ( , )
l ,m

Thus we have

*
Flm (r )  ei (1) m Fl ,  m (r )
______________________________________________________________________________
4.12

((Solution))
We note that [ Hˆ , 
ˆ]0

The Hamiltonian is given by

 A 0 B
 
Hˆ  ℏ 2  0 0 0 
 B 0 A
 

Hˆ 1,1  ℏ 2[ A 1,1  B 1,1 ] (1)

Hˆ 1,0  0 ( 1,0 is the eigenstate of Ĥ with the eigenvalue 0)

Hˆ 1,1  ℏ 2 [ B 1,1  A 1,1 ] (2)

In the subspace of { 1,1 and 1, 1 }, the Hamiltonian can be written as

A B
Hˆ sub  ℏ 2  
B A 
1 0 0 1
 Aℏ 2    Bℏ 2  
0 1 1 0
 ℏ 2 ( A1̂  Bˆ x )

Hˆ sub  x  ℏ 2 ( A1̂  Bˆ x )  x  ℏ 2 ( A  B)  x

with
 1 1
x    (eigenvalue: ( A  B)ℏ 2 )
2 1

1 1
x    (eigenvalue: ( A  B)ℏ 2 )
2   1

In summary we have three states

1  1,0 (energy eigenvalue, 0)

1
2  [ 1,1  1,1 ] (energy eigenvalue: ( A  B)ℏ 2 )
2

1
3  [ 1,1  1,1 ] (energy eigenvalue: ( A  B)ℏ 2 )
2

The time reversal states:

ˆ  
 ˆ 1,0  1,0
1

ˆ  1 
 ˆ [ 1,1  1,1 ]  1 [(1) 1,1  (1) 1 1,1 ]   
2 2
2 2

ˆ  1 
 ˆ [ 1,1  1,1 ]  1 [(1) 1,1  (1) 1 1,1 ]  
3 3
2 2

((Mathematica))
Clear "Global` " ; j 1;
Jx j , n , m : j m j m 1 KroneckerDelta n, m 1
2
j m j m 1 KroneckerDelta n, m 1 ;
2
Jy j , n , m : j m j m 1 KroneckerDelta n, m 1
2
j m j m 1 KroneckerDelta n, m 1 ;
2
Jz j , n , m : m KroneckerDelta n, m ;
Jx Table Jx j, n, m , n, j, j, 1 , m, j, j, 1 ;
Jy Table Jy j, n, m , n, j, j, 1 , m, j, j, 1 ;
Jz Table Jz j, n, m , n, j, j, 1 , m, j, j, 1 ;

Jx MatrixForm
0 0
2

0
2 2

0 0
2

Jy MatrixForm
0 0
2

0
2 2

0 0
2
Jz MatrixForm
0 0
0 0 0
0 0

H1 A1 Jz.Jz B1 Jx.Jx Jy.Jy Simplify

2 2 2 2
A1 , 0, B1 , 0, 0, 0 , B1 , 0, A1

H1 MatrixForm
2 2
A1 0 B1
0 0 0
2 2
B1 0 A1

Eigensystem H1
2 2
0, A1 B1 , A1 B1 , 0, 1, 0 , 1, 0, 1 , 1, 0, 1