1

CSIR-UGC-NET/GATE/TIFR/JEST
QUANTUM MECHANICS
PERTURBATION THEORY
1. Let En' ( n  0,1, 2,.........) be the energy eigenval- a a
(c) (d)
ues for a particle of mas m placed in an anharmoic 4 2
potential 4. Consider a particle in a one-dimensional infinite
1 potential well with its walls at x  0 and x  L .
V ( x) = mw2 x 2 + ax 4 , (a > 0) .
2 The system is perturbed as shown in the figure.
 1
Let En =  n +  . The according to the first or-  
 2
der pertubation theory:
[GATE 1996]
(a) E0' = E0 (b) E0' > E0 V( L)=V0
' '
(c) E < E0
0 (d) E < E0 for all n
0

2. Let E1 , E2 , E3 be the respective ground state en-

ergies of the following potentials: which one of the V(0) =0
x=0 x=L
following is correct ? [GATE 2000]
1 2 3
The first order correction to the energy eigenvalue
V= V0 V=0 is
V=0
V=–V0 V=0 V0 V0
(a) (b)
4 2
(a) E1 < E2  E3 (b) E3 < E1  E2
(c) E2 < E3  E1 (d) E2 < E1  E3 V0 V0
(c) (d)
5 3
3. If the perturbation H '  ax , where a is a con-
stant; is added to the infinite square well potential [GATE 2021]
5. A paritcle of mass m is confined in an infinite po-
0 for 0  x  
V ( x)   0 if 0 < X < L
 otherwise tential well V ( x)   It is sub-
 otherwise
The first order correction to ground state energy
is: [CSIR June 2011] jected to a perturbing potential

a  2 x 
(a) (b) a V p ( x ) = V0 sin   within the well. Let E(1)
2  L 
and E(2) be the corrections to the ground state en-
ergy in the first and second order in V0 respec-

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 2
tively. Which of the following are true?
 1 a2
[GATE 2010] E 
(c) n  n    
 2 m 2
(a) E (1)  0; E (2)  0
 1
(b) E (1)  0; E (2)  0 (d) En   n   
 2
(c) E (1)  0; E (2) depends on the sign of V0
9. Consider a system in the unperturbed state de-
(d) E  0; E  0
(1) (2)
1 0 
6. A constant perturbation as shown in the figure scribed by the Hamiltonian, H 0    . The
below acts on a particle of mass m confined in a  0 1
infinite potential well between 0 and L. The first- system is subjected to a pertubation of the form
order correction to the ground state energy of the   
particle is [CSIR Dec 2011] H'   , where   1 . The energy eigen-
  
values of the perturbed system using the first or-
der pertubation approximation are
[GATE 2012]
V0/2 V0 (a) 1 and 1+ 2 
D L/2 L (b) (1   ) and 1   
V0 3V 0 (c) (1  2 ) and 1  2 
(a) (b)
2 4
(d) (1   ) and 1  2 
V0 3V 0
(c) (d) 10. Consider a quantum particle of mass m in one di-
4 2
mension in an infinite potential well i.e.V ( x )  0 ,
7. A particle is confined in a one-dimensional poten-
tial box with the potential for

0 i f 0 < x < a a / 2  x  a / 2 and V ( x)   for x  a / 2 .

V ( x)  
  otherwise A small perturbation, V '( x)  2  x / a is added.
If the particle is subjected to a perturbation, within The change in the ground state energy to O ( ) is:
the box, W   x where  is a small constant, [JEST 2016]
the first order correction to the ground state en-  
ergy is [GATE 2014] (a) ( 2  4) (b) ( 2  4)
2 2
2 2

a
(a) 0 (b)  2  2
4 (c) (  4)
2
(d) ( 2  4)
2 2
a 11. A charged particle is in the ground state of a one-
(c) (d) a 
2 dimensional harmonic oscillator potential, gener-
8. The energy eigenvlaues of a particle in the poten- ated by electrical means. If the power is suddenly
1 switched off, so that the potential disppears, then,
tial are V ( x ) = mw 2 x 2 - ax are according to quantum mechanics.
2
[CSIR Dec 2012] [TIFR 2010]
(a) the particle will shoot out of the well and move
 1 a2 out towards infintiy in one of the two possible di-
(a) En   n    
 2 2m 2 rection as
(b) the particle will stop oscillationg and as time
 1 a2 increases it may be found farther and farther way
E 
(b) n  n    
 2 2m 2 from the centre of the well
(c) the particle will keep oscillating about the same
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mean position but with increasing amplitude as time 2
increases A2 A
(c) (d)
(d) the particle will undergo a transition to one of E2 - E1 E1 - E2
the higher excited states of the harmonic oscillator 16. The first-order correction to the eigenfunction
12. A particle of mass m is confined in potential well
1 
given by V ( x)  0 for  L / 2  x  L / 2   is;
and V ( x )   elsewhere. A perturbing potential  0

H '( x)  ax has been applied to the system. Let  0   0

(a)  A* E - E 
 (b)  
the first and second order corrections to the ground
  1 2  1 
state be E0(1) and E0(2) , respectively. Which one
of the following statements is correct?  A* /  E1 - E2   1
(c)   (d)  
[JEST 2015]  0  1
(a) E0(1)  0 and E0(2)  0 17. The first-order correction to the eigenvalues of
p 2 1 2
(b) E0(1)  0 and E0(2)  0 the Hamiltonian H 0    k x due to a
2m 2
(c) E0(1)  0 and E0(2)  0  1  a x
perturabation H
(d) E0(1)  0 and E0(2)  0
(a) 0 (b)  / k
13. A one-dimensional harmonic oscillator whose
(c) 2 / k (d) 2 / k
1 2 1 2 2
Hamiltonian is H0 = p   x is per- 18. The wave function of a one-dimensional harmonic
2m 2m
turbed such that the total Hamitonian is  a 2 x 2 
oscillator is  0  A exp   for the ground
H  H 0   x . The first order correction to the  2 
ground state is state E0 ( x /10) 4 , the first order change in the
ground state energy is:
 
(a) 2  (b)
[Given : ( x +1) =  tx exp(-t ) dt 

2
 0 
(c)   (d) 0
[GATE 2004]
Common data for Q.14, Q.15 and Q.16
 1  4
An unperturbed two-level system has energy (a)  E0 10 (b)  3E0 10 4
2 
1   3  4
eigenvalues E1 and E2 and eigen functions   (c)  E0 10 (d)  E0 10 4
 0  4 
 0 19. A one-dimensional harmonic oscillator of mass m ,
and   when perturbed, its Hamiltonian is rep- charge e and frequency  is oscillating on the x-
1  axis about the origin. An electric field of magni-
 E1 A.  tude E is applied along the positive x-axis. What
resented by  *  [GATE 2006] is the exact energy of the first excited state of the
 A E2  system?
14. The first-order correction to E1 is:
2
(a) 4A (b) 2A 3 3  eE 
(c) A (d) 0 (a)   eE (b)    
2 2  2m 
15. The second-order correction to E1 is
 eE 
2
(a) 0 (b) A 3 3
(c)   (d)   eE
2 2m 2 2

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(c) Settle into the harmonic oscillator ground state
b (a - x) - a < x < a
20. The perturbation H ' =  with x  0 as origin after absorbing a photon.
0 otherwise
(d) Oscillate back and forth with initial amplitude
acts on a particle of mass ‘m’ confined in an infi-
eE / k , emitting multiple photons as it does so.
nite square well potential
23. A particle is described by the following Hamilto-
0  a < x < a
V ( x) =  
p
2
1
 otherwise 
nian H   m  2 x , where the quartric
2

The first order correction to the ground state en- 2m 2

ergy of the particle is [CSIR Dec 2013] term can be treated perturbatively. If E0 and
ba ba
(a) (b) E1 denote the energy correction of O ( ) to
2 2
the ground state and the first excited state re-
(c) 2ba (d) ba
spectively, what is the fraction E1 / E0 ?
21. The normalized eigenstates of a particle in a one-
dimensional potential well [JEST 2017]
24. The validity of Fermi’s golden rule which connects
0 if 0 < x < a two states with energy difference , implies that it is
V ( x) = 
 otherwise true for
are given by 
(a) All times t (b) t 
2  n x  E
 n ( x) sin   
a  a  (c) t  (d) E  0
The particle is subjected to a perturbation E
25. A quantum harmonic oscillator is in the energy
 x  a eigenstate n . A time independent perturbation
V ' ( x )  V0 cos   for 0  x 
 a  2
  a † a  acts on the particle, where  is a con-
2

The shift in the ground state energy due to the per-

turbation in the first order perturbation theory, stant of suitable dimensions and a and a † are low-
[GATE 2011] ering and raising operators respectively. Then the
2V0 V0 first order energy shift is given by
(a) (b) [GATE 2001]
3 3
V0 2V0 (a)  n (b)  2 n
(c)  (d) 
3 3 (d)   n 
2
(c)  n 2
22. A particle of mass ‘m’ and charge ‘e’ is in the
ground state of a one-dimensional harmonic os- 26. A harmonic oscillator has the following Hamilto-
cillator potential in the presence of a uniform ex- nian
ternal electric field E. The total potential felt by p 2 1
 m 2 x
2
the particle is H0 
2m 2
1 2
V ( x)  kx  eEx
It is perturbed with a potential V   x . Some of
4
2
If the electric field is suddenly switched off, then the matrix elements of in terms of its expectation
the particle will [TIFR 2014] value in the ground state are given as follows:
(a) Make a transition to any harmonic oscillator
0 x 0  C ; 0 x 2  2C ; 1 x 1
2 2 2
state with x  eE / k as origin without emitting
any photon.
 3C ; 1 x 3  6C
2
(b) Make a transition to any harmonic oscillator
state with x  0 as origin and absorb a photon.

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 5
tion value of is the ground state)
where n is the normalized eigenstates of H0 cor-
[CSIR Dec 2013]
responding to the eigenvlaue En   ( n  1/ 2) .
(a)    x (b)    x
Suppose E0 and E1 , denote the energy cor-
2
rection O( ) of to the ground state and the first (c)   (d) 
2m 2
excited state, respectively. What is the fraction
30. A quantum mechanical system which has station-
E1 / E0 ? [JEST 2018]
ary states 1 , 2 and 3 and , corresponding to
27. Consider a two-dimensional infinite square will
energy levels 0 eV ,1 eV and 2eV respectively,,
0, if 0, x < a, 0 < y < a
V ( x, y )   is perturbed by a potential of the form
 , otherwise
V   1 3   3 1 , where, in eV , 0    1
Its normalized eigenfunctional are
The new ground state, correct to order, is
2 nx n y appoximately. [TIFR 2017]
 n x ,n y ( x , y ) = sin  x  sin  y 
a  a   a     
(a) 1   1  3 (b) 1  2  3
where nx , n y  1, 2,3,............ If a perturbation  2 2 2
 
 a a (c) 1  3 (d) 1  3
V0 if 0 < x < , 0 < y < 2 2
H'= 2 2 is applied,
0 otherwise 31. Consider a one-dimensional infinite square well

then the correction to the energy of the first ex- 0 for 0  x  a,

V ( x)  
cited state to order V0 is  otherwise
[CSIR June 2013]
 a
V0 V0  64  V0 for 0  x  ,
(a) (b) 1  9 2  If a perturbation V ( x)   3
4 4 0 otherwise
V0  16  V0  32  is applied, then the correction to the energy of
(c)
4 1  9 2  (d)
4 1  9 2 
    the first excited state, to first order in V , is
nearest to [CSIR Dec 2017]
1
28. Consider a spin  particle characterized by the (a) V0 (b) 0.16 V0
2
Hamiltonian H   S z . Under a perturbation (c) 0.2 V0 (d) 0.33 V0
H '  gS x , the second order correction to the 32. A two level, unperturbed system is governed by
ground state energy is given by, [JEST 2015]  2 0
the Hamiltonian H 0  E0   . A perturba-
g2 g2 0 4
(a)  (b)
4 4 a b 
tion H '     is applied. The first order
g2 g2 c d 
(c)  (d)
2 2 correction to the lowest unperturbed energy is:
29. The motion of a particle of mass m in one dimen-
(a) a (b) b
sion is described by the Hamiltonian
p2 1 (c) c (d) d 
H  m 2 x 2   x . What is the differ-
2m 2 33. A constant perturbation H ' is applied to a sys-
ences between the (quantized) energies of the first
tem for time  t  where H '  t    leading to
two levels? (In the following, x is the expecta-

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a transition from a state with energy Ei to another (c) ba02 / 2 2ba02 (d)
with energy E f . If the time of application is 38. A one dimensional simple harmonic oscillator with
doubled, the probability of transition will be p2 1 2
[CSIR Dec 2017] Hamiltonian H 0   kx is subjected to a
2m 2
(a) unchangde (b) doubled
(c) quadrupled (d) halved small perturbation, H 1   x   x 3   x 4 . The
Common Data for Q. 34 and Q. 35: first order correction to the ground state energy is
To the given unpertubed Hamiltonian dependent on [GATE 2017]
(a) only  (b)  and 
5 2 0 
2 5 0  (c)  and  (d) only 
 
0 0 2 
we add a small pertubation given by V(x)

1 1 1
 1 1 1 x
1  1 1
a
where  is a small quantity.. [GATE 2013] V0
34. The ground state eigen vector of the unpertubed L
Hamiltonian is
(a) (1 2,1 / 2, 0) (b) (1 2, 1 / 2,0) 39. The perturabation H ' = bx 4 , where ‘b’ is a con-
stant, is added to the one dimensional harmonic
(c) (0, 0,1) (d) (1, 0, 0)
1
35. A pair of eigen values of the perturbed Hamilto- oscillator potential V ( x ) = m 2 x 2 . Which of
nian, using first order perturbation theory, is 2
the following denotes the correction to the ground
(a) 3  2 , 7  2 (b) 3  2 , 2  
state energy to first order in b?
(c) 3, 7  2 (d) 3, 2  2 [Hint: The normalised ground state wave function
36. The ground state energy of a particle of mass in of the one dimensional harmonic oscillator poten-
an infinite potential well is E0 . It changes to 14
 m  2
/2 
tial is  0    e  m . You may use the
E0 (1    10 ) , when there is a small potential   
3

 2 2 

 n 11
bump of height V0  
2

2 and width following integral x 2 n e  ax dx  a n 

2
50mL   2
a  L / 100 , as shown in the figure. The value of [CSIR Dec 2011]
a is ........................... (up to two decimal
places). [GATE 2018] 3b 2 3b 2
(a) (b)
4m 2 2 2m 2 2
37. The Coulomb potential V (r )  e 2 / r of a hy-
3b 2 b
drogen atom is perturbed by adding H '  bx 2 (c) (d)
(where b is a constant) to the Hamiltonian. The 2 m 2 2
4m
first order correction to the ground state energy is 40. A hydrogen atom is in its ground state. In the pres-
 
(The ground state wavefunction is ence of a uniform electric field E  E 0 z , the lead-
1 ing order change in its energy is proportional to
0  e  r / a0 ). [CSIR Dec 2017]
 a03  E0 
n
. The value of the exponent is ....................
(a) 2ba02 (b) 2ba02 [GATE 2016]

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41. A particle is confined in a box of length L as shown
0 k 0
below. If the potential V0 is treated as a perturbatio, ˆ  
H    k 0 k  , where k  0 . If, the maximum
including the first order correction, the ground state 0 k 0
energy is [GATE 2015]  
energy eigenvalue of Ĥ is 3eV corresponding to
E  2eV , the value of k (rounded off to three
decimal places) in eV is ________.
V0 [GATE 2020]
L/2 44. Two idential bosons of mass m are placed in a
1
 2 2 m 2 x 2 . The
one-dimensional potential V ( x ) =
(a) E   V0 2
2mL2
bosons interact via a weak potential
 2 2 V0 V12 = V0 exp   m ( x1 - x2 ) 2 4   , where x1 and
(b) E  
2mL2 2
x2 denote coordinates of the particles. Given that
 2 2 V0 the ground state wavefuntion of the harmonic os-
(c) E   cillator is
2mL2 4
1
 2 2 V0 m x 2
 m  4  2 
(d) E    0 ( x)    e . The ground state energy
2mL2 2   
42. Consider an electron in a box of length L with pe- of the two-bosons system, to the first order in V0
riodic condition  ( x)   ( x + L) . If the electron is: [CSIR June 2013]
1 jkx (a)    2V0
is in the  k ( x)  e with energy
L V0 
(b)   
h k 2 2 
k  , what is the correction to its energy,,
2m   
1/2

to second order of pertubation theory, when it is (c)   V0  1  

 2 
subjected to weal periodic potential
V ( x ) = V0 cos gx, where is g an integral mul-  
(d)   V0  1  
tiple of the 2 / L ? [CSIR June 2012]  

(a) V02 g /  k2  
45. The Hamiltonian of a system is H   1   with
  1 
mV02  1 1 
(b)  2 
 2    1. The fourth order contribution to the ground
2  g  2kg g  2kg 
2

state energy of H is  4 . The value of  (rounded

(c) V 0
2
 k  g 
off to three decimal places) is____
(d) V0
2
 k  g  [GATE 2019]

43. Consider the Hamiltonian Hˆ  Hˆ 0  Hˆ  where 46. The ground state eigenfunction for the potential
V ( x )   ( x ) , where  ( x) is the delta funciton,
E 0 0 is given by  ( x)  Ae x , where A and a  0
ˆ  
H0   0 E 0  and Ĥ  is the time indepen-
0 are constants. If a pertubation H '  bx 2 is ap-
 0 E 
plied, the first order correction to the energy of
dent perturbation given by the ground state will be [CSIR June 2014]

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 8
b b  k 2   k 2 
(a)
2 2
(b)
2 (a) g exp    (b) g exp  
 2m   2m 
2b b
(c) (d)  2k 2    k 2 
 2
2 2 (c) g exp    (d) g exp  
47. The Hamiltonian H0 for a three-state quantum sys-  m   4m 
1 0 0  51. A particle of mass m is constrained to move in a
 
tem is given by the matrix H 0   0 2 0  . When circular ring to radius R. When a perturbation
0 0 2 a
  V ' 2
cos 2 
R
0 1 0
(where a is a real constant) is added, the shift in
perturbed by H '  1 0 1  where  1 ,
energy of the ground state, to first order in a, is
0 1 0
  [CSIR June 2018]
the resulting shift in the energy eigenvalues E0 =2 (a) a R 2 (b)
is [CSIR Dec 2014] 2a R 2
(a) , 2  (b)  , 2  (c) a  2 R  (d) a  R 
2 2

(c)   (d) 2  52. A particle of charge q in one dimension is in a simple


48. An electric field E  E0 zˆ is applied to a hydro- harmonic potential with angular frequency  . It is
subjected to a time dependent electric field
gen atom in n  2 excited state. Ignoring spin, the
E (t )  Ae  (t / ) , where A and  are positive
2

n  2 state is fourfold degenerate, which in the

constants and   1 . If in the distantpast
l , m basis are given by 0,0 , 1,1 , 1,0 and
t   the particle was in its ground state, the
1, 1 . The H ' is the interaction Hamiltonian cor- probability that it will be in the first excited state as
responding to the applied electric field, which of t   is proportional to [CSIR Dec 2016]
the following matrix elements is non-zero? 1
(a) e 2 ( )
2 1
(b) e 2 ( )
2

[GATE 2019]
1
(c) 0 (d)
(a) 0, 0 H ' 0,0 (b) 0, 0 H ' 1,1 ( ) 2
53. Consider the quantum mechanical Hamiltonian
(c) 0,0 H ' 1,0 (d) 0,0 H ' 1, 1
p12 p22 1
H   m 2  x12  x22     x12  x22 
49. A hydrogen atom is subjected to the perturbation 2m 2 m 2
V pert (r )  cos 2r / a0 where a0 is the Bohr ra- What is the exact ground state energy of this sys-
dius. The change in the ground state energy to first tem?
order in  is [CSIR Dec 2015]
1/2
(a)  /4 (b)  /2  2 
(a)   1  2  (b)    2
(c)   /2 (d)   /4  m 
50. Consider a particle of mass m in a potential
1/2
1   
V ( x)  m 2 x 2  g cos kx. . The change in the (c) 1     (d)   1  2 
2  m 
ground state energy, compared to the simple har-
54. The eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian
1
monic potential m x , to first order in g is
2 2
1 0 0 1
2 Hˆ  V0    V0   upto the second
[CSIR June 2016] 0 2 1 0
order perturbation for V0  0,1    0 , is
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 9
(a) V0 1    and V  2    ANSWER KEY
2 2
0

1. (b) 2. (c) 3. (a)

(b) V0 1    and V0  2   
2 2
4. (b) 5. (a) 6. (b)
7. (c) 8. (a) 9. (a)
(c) V0 1    and V  2   
2 2
0 10. (a) 11. (a) 12. (d)
13. (d) 14. (d) 15. (d)
(d) V0 1    and V  2    16. (a) 17. (a) 18. (c)
2 2
0
19. (c) 20. (d) 21. (a)
55. A particle of mass m is confined insdie a box with 22. (b) 23. (0005) 24. (d)
boundaries at x   L . The ground state and the 25. (c) 26. (0005) 27. (b)
28. (a) 29. (d) 30. (d)
first excited state of this particle are E1 and E2
31. (*) 32. (a) 33. (b)
respectively. Now, a repulsive function   x  is 34. (c) 35. (c)
introduced at the centre of the box where the con- 36. (0.78 to 0.82) 37. (b)
38. (d) 39. (a) 40. (2)
stant  satisfies
41. (d) 42. (b)
2 43. (0.706 - 0.708) 44. (c)
1 x 45. (0.125) 46. (d) 47. (c)
0     
32m  L  48. (c) 49. (d) 50. (d)
51. (c) 52. (a) 53. (a)
If the energies of the new ground state and the 54. (c) 55. (c)
new first excited state be denoted as E1' and E2'
respectively, it follows that

(a) E1'  E1 , E2'  E2 (b) E1'  E1 , E2'  E2

(c) E1'  E1 , E2'  E2 (d) E1'  E1 , E2'  E2

[TIFR 2020]

OFFICE: 112 Mall Road, GTB Nagar, Near GTB Nagar Metro Gate No.3,-110009
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