PHYS20672

ONE HOUR THIRTY MINUTES

A list of constants is enclosed.

UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

Complex Variables and Vector Spaces

32nd January 2023, 2.00 p.m. - 3.30 p.m.

Answer ALL parts of question 1 and TWO other questions

Electronic calculators may be used, provided that they cannot store text.

The numbers are given as a guide to the relative weights of the different parts of
each question.

©University of Manchester, 2023 1 of 5 P.T.O

 PHYS20672

1. a) An operator  is termed anti-hermitian if it satisfies † = −Â. Show that the

eigenvalues of an anti-hermitian operator  are pure imaginary.
[6 marks]

2
b) Consider the real functions ϕn (x) = pn (x)e−x /2 where pn (x) are polynomials of
degree n in the real variable x. The inner product is given by,
Z∞
⟨ϕn |ϕm ⟩ = ϕn (x)ϕm (x) dx.
−∞

Find p2 (x), given that the functions ϕ0 , ϕ1 and ϕ2 are mutually orthogonal with
respect to the inner product. Your answer for p2 does not need to be normalised.
You may use without proof the standard integrals,
Z∞ Z∞ √
−x2
√ 2 −x2 π
e dx = π and xe dx = .
2
−∞ −∞

[8 marks]

c) Integrate the function f (z) = z along a straight-line path between z = 0 and

z = 1 + i.
State without proof whether the value of this integral could change if an alternative
path is used. Justify your answer.
[5 marks]

d) For a function f (z) = u(x, y)+iv(x, y), where z = x+iy, state the Cauchy-Riemann
conditions for f (z) to be differentiable. Show that they are satisfied for f (z) = ez .
[6 marks]

2 of 5 P.T.O
 PHYS20672

2. A two-dimensional complex vector space has an orthonormal-basis |0⟩ and |1⟩. The Pauli
operators on this space are defined as

σ̂x = |0⟩⟨1| + |1⟩⟨0|, σ̂y = −i|0⟩⟨1| + i|1⟩⟨0|, and σ̂z = |0⟩⟨0| − |1⟩⟨1|.

a) Write down the matrix representation of all three Pauli operators with respect to
the {|0⟩, |1⟩} basis.
[3 marks]

b) Find the eigenvalues and corresponding normalised eigenvectors for σ̂y .

[5 marks]

c) A rotation operator in this two-dimensional vector space can be defined as

R̂(θ) = exp(−iθσ̂y ),

where θ is a real constant. Find the spectral representation of R̂(θ), and show that
it is unitary for all values of θ.
[4 marks]

d) Show that the rotation operator in part (c) has the matrix representation,
 
cos θ − sin θ
R(θ) = ,
sin θ cos θ

with respect to the {|0⟩, |1⟩} basis.

[7 marks]

e) Consider the operator,

ρ̂ = β σ̂x + γ σ̂z ,
where β and γ are real constants. Show that the rotation operator R̂(θ) diagonalises
ρ̂ when  
1 β
θ = − arctan .
2 γ

[6 marks]

3 of 5 P.T.O
 PHYS20672

3. For this question, the following identities may be used without proof:

cosh(A ± B) = cosh(A) cosh(B) ± sinh(A) sinh(B) and cosh2 A − sinh2 A = 1.

a) A function f (z) = u + iv, where z = x + iy, has real part u(x, y) = cosh x cos y.
Show that u satisfies ∇2 u = 0. Given that f is analytic and that f (0) = 1, find the
corresponding imaginary part v(x, y) and hence show that f (z) = cosh z.
[9 marks]

b) Consider the mapping Z = X + iY = arccosh z. Show that under the inverse

mapping, z = cosh Z, lines of constant X = a ̸= 0 map to the ellipses

x2 y2
+ = 1.
cosh2 a sinh2 a
Also show that the line X = 0 maps to the segment of the x-axis with −1 ≤ x ≤ 1.
[5 marks]

c) For the mapping considered in part (b), find the equations of the curves to which
lines of constant Y = b are mapped for −π < b ≤ π. Sketch curves of constant X
and curves of constant Y on the xy-plane.
[5 marks]

d) The function Z(x, y) = arccosh(x + iy) can be regarded as the complex potential
around an infinitely long charged strip of metal. The cross-section of this strip is
indicated by the heavy line in the figure below.

State how the field lines and equipotentials are related to the curves sketched in
part (c). Use the Cauchy–Riemann conditions to show that the magnitude of the
electric field E(x, y) is given by
dZ
E= .
dz
Hence show that E ≈ 1/(x2 + y 2 )1/2 at large distances from the metal strip.
[6 marks]

4 of 5 P.T.O
 PHYS20672

4. In the following problems involving contour integration, the contour should be sketched
and the positions of any poles indicated on your sketch. If Jordan’s lemma is used, show
that the conditions for its validity are satisfied.

a) Evaluate the following real, principal-value integral

Z ∞
cos x
− dx.
−∞ x − 1

[11 marks]

cot(πz)
b) Find the poles and residues of the function f (z) = , where a is a non-zero
(a2 + z 2 )
real number.
By considering the integral of f (z) around a suitable contour, show that
∞
X 1 π
= .
n=−∞
a2 +n 2 a tanh(πa)

[14 marks]

END OF EXAMINATION PAPER

5 of 5