Physics 443, Solutions to PS 11

1.Griffiths 9.1
Hydrogen atom is placed in a time dependent electric field E = E(t)k̂. The
perturbation is given by H = eE(t)z.
s
1 −r
 
ψ100 = 3
exp ,
πa a
s
1 1 r −r
   
ψ200 = 1− exp ,
2πa 2a 2a 2a
s
1 1 −r
 
ψ211 = − 2
r exp sin θeiφ ,
πa 8a 2a
s
1 1 −r
 
ψ210 = 2
r exp cos θ,
2πa 4a 2a
s
1 1 −r
 
ψ21−1 = 2
r exp sin θe−iφ .
πa 8a 2a
By inspection or calculation, you will find that all the matrix elements are
zero except
28
!
h100|H|210i = − √ 5 eEa.
23

2. Griffiths 9.11
We shall find the decay rates from the A coefficients which are

ω3
A= |P|2 .
3π0 h̄c3
Refer to the previous problem for explicit representation of the hydrogenic
wavefunctions. Using that x = r sin θ cos φ, y = r sin θ sin φ, z = r cos θ, you
can convince yourself that all the matrix elements between ψ100 and ψ200 are
zero. Therefore the state ψ200 has an infinite lifetime. For the state ψ210 we
have that the x and y matrix elements are zero (think selection rules!) while
(see previous problem)
28 a
h100|z|210i = √ ,
235
from which we can calculate the A coefficient as
ω 3 215
A= (qa)2 .
3π0 h̄c3 310

1
 We now consider the case of ψ211 and ψ21−1 , where the z matrix element
is zero, and up to a phase, the x and y components are equal. We have that
|P|2 = 2(qa)2 214 3−10 . Notice that this is the same as what we calculated for
the ψ210 state. Using that h̄ω = E2 − E1 = 0.75E1 , we have that τ = 1/A =
1.6 x 10−9 sec.

3.Griffiths 9.14
The allowed decay routes are
|300i −→ |210i −→ |100i
|300i −→ |211i −→ |100i
|300i −→ |21 − 1i −→ |100i
Recall the selection rules that ∆m = ±1, 0 and ∆l = ±1. Also note that
on pg. 360 Griffiths derives the m-selection rules. We have if ∆m = ±1
then the z matrix element is zero, while the x and y terms are equal up
to a phase. While if ∆m = 0 then the x and y matrix elements are zero.
Using these rules, notice that |h210|r|300i|2 = |h210|z|300i|2 , and |h21 ±
1|r|300i|2 = 2|h21 ± 1|x|300i|2 . Comparing the integrals,
√ you can notice that
the ratio between h210|z|300i and h21 ± 1|x|300i is 2. We therefore have
that |h210|r|300i|2 = |h21 ± 1|r|300i|2 . This means that all three transition
rates are equal, and that each route has an equal probability of 1/3. To
calculate the lifetime, we add the A coefficients to get that
ω 3 e2 |hri|2
!
A=3
3π0 h̄c3
215 37
|hri|2 = 12 a2
5
5
h̄ω = E3 − E2 = − E1 .
36
1 −7
τ = = 1.58 x 10 sec.
A

4. Griffiths 9.20
(a) Manipulations with the Pauli matrices give that
! !
~ = − γh̄ B0 Brf eiωt h̄ ω0 Ωeiωt
H = −~µ · B −iωt =− −iωt .
2 Brf e −B0 2 Ωe −ω0

2
(b) Using the time dependent Schrodinger equation for a spinor χ(t) =
(a(t), b(t)), we can write:
! ! !
h̄ ω0 Ωeiωt a ∂ a
− −iωt = ih̄
2 Ωe −ω0 b ∂t b
! !
ȧ(t) i a(t)ω0 + b(t)Ωeiωt
= .
ḃ(t) 2 a(t)Ωe−iωt − b(t)ω0

(c) Solving these coupled differential equations is done by first differenti-

ating the ḃ(t) equation,
ih i
b̈ = (ȧ − iωa)Ωe−iωt − ḃω0
2
then substituting in for ȧ(t). We have
i i
 
b̈ = ( (aω0 + bΩeiωt ) − iωa)Ωe−iωt − ḃω0
2 2
and " #
i ω0 b
b̈ = (iaΩe−iωt ( − ω) + i Ω2 − ḃω0
2 2 2
Then substitute the expression for a(t) from the original equation

a(t)Ωe−iωt = −2iḃ(t) + b(t)ω0 .

and we get
" #
i   ω0 b
b̈ = (i (−2iḃ + bω0 )eiωt /Ω Ωe−iωt ( − ω) + i Ω2 − ḃω0
2 2 2
" #
i   ω
0 b
b̈ = (i −2iḃ + bω0 ( − ω) + i Ω2 − ḃω0
2 2 2
" #
i b 
b̈ = (−2ḃω + i ω02 − 2ω0 ω + Ω2
2 2
b 2 
b̈ = −iḃω − ω0 − 2ω0 ω + Ω2
4
b  02 
b̈ = −iḃω − ω − ω2
4
3
Define γ = iω, and α = 4b (ω 0 2 − ω 2 ). Now our dcoupled second order
differential equation looks like the equation of motion for a damped
harmonic oscillator.
b̈ = −γ ḃ − αb
The general solution has the form

b = Aeiθt

Substitution into the differential equation gives

−θ2 = −iθγ − α

and
1 1 ω ω02
 q  q  
θ= iγ ± −γ 2 + 4α = −ω ± ω 2 + (ω 0 2 − ω 2 ) = − ±
2 2 2 2
so  0 0

i ω2 t −i ω2 t ω
b = Ce + De e−i 2 t

or even better
ω
b = [A cos(ω 0 t/2) + B sin(ω 0 t/2)] e−i 2 t

The boundary conditions give us

b(0) = A = b0

and
i
ḃ(0) = (−iω/2)A + (ω 0 /2)B = (Ωa0 − ω0 b0 )
2
→ ωb0 + iω 0 B = (ω0 b0 − Ωa0 )
i
→ B = 0 [(ω − ω0 )b0 + Ωa0 ]
ω
Then
i
 
−i ω
b = b0 cos(ω 0 t/2) + [(ω − ω0 )b 0 + Ωa 0 ] sin(ω 0
t/2) e 2
t
ω0

4
 1
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
P(ω) 0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
-10 -5 0 5 10
(ω/ω0 )

Figure 1: Transition probability as a function of driving frequency

5
 (d) If a0 = 1 and b0 = 0 then
Ω 2 2 0 ω2
P (t) = |b(t)|2 = | 0
| sin (ω t/2) = 2 2
sin2 (ω 0 /2)t
ω (ω − ω0 ) + Ω

(e) The full width at half maximum ∆ω = 2Ω.

(f)
ge (5.59)(1.6 × 10−19 )C)
ω0 = γB0 = B0 = (1T ) = 2.68 × 108 Hz
2mp 2(1.67 × 10−27 kg)

Brf
Ω = γBrf = ω0 = 10−6 ω0 = 2.68 × 102 Hz
B0

5. Griffiths 9.21
(a) The interaction hamiltonian
H 0 = −qE(r, t) · r
= −qE0 (cos ωt + (k · r) sin ωt) · r
= −qˆE0 (cos ωt + (k · r) sin ωt) · r
The first term on the right gives us the dipole approximation and the
corresponding spontaneous decay rate is
ω 3 |q hψf | ˆ · r | ψi i |2
R=
π0 h̄c
The second term on the right gives the magnetic dipole or electric
quadrupole and the decay rate
ω 3 |q hψf | (ˆ · r)(k · r) | ψi i |2
R =
π0 h̄c
D E
ω |q|k| ψf | (ˆ · r)(k̂ · r) | ψi |2
3
=
π0 h̄c
D E
ω 5 |q ψf | (ˆ · r)(k̂ · r) | ψi |2
=
π0 h̄c3
where we use |k| = ω/c

6
(b) For the 1-dimensional oscillator, we can choose r to be in the z-direction.
The photon that is emitted can go in any direction k and with any po-
larization ˆ. Suppose that k is in the x-y plane at an angle θ with
respect to r. k̂ · r = r cos θ. The polarization is perpendicular to k. If
the polarization is in the x-y plane then ˆ · r = r sin θ. If it is at an
angle φ with respect to the x-y plane then its projection into the plane
is cos φ. So in general ˆ · r = r sin θ cos φ and putting it all together
(ˆ · r)(k̂ · r) = r2 cos θ sin θ cos φ
and
q2ω5 D 2
E
R = | f | r cos θ sin θ cos φ | i |2
πh̄c5
q2ω5 D 2
E
= | f | r | i |2 (cos θ sin θ cos φ)2
πh̄c5
The calculation of the expectation value does not depend on the angles
since it is a 1-dimensional oscillator. And since it is 1-dimensional we
might as let r = x. Then
q2ω5 D 2
E
R = 5
| f | x | i |2 (cos θ sin θ cos φ)2
πh̄c

s 2
D E h̄  D E
f | x2 | i =  f | (a+ + a− )2 | i
2mω0
!
h̄ D E
= f | (a2+ − a+ a− − a− a+ + a2− )2 | i
2mω0
ω0 is the natural frequency of the oscillator. Since the final state has
less energy then the initial state, the only non-zero contribution
q comes
2 2
from a− . If the initial state is | ni, then a− | ni = n(n − 1)| n − 2i
and
q2ω5
!
h̄ D
2
E
R = | n − 2 | a − | n |2 (cos θ sin θ cos φ)2
πh̄c5 2mω0
q2ω5
!q
h̄
= 5
| n(n − 1)|2 (cos θ sin θ cos φ)2
πh̄c 2mω0
2 3
q ω h̄
= n(n − 1)(cos θ sin θ cos φ)2
πm2 c5
7
 where we use the fact that ω0 = ω/2. Finally, average over all angles
for photon direction and polarization.
1 Z Z 1
(cos θ sin θ cos φ)2 sin θdθdφ =
4π 15
so
q 2 ω 3 h̄n(n − 1)
R =
15πm2 c5

(c) To compute the rate for 2S → 1S in hydrogen

D E D EZ Z
2 2
1S | r cos θ sin θ cos φ | 2S = R(r)1S | r | R(r)2S cos θ sin θ cos φ sin θdθdφ

The angular integral is zero. Note that the 1-dimensional harmonic

oscillator has a preferred direction in space. The 1S and 2S states in
hydrogen are spherically symmetric.