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Advanced Solid State HW1 2

This document outlines a homework problem set for an Advanced Solid State Physics course, dated October 19, 2023. It includes various problems related to probability, time evolution, a particle in a magnetic field, and a particle in a box, each requiring calculations and theoretical explanations. The problems involve concepts such as spin states, expectation values, Hamiltonians, and wave functions in quantum mechanics.

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14 views2 pages

Advanced Solid State HW1 2

This document outlines a homework problem set for an Advanced Solid State Physics course, dated October 19, 2023. It includes various problems related to probability, time evolution, a particle in a magnetic field, and a particle in a box, each requiring calculations and theoretical explanations. The problems involve concepts such as spin states, expectation values, Hamiltonians, and wave functions in quantum mechanics.

Uploaded by

xyz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Advanced Solid State Physics E M1

Homework problem set 1


19.10.2023

1 Probability
(a) An electron has been observed to have its spin in the direction of the z-axis of a rectangular coordinate
system. Write its initial state |ψ0 ⟩.
(b) Calculate the probability P (θ) that a second observation (state |ψ1 ⟩) will show the spin to be directed in
x − z plane at an angle θ with respect to the z-axis.

(c) The total spin of the neutron and proton in a deuteron is a triplet state. The resultant spin of the deuteron
has been observed to be parallel to the z-axis of a rectangular coordinate system. In this framework, write
the initial spin state of the neutron-proton system in the base |s1 , m1 ⟩n |s2 , m2 ⟩p where s1 and s2 are the
spins of the neutron and proton respectively and m1 and m2 their projections onto the z-axis.

2 Time evolution, expectation values


For a certain system, the operator A does not commute with the Hamiltonian. It has eigenvalue a1 and a2 ,
corresponding to eigenfunctions
√ √
ϕ1 = (u1 + u2 )/ 2 , ϕ2 = (u1 − u2 )/ 2,

where u1 and u2 are eigenfunctions of the Hamiltonian with eigenvalues E1 and E2 . If the system is in the state
ψ = ϕ1 at time t = 0:

(a) After time evolution, express the wavefunction ψ(t) in terms of ϕ1 and ϕ2

(b) Show that the expectation value of A at time t can be written as:

a1 + a2 a1 − a2 (E1 − E2 )t
⟨A⟩ = + cos
2 2 h̄

Hints

1. To change basis, try using symmetric and antisymmetric of the eigenfunctions (keeping normalization!)
2.
e−iα + eiα
cos α = , h̄wj = Ej
2

3 Particle in a magnetic field


The Hamiltonian for a spinless charged particle in a magnetic field B̂ = ∇ × Â is
1  e 2
Ĥ = p̂ − Â(r) ,
2m c
where e is the charge of the particle and p̂ = (pˆx , pˆy , pˆz ) the momentum conjugate to the particle’s position
r̂ = (x̂, ŷ, ẑ). We will study the case where the magnetic field is applied in the z direction, B̂ = B0 eˆz . In this
case, one possible expression for the vector potential is  = −B0 ŷ eˆx .

(a) Prove that pz and px are constants of motion. Hint: remember than an operator is a constant of motion of the
system if it commutes with the Hamiltonian. Recall the fundamental commutations of quantum mechanics.
(b) Write the Schrodinger equation of the system, Ĥψ(x, y, z) = Eψ(x, y, z).

1
(c) Recalling that, because pˆx and pˆz are constants of motion, write ψ(x, y, z) as the product of plane waves
travelling in the x and z direction, and a function ϕ(y). Then, by using pˆy = −ih̄ ∂∂ŷ , find that the
Schrodinger equation gives :

h̄2 ∂ 2 ϕ(y) mωc2 ′2


− + y ϕ(y) = E ′ ϕ(y) [*edited]
2m ∂y 2 2

where ωc = eB0 /mc , y ′ = y + cpx /eB0 , E ′ = E − p2z /2m.

(d) Remember the solutions for the quantum harmonic oscillator and find the energy levels of the system.

4 Particle in a box
A particle in the infinite square well which looks like this
(
0, 0≤x≤a
V (x) =
inf, everywhere else,
has the initial wave function
(
Ax, 0 ≤ x ≤ a/2,
Ψ(x, 0) =
A(a − x), a/2 ≤ x ≤ a.

(a) Sketch Ψ(x, 0), and determine the constant A.

(b) Find Ψ(x, t). Hints:


Pinf
• remember that any function can be expressed as a Fourier series, i.e. f (x) = n=1 cn ψn (x)
• rememberqthat the general form for the wavefunction of a particle in an infinite box is
Pinf
ψn (x) = a2 n=1 cn sin nπx

a

(c) What is the probability that a measurement of the energy would yield the value E1 ?
Pinf
(d) Find the expectation value of the energy, i.e. ⟨H⟩ = n=1 |cn |2 En

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