Prof. E.

Pajer PQM 1 Michaelmas 2024

Principles of Quantum Mechanics - Problems 1

Please email me with any comments about these problems, particularly if you spot an error. Problems with an
asterisk (∗) are optional and may be more difficult.

1. Let |xi and |pi be eigenstates of the three-dimensional position and momentum operators, respectively.

i) Given that hx|pi = eix·p/~ /(2π~)3/2 , show that

   
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
hx|Lz |ψi = −i~ x −y ψ(x) and hp|Lz |ψi = −i~ px − py ψ̃(p) ,
∂y ∂x ∂py ∂px

where Lz = XPy − Y Px , |ψi is a generic state with position- and momentum-space wavefunctions
ψ(x) = hx|ψi and ψ̃(p) = hp|ψi.
ii) Find the position space wavefunction of e−ia·P/~ |ψi and the momentum space wavefunction of
eik·X |ψi, where a and k are constants.

2. Let A and B be any operators which each commute with [A, B], and let λ ∈ C.

i) Prove that [A, B n ] = nB n−1 [A, B] for all n ∈ N0 , and that [A, eB ] = eB [A, B].
ii) Define the operator-valued function F (λ) = eλA eλB e−λ(A+B) . Show that F 0 (λ) = λ [A, B] F (λ).
Hence deduce that
1
eA eB = eA+B+ 2 [A,B] = eB eA e[A,B] .

Now let A and B be any operators (not necessarily commuting with [A, B]).

iii) Prove that d eλA Be−λA /dλ = eλA [A, B] e−λA . Hence deduce that

1
eA B e−A = B + [A, B] + [A, [A, B]] + · · · .
2

3. Let X(t) = eiHt/~ Xe−iHt/~ and P (t) = eiHt/~ P e−iHt/~ where X and P are the usual position and
momentum operators, and H is the Hamiltonian of the d = 1 harmonic oscillator. Show that
1
X(t) = X cos(ωt) + P sin(ωt)
mω
P (t) = P cos(ωt) − mωX sin(ωt) .

and interpret this result. Evaluate [X(t), P (t)].

4. A Fermi oscillator has Hilbert space H = C2 and Hamiltonian H = B † B, where B 2 = 0 and

B † B + BB † = 1 (the anti commutator) .

Find the eigenvalues of H. If |0i is a state obeying H|0i = 0 and h0|0i = 1, find B|0i and B † |0i. Obtain
a matrix representation of the operators B, B † and H.
Prof. E. Pajer PQM 1 Michaelmas 2024

5. Consider a d = 1 quantum harmonic oscillator with classical frequency ω. Define the coherent state |αi
by
†
|αi = eαA − ᾱA |0i ,
where A† and A are the usual raising & lowering operators, |0i is the ground state of the oscillator and
α ∈ C is a constant.

i) Show that |αi is an eigenstate of A and find its eigenvalue. Compute the inner product between
two different coherent states |αi and |βi. [You may find it helpful to use the results of question 2.]
Does the set {|αi}α∈C of all coherent states form a basis of the Hilbert space?
ii) A quantum oscillator is prepared to be in state |αi at t = 0. Show that subsequently it evolves to
become the new coherent state e−iωt/2 |e−iωt αi.
iii) Suppose α ∈ R. By expressing A and A† in terms of X and P , sketch the position space wavefunction
of |αi in this case.
iv*) Now let α ∈ C and compute hα|P |αi. Hence give a physical interpretation of the coherent state for
general complex α. Without further calculation, describe the shape and motion of both the position
space and momentum space wavefunctions of a general coherent state as time passes.

6*. In certain units where ~ = 2m = 1, the relative motion of the atoms in a diatomic molecule can be
modelled by the Hamiltonian
 2
2 1 −X
Hν = P + ν + − e ,
2
where ν is a real parameter.

i) Sketch the potential. Suggest a reason why it gives a better description of the molecule’s vibrations
than the harmonic oscillator does.
ii) Find a non-Hermitian operator Aν that depends on ν, such that
1
Hν = A†ν Aν + ν +
4
What is the ground state energy of Hν ? Calculate the position space wavefunction of the ground
state. For what range of ν is this state normalizable?
iii) Let |0, νi be the ground state appropriate for parameter ν. Show that

Aν A†ν = A†ν−1 Aν−1 + 2ν − 1

and hence that A†ν |0, ν − 1i is also an (unnormalized) eigenstate of Hν .

iv) Iterating this procedure, deduce an expression for the unnormalized nth eigenstate in terms of a
sequence of raising operators acting on a ground state, for appropriate choices of the parameter.
Hence find the bound state spectrum of Hν . Show that the number of bound states is bν + 1c. Do
these states form a basis of the Hilbert space?

7. Let P/~ and J/~ be the generators of translations and rotations, respectively. By considering the effect
of a rotation and translation on an arbitrary vector v ∈ R3 , show that [Ji , Pj ] = i~ ijk Pk .
Prof. E. Pajer PQM 1 Michaelmas 2024

8*. A quantum particle is described by the Hilbert space H = L2 (R3 , d3 x) and has Hamiltonian H = P2 /2m.
Galilean boosts with fixed velocity v act on H through a time-independent unitary operator U (v) such
that
U † (v) X(t) U (v) = X(t) + vt ,
where X(t) is the position operator in the Heisenberg picture.

i) Show that U (v1 ) U (v2 ) = U (v1 + v2 ) and that U † (v) P U (v) = P + mv. Hence express U (v) in
terms of X, P and v.
ii) Let T (a) = e−ia·P/~ be the translation operator. Evaluate the composition of operators

T † (a) U † (v) T (a) U (v)

Is this compatible with what you’d expect classically for the corresponding sequence of boosts and
translations?