PHY114: Quantum Physics Semester I, 2024-25 Department of Physics, IIT Kanpur

End-Semester Examination: Solutions

November 17th, 2024 Time: 8:00-11:00 am Maximum Marks: 100

(Answer all 10 questions. Calculators are not allowed. Some important constants / formulas are given below)

(1) Planck’s constant: h = 6.626 × 10−34 Joule-sec

(2) Speed of light: c = 3 × 108 m/s
a2
 nπx   nπx   
R∞ −αx2 +βx

β2

π 1/2

Ra 2
Ra 2 2 3 1 1
(3) −∞
e dx = exp 4α α ; 0
x sin = ; 0
x sin =a − 2 2
a 4 a 6 4n π
Problem 1: The following questions have one or more options as correct. Please write down the correct options as
Answer below each question.

1(a): Which of the following statement(s) is(are) correct about single-photon double-slit interference experiment? (2
marks)

(i) A single photon interferes only with itself.

(ii) A single photon splits into two parts and these go through the two slits and interfere with each other.
(iii) A single photon can never interfere.
(iv) If we know which slit the photon goes through, interference does not take place.

Solution: (i), (iv).

1(b): Which of the following statement(s) is(are) correct about interference in a double-slit experiment with light?
(3 marks)

(i) Classical wave theory explains it through division of amplitude.

(ii) Quantum theory describes interference through division of wavefunction.
(iii) In classical theory, division of wave amplitude implies division of energy.
(iv) In quantum theory, division of wavefunction implies division of energy.

Solution: (i), (ii), (iii)

1(c): Which of the following statement(s) is(are) correct? (3 marks)

(i) Quantum mechanics can explain every phenomenon describable by classical mechanics.
(ii) In classical mechanics, a system is described in terms of physical variables while in quantum mechanics it is
described in terms of wavefunction.
(iii) In classical description, an act of measurement does not affect the system, whereas in quantum mechanics a
system in general gets affected by measurement.
(iv) Position (x) and momentum (px ) can be measured simultaneously with infinite accuracy in classical mechanics.

Solution: (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)

1(d): Which of the following statement(s) is(are) correct? (2 marks)

(i) Bell’s inequality was derived to check whether local hidden variable theories can replace quantum mechanics.
 (ii) Experimental violation of Bell’s inequality proves hidden variable theories can replace quantum mechanics.
√
(iii) The maximum value of Bell parameter that can be obtained within the hidden variable theory is 2 2.
√
(iv) The maximum value of Bell parameter that can be obtained with quantum description is 2 2.

Solution: (i), (iv).

1(e): The entanglement of a two-particle system can be verified through ... (2 marks)

(i) independent position measurements on two particles.

(ii) conditional measurement of either position or momentum of one of the particles.
(iii) independent momentum measurements on two particles.
(iv) conditional measurement of both position and momentum of one of the particles.

Solution: (iv)

1(f ): Which of the following state(s) is(are) polarization-entangled, where |Hi and |V i represent horizontally and
vertically polarized photon states? (2 marks)

(i) |Ψi = |Hi1 |Hi2 .

1
(ii) |Ψi = √ [|Hi1 |V i2 + |V i1 |Hi2 ].
2
1
(iii) |Ψi = √ [|Hi1 |Hi2 + |V i1 |V i2 ].
2
1
(iv) |Ψi = [|Hi1 |Hi2 + |V i1 |V i2 + |Hi1 |V i2 + |V i1 |Hi2 ].
2

Solution: (ii), (iii).

Problem 2:
If |xi and |pi are the position and momentum eigetkets with eigenvalues x and p, respectively.
(a) Write down the form hx|P |x0 i of the momentum operator in the position basis. (1 mark)
(b) Using hx|P |x0 i and the momentum eigenvalue equation, calculate the inner product hx|pi. (3 marks)
(c) Using the inner product hx|pi, express the momentum-basis wave function ψ(p) in terms of the position-basis
wave function ψ(x). (2 marks)
(d) If ψ(x) = eip0 x/~ is the position-basis wave function of a quantum system with p0 being a constant, find the
momentum-basis wave function of the quantum system. (2 marks)
R∞
(e) Using the inner product hx|pi, express the following in the position basis: −∞ |pihp|dp = I. (2 marks)

Solutions 2:
(a) hx|P |x0 i = (−i~)δ(x − x0 ) dx
d
0

(b) Since |pi is the eigenket of the momentum operator P̂ , we have

P̂ |pi = p|pi
Or, hx|P̂ |pi = phx|pi

Expanding in the |x0 i basis, we get

Z
hx|P̂ |x0 ihx0 |pidx0 = phx|pi
Z
Or, Pxx0 hx0 |pidx0 = phx|pi
Z
d
Or, (−i~)δ(x − x0 ) hx0 |pidx0 = phx|pi
dx0
d
Or, (−i~) hx|pi = phx|pi
dx
Solving the above first-order differential equation, we get

hx|pi = Aeipx/~
Or, hp|xi = A∗ e−ipx/~

Now, we need to find the constant A. Using the relation hx|x0 i = δ(x − x0 ) and the completeness condition for
the momentum basis, we write

hx|x0 i = δ(x − x0 )
Z
Or, hx|pihp|x0 idp = δ(x − x0 )
Z
0
Or, |A|2 eipx/~ × e−ipx /~ dp = δ(x − x0 )
Z
0
Or, |A| 2
ei(x−x )p/~ dp = δ(x − x0 )

Or, |A|2 2π~δ(x − x0 ) = δ(x − x0 )

1
⇒ A= √
2π~
Thus we have the required inner product as
1
hx|pi = √ eipx/~
2π~
(c) We have

ψ(p) = hp|ψi
Z
Or, ψ(p) = hp|xihx|ψidx
Z
Or, ψ(p) = hp|xiψ(x)dx
Z
1
Or, ψ(p) = √ e−ipx/~ ψ(x)dx
2π~

(d)
Z ∞
1 px
ψ(p) = √ ψ(x)e−i ~ dx
2π~ −∞
Z ∞
1 p0 x px
=√ ei ~ e−i ~ dx
2π~ −∞
Z ∞
1 p0 −p
=√ ei( ~ )x dx
2π~ −∞
√
= 2π~ δ(p0 − p)

(e) The completeness condition for the momentum eigenfunctions is :

Z ∞
|pihp|dp = I
−∞

Taking the inner product of the above equation with hx| from left and with |x0 i from right, we get
Z ∞
hx|pihp|x0 idp = hx|I|x0 i
−∞
Z ∞
1 0
Or, eip(x−x )/~ dp = hx|x0 i
2π~ −∞
Z ∞
1 0
Or, eip(x−x )/~ dp = δ(x − x0 )
2π~ −∞

This is the required position representation.

Problem 3:
Consider a particle of mass m and energy E in the following potential:

V (x) = 0; if 0 ≤ x ≤ a
= ∞; otherwise

(a) Write down the position-basis wavefunction and the corresponding energy for the nth stationary state. (2 marks)
(b) Calculate the uncertainty ∆x for the nth stationary state. (3 marks)
(c) Calculate the uncertainty ∆p for the nth stationary state. (3 marks)
(d) For what value of n, the uncertainty product is the lowest? Find the uncertainty product in that case. (2 marks)

Solution 3:

(a) Since the potential inside of the well is zero, we have that the solution to the Schrödinger equation inside the well
is

ψ(x) = Aeikx + Be−ikx ,

p
where k = 2mE/~. The potential on either side of the well is infinity. This makes the wave-function vanish in
these regions, and the continuity of the wave-function requires ψ(x)|x=0 = ψ(x)|x=a = 0, which leads to:

A + B = 0;
Aeika + Be−ika = 0
p
Solving the two equations, we get A = −B = 2/a and k = nπ/a. Thus the stationary state solutions are:
r
2  nπx 
ψn (x) = sin ,
a a

n 2 π 2 ~2
with the corresponding energy given by: En = .
2ma2
(b) The nth stationary state is given by
r
2  nπx 
ψn (x) = sin e−iEn t/~ .
a a

To calculate the uncertainty product, we need to calculate hxi, hx2 i, hpi, and hp2 i. We have

2 a
Z  nπx 
hxi = x sin2 dx
a 0 a
nπx
Substituting: = y, we get
a
nπ
2  a 2 nπ
Z nπ
2a y 2
Z 
2a y y sin 2y cos 2y
hxi = y sin2 ydy = 2 2 (1 − cos 2y)dy = 2 2 − −
a nπ 0 n π 0 2 n π 4 4 8 0
 2 2 
2a n π cos 2nπ 1 a
= 2 2 − + =
n π 4 8 8 2

Z a
2  nπx 
2
hx i = x2 sin2 dx
a 0 a
 nπx
Again, substituting: = y, we get
a
nπ
2  a 3 nπ 2 2
Z nπ 2
2a2 2a2 y 3
Z   3 
2 y y 1 y cos 2y
hx i = y sin ydy = 3 3 (1 − cos 2y)dy = 3 3 − − sin 2y −
a nπ 0 n π 0 2 n π 6 4 8 4 0
2 3 3
   
2a n π nπ cos 2nπ 1 1
= 3 3 − = a2 −
n π 6 4 3 2n2 π 2
r
p 1 1
Thus, ∆x = hx2 i − hxi2 =a − 2 2
12 2n π
(c)
a  nπx   nπ a
Z  Z  
2 ∂  nπx  2 2nπx 2 nπ
hpi = sin −i~ sin dx = (−i~) sin = (−i~) ×0=0
a 0 a ∂x a a 2a 0 a a 2a

Z a 2
 nπx    nπ 2 Z a  
2 ∂  nπx  2 2nπx
hp2 i = sin sin −i~dx = (−i~)2 − sin2 dx
0 a a ∂x a a a 0 a
 2 Z a     2  2
1 nπ~ 2nπx 1 nπ~ nπ~
= 1 − cos dx = ×a=
a a 0 a a a a

p nπ~
Thus, ∆p = hp2 i − hpi2 =
a
(d) The uncertainty product is:
r
p p ~ n2 π 2
∆x∆p = hx2 i − hxi2 hp2 i − hpi2 = −2
2 3
r
~ π2
We see that the uncertainty product is minimum for n = 1, and in that case, it becomes ∆x∆p = −2
2 3
Problem 4:
The quantum state of a particle of mass m and energy E is given by
Z ∞
|ψi = ψ(p)|pidp,
−∞

where |pi is the momentum eigenket and

 14
p2
  
1
ψ(p) = exp − 2 ,
2πσp2 4σp
√
with σp = mE.
(a) Find the probability density in the momentum basis. (2 marks)
(b) Find the probability density in the position basis. (5 marks)
(c) Calculate the position-momentum uncertainty product for the state. (3 marks)

Solution 4:
(a) The momentum basis function is ψ(p). Therefore, the probability density in the momentum basis is
 21
p2
  
2 1
|ψ(p)| = exp − 2
2πσp2 2σp

(b) The wavefunction in the position basis can be written as

Z ∞
ψ(x) = hx|ψi = ψ(p)hx|pidp
−∞
Z ∞
1 ipx
=√ ψ(p)e− ~ dp
2π~ −∞
  14 Z ∞ p2
1 1 − 4σ ipx
e p e− ~ dp
2
= √ 2
2π~ 2πσ p −∞

 
β2 π 1/2
R∞ 2
e−αx +βx


Using the formula −∞
dx = exp 4α α , we can write the above integral as

! 14 !
2σp2 x2 σp2
ψ(x) = exp − 2
π~2 ~
 14
x2
  
1
= exp − 2 ,
2πσx2 4σx
q q
~2 ~2
where σx = 4σp2 = 4mE . Therefore, the probability density in the position basis is

 12
x2
  
2 1
|ψ(x)| = exp − 2
2πσx2 2σx

√ q
~2
(c) The standard deviations of the two probability density functions are σp = mE and σx = 4mE . The product
~
of the two uncertainties is therefore ∆x∆p = σx σp = . Thus, we see that the above is a minimum uncertainty
2
wavefunction.
Problem 5:

(a) What is the position-basis and momentum-basis representations of a particle which is in the eigenstate of position
operator (X̂) with eigenvalue x0 . (3 marks)
(b) The quantum state |ψ(t)i at time t of a physical system is given by a certain superposition of its stationary states
|ψn i. What is the probability that upon measurement the system is found in stationary state |ψ2 i at time t0 . (3
marks)

Solution 5:

(a) The position-space wavefunction of a stationary point particle at x = x0 is given by ψ(x) = δ(x − x0 )
Z ∞
1
ψ(p) = √ ψ(x)e−ipx/~ dp
2π~ −∞
Z ∞
1
=√ δ(x − x0 )e−ipx/~ dp
2π~ −∞
1
=√ e−ipx0 /~
2π~

(b) The probability that upon measurement the system is found in stationary state |ψ2 i at time t is given by |hψ2 |ψi|2 .
Since the state |ψi is represented as a superposition of stationary states, the probability remains the same, that
is, the probability of finding the system |ψ2 i at time t0 is |hψ2 |ψi|2
Problem 6:
A laser emits horizontally polarized light at λ = 331.3 nm in the form of light bursts at 106 bursts per second. The
energy of each burst of light is 6 × 10−19 J. The laser light is made to go through a polarizer oriented at angle 30◦
from horizontal.
(a) Using classical wave theory, calculate the amount of energy transmitted through the polarizer in each burst of
light. (3 marks)
(b) Using classical wave theory, calculate the amount of energy transmitted through the polarizer in a minute. (2
marks)
(c) Using quantum theory, calculate the amount of energy transmitted through the polarizer in each burst of light.
(3 marks)
(d) Using quantum theory, calculate the amount of energy transmitted through the polarizer in a minute. (2 marks)

Solution 6:
The minimum amount of energy that a light field at λ = 331.3 nm can have is

hc 6.626 × 10−34 × 3 × 108

= = 6 × 10−19 J.
λ 331.3 × 10−9
So, each burst of light is a single photon at λ = 331.3.

(a) According to the classical wave theory, the fraction of light passing through the polarizer oriented at angle θ from
the incoming polarization direction is given by cos2 θ. Therefore, for the incoming light field, the total energy
3
passing through the polarizer is 6 × 10−19 × cos2 30◦ J = 6 × 10−19 × J = 4.5 × 10−19 J.
4
(b) According to the classical wave theory, the amount of energy passing through the polarizer in a minute is given
by

4.5 × 10−19 J × 106 second−1 × 60 second = 27 × 10−12 J

hc
(c) According to quantum theory, a light field at wavelength λ cannot have energy less than . The incoming energy
λ
amounts to the energy of a photon. Therefore, in each burst, either the entire energy 6 × 10−19 J passes through
the polarizer or nothing at all.
(d) According to the quantum theory, the probability that the photon goes through the polarizer oriented at angle θ
from the incoming polarization direction is given by cos2 θ. Therefore, the amount of energy passing through the
polarizer in a minute is given by

6 × 10−19 J × cos2 30◦ × 106 second−1 × 60 second = 27 × 10−12 J = 27 × 10−12 J.

Problem 7:
Consider a particle of mass m and energy E > V0 incident from left on the following potential:

V (x) = 0; if x<0 Region − 1

= V0 ; if x≥0 Region − 2

(a) What is the angular frequency (ω) and wave-vector magnitude (k) of the de-Broglie wave associated with the
particle in Region-1 and Region-2. (2 marks)
(b) Write down the the dispersion relation in Region-1 and Region-2. (2 marks)
(c) What is the phase velocity in Region-1 and Region-2? Which region has greater phase velocity? (3 marks)
(d) What is the group velocity in Region-1 and Region-2? Which region has greater group velocity? (3 marks)

Solution 7:

(a) The frequency depends on the total energy. So, in √both the regions, the frequency is given by ω p= E/~. The
2mE 2m(E − V0 )
wave-vector magnitude in Region-1 is given by k1 = while in Region-2, it is given by k2 = .
~ ~
(b) Given the expressions for the wave-vector magnitude in the two regions, the dispersion relation in Region-1 is
~k 2 ~k 2 V0
given by ω = 1 while that in Region-2 is given by ω = 2 + .
2m 2m ~
ω ~k1
(c) The phase velocity in Region-1 is given by Vp1 = = . The phase velocity in Region-2 is given by
k1 2m
ω ~k2 V0
Vp2 = = + . Since k1 > k2 , Vp2 > Vp1 .
k2 2m ~k2
dω ~k1
(d) The group velocity in Region-1 is given by Vg1 = = . The group velocity in Region-2 is given by
dk1 m
dω ~k2
Vg2 = = . Since k1 > k2 , Vg1 > Vg2 .
dk2 m
Problem 8:
Half-wave plate is a device that rotates the direction of polarization of light passing through it. The action of a
half-wave plate oriented at angle θ with respect to the horizontal direction is represented by the matrix
 
cos 2θ sin 2θ
Û = .
sin 2θ − cos 2θ
 
1
Suppose, there is a light source emitting horizontally polarized photons with the state given by |ψi = .
0

(a) The photon in state |ψi goes through the half-wave plate oriented at θ. What is the state of the photon and its
direction of polarization after passing through the half-wave plate? (4 marks)
(b) Now, assume that the photon in state |ψi passes through the half-wave plate oriented at θ = 30◦ , and then falls
on a polarizer oriented at 30◦ from horizontal direction. What is the probability that the photon passes through
the polarizer. (4 marks)
(c) Bonus question: In part (a), with what probability does the photon pass through the half-wave plate? (4
bonus marks)

Solution 8:

(a) The state of the photon after passing through the half-wave plate is given by

    
cos 2θ sin 2θ 1 cos 2θ
|ψhwp i = Û |ψi = =
sin 2θ − cos 2θ 0 sin 2θ

The state represents a photon with polarization along 2θ with respect to the horizontal direction.
(b) The state of the photon after passing through the half-wave plate oriented at θ = 30◦ is given by
√
cos 60◦ sin 60◦
       
1 √1/2 3/2 1 √1/2
|ψhwp i = Û |ψi = = =
sin 60◦ − cos 60◦ 0 3/2 −1/2 0 3/2

Now, a photon polarized along 30◦ with respect to the horizontal is given by:
  √ 
cos 30 3/2
|ψ30 i = = (1)
sin 30 1/2

So, the required probability is

√
  2
2 √1/2 3
hψ30 |ψhwp i| = ( 3/2 1/2) × =
3/2 4

(c) Bonus question: The action of a half-wave plate is represented by a unitary operator. It only rotates the state
of polarization of the photon. So, although the photon passes through the half-wave plate with the direction of
polarization rotated by 2θ, the probability of passing through the half-wave plate is equal to 1.
Problem 9:
Consider a set of N polarizers kept one after the other such that the orientation from horizontal direction of the
iθ
ith polarizer is N , where θ = 90◦ . In the limit N → ∞, what is the probability that a horizontally polarized photon
is detected as a vertically polarized photon after passing through the set of polarizers? (8 marks)

Solution 9:
90◦
The first polarizer is oriented at = α with respect to the input polarization. The probability that the photon
N
passes through the first polarizer is

P1 = cos2 α.

If the photon passes through the first polarizer, it becomes polarized along α. The second polarizer is oriented
90◦
at 2 × = 2α with respect to the input polarization, and so on, such that the N th polarizer is oriented at
N
90◦
N× = N α = 90◦ with respect to the input polarization. So, we find that the subsequent polarizers are all
N
oriented at α with respect to the previous polarizer. Therefore the probability that the photon passes through the
entire set of polarizers is

N
Ppass = P1 × P2 × ... × PN = cos2 α × cos2 α × ... × cos2 α = cos2 α .

The last polarizer is oriented at 90◦ form horizontal. Therefore, the photon passing through it becomes vertically
polarized. Thus, the probability that a horizontally polarized photon is detected as a vertically polarized photon after
passing through the entire set of polarizers is given by

N
Ppass = cos2 α .

90◦
In the limit N → ∞, we have α = → 0, and thus
N

N
P = cos2 α = 1.

So, the probability of detecting the photon as vertically polarized is equal to unity.
Problem 10:
An experimenter receives photons in two separate channels. In both the channels, single photons arrive simultane-
ously and at regular intervals. The experimenter makes polarization measurements on the photons in the two channels
and records the following observations:
(i) There is 32% probability that channel-1 and channel-2 each receives H-polarized photons.
(ii) There is 18% probability that channel-1 and channel-2 each receives V-polarized photons.
(iii) There is 18% probability that channel-1 receives H-polarized photon while channel-2 receives V-polarized photons.
(iv) There is 32% probability that channel-1 receives V-polarized photon while channel-2 receives H-polarized photons.
Answer the following:

(a) For the above set of observations, construct a local hidden variable model for the source of two photons that is
able to explain all of the observations. (6 marks)
(b) For the above set of observations, what is a quantum mechanical two-photon state |Ψi that is able to explain all
of the observations. (6 marks)
(c) Is the state |Ψi entangled. (2 marks)

Solution 10:

(a) The following local hidden variable model can explain the above measurement outcomes:

• Both sources emit photon simultaneously

• 32% of the time both sources emit H-polarized photons.
• 18% of the time both sources emit V-polarized photons.
• 18% of the time first source emits H-polarized photons while the second source emit V-polarized photons.
• 32% of the time first source emits V-polarized photons while the second source emit H-polarized photons.

(b) The following wavefunction can also explain the above measurement outcomes:
r r r r
32 18 18 32
|Ψi = |Hi1 |Hi2 + |V i1 |V i2 + |Hi1 |V i2 + |V i1 |Hi2
100 100 100 100
4 3 3 4
= √ |Hi1 |Hi2 + √ |V i1 |V i2 + √ |Hi1 |V i2 + √ |V i1 |Hi2
5 2 5 2 5 2 5 2
   
1 1 4 3
= √ |Hi1 + √ |V i1 × |Hi2 + |V i2
2 2 5 5

(c) Since state |Ψi is separable, it is not an entangled state.