Quantum Mechanics - Homework Assigment 1

Alejandro Gomez Espinosa

September 17, 2012
Shankar, Ex 1.4.2 Suppose V
n
1
1
and V
n
2
2
are two subspaces such that any element of V
n
1
1
is orthogonal to any element of V
n
2
2
. Show that the dimensionality of V
n
1
1

V
n
2
2
is
n
1
+ n
2
.
Lets dene the elements of V
n
1
1
and V
n
2
2
:
|V =
n
1

i=1
v
i
|i |W =
n
1

j=1
w
j
|j
where |i (i = 1, ..., n
1
) and |j (j = 1, ..., n
2
) are orthonormal basis of V
n
1
1
and V
n
2
2
,
respectively. Due to the orthogonality of the elements of the two subspaces, all states
|i and |j are orthogonal as well. Therefore the set |i, |j is an orthogonal basis of
a vector space with dimension (n
1
+ n
2
).
On the other hand, we can set a linear combination of elements of V
n
1
1

V
n
2
2
:
|Z = a|V + b|W
where a and b are constants, and |V V
n
1
1
, |W V
n
2
2
. Replacing with the previous
denitions:
|Z = a
n
1

i=1
v
i
|i + b
n
2

j=1
w
2
|j =
n
1

i=1
(av
1
)|i +
n
2

j=1
(bw
j
)|j
Clearly we can set an orthogonal basis |i, |j for this vector space which has a di-
mensionality (n
1
+ n
2
).

gomez@physics.rutgers.edu
1
2) Consider the set G of all possible polynomials in x and y having maximum overall order
of 2.
a) Show that this is a vector space and that its dimension is 6.
Suppose that f, g G and a
6
, a
5
, a
4
, a
3
, a
2
, a
1
and b
6
, b
5
, b
4
, b
3
, b
2
, b
1
are real.
Then:
f(x, y) = a
6
x
2
+ a
5
xy + a
4
y
2
+ a
3
x + a
2
y + a
1
g(x, y) = b
6
x
2
+ b
5
xy + b
4
y
2
+ b
3
x + b
2
y + b
1
To show if G is a vector space, we need to prove the 8 properties of a vector
space. Let c and d be scalars:
1. (f + g) G
f + g = a
6
x
2
+ a
5
xy + a
4
y
2
+ a
3
x + a
2
y + a
1
+ b
6
x
2
+ b
5
xy
+b
4
y
2
+ b
3
x + b
2
y + b
1
= (a
6
+ b
6
)x
2
+ (a
5
+ b
5
)xy + (a
4
+ b
4
)y
2
+ (a
3
+ b
3
)x
+(a
2
+ b
2
)y + (a
1
+ b
1
)
G
2. c(f + g) = cf + cg
c(f + g) = c((a
6
+ b
6
)x
2
+ (a
5
+ b
5
)xy + (a
4
+ b
4
)y
2
+ (a
3
+ b
3
)x
+(a
2
+ b
2
)y + (a
1
+ b
1
))
= c(a
6
x
2
+ a
5
xy + a
4
y
2
+ a
3
x + a
2
y + a
1
+ b
6
x
2
+ b
5
xy + b
4
y
2
+b
3
x + b
2
y + b
1
)
= c(a
6
x
2
+ a
5
xy + a
4
y
2
+ a
3
x + a
2
y + a
1
) + c(b
6
x
2
+ b
5
xy + b
4
y
2
+b
3
x + b
2
y + b
1
)
= cf + cg
3. (c + d)f = cf + df
(c + d)f = (c + d)[a
6
x
2
+ a
5
xy + a
4
y
2
+ a
3
x + a
2
y + a
1
]
= a
6
(c + d)x
2
+ a
5
(c + d)xy + a
4
(c + d)y
2
+ a
3
(c + d)x
+a
2
(c + d)y + a
1
(c + d)
= a
6
cx
2
+ a
5
cxy + a
4
cy
2
+ a
3
cx + a
2
cy + a
1
c
+a
6
dx
2
+ a
5
dxy + a
4
dy
2
+ a
3
dx + a
2
dy + a
1
d
= c(a
6
x
2
+ a
5
xy + a
4
y
2
+ a
3
x + a
2
y + a
1
)
+d(a
6
x
2
+ a
5
xy + a
4
y
2
+ a
3
x + a
2
y + a
1
)
= cf + df
4. c(df) = cdf
c(df) = c(a
6
dx
2
+ a
5
dxy + a
4
dy
2
+ a
3
dx + a
2
dy + a
1
d)
= a
6
cdx
2
+ a
5
cdxy + a
4
cdy
2
+ a
3
cdx + a
2
cdy + a
1
cd
= cd(a
6
dx
2
+ a
5
dxy + a
4
dy
2
+ a
3
dx + a
2
dy + a
1
d)
= cdf
2
5. f + g = g + f
f + g = a
6
x
2
+ a
5
xy + a
4
y
2
+ a
3
x + a
2
y + a
1
+ b
6
x
2
+ b
5
xy
+b
4
y
2
+ b
3
x + b
2
y + b
1
= b
6
x
2
+ b
5
xy + b
4
y
2
+ b
3
x + b
2
y + b
1
+ a
6
x
2
+ a
5
xy
+a
4
y
2
+ a
3
x + a
2
y + a
1
= g + f
6. Suppose h = c
6
x
2
+ c
5
xy + c
4
y
2
+ c
3
x + c
2
y + c
1
with c
6
, c
5
, c
4
, c
3
, c
2
, c
1
scalars. Then h + (f + g) = (h + f) + g
h + (f + g) = c
6
x
2
+ c
5
xy + c
4
y
2
+ c
3
x + c
2
y + c
1
+(a
6
x
2
+ a
5
xy + a
4
y
2
+ a
3
x + a
2
y + a
1
+b
6
x
2
+ b
5
xy + b
4
y
2
+ b
3
x + b
2
y + b
1
)
(c
6
x
2
+ c
5
xy + c
4
y
2
+ c
3
x + c
2
y + c
1
+a
6
x
2
+ a
5
xy + a
4
y
2
+ a
3
x + a
2
y + a
1
)
+b
6
x
2
+ b
5
xy + b
4
y
2
+ b
3
x + b
2
y + b
1
= (h + f) + g
7. f + 0 = f
f + 0 = a
6
x
2
+ a
5
xy + a
4
y
2
+ a
3
x + a
2
y + a
1
+ 0
= a
6
x
2
+ a
5
xy + a
4
y
2
+ a
3
x + a
2
y + a
1
= f
8. f + (f) = 0
f + (f) = a
6
x
2
+ a
5
xy + a
4
y
2
+ a
3
x + a
2
y + a
1
+(a
6
x
2
a
5
xy a
4
y
2
a
3
x a
2
y a
1
)
= 0
Therefore, the set G is a vector space.
As we need six linear independent basis to write an element of G, the dimension
of this vector space is 6.
b) Now we add an inner product rule: we dene f|g to be the average value of f

g
on the unit circle, i.e., f|g
1
2
_
u.c.
f

gdl. With this inner product rule, does G

become an inner product space?. (Hint: Be careful; check all the conditions for
an inner product space.)
To prove that G is an inner product space, we have to check the condition
for such space. In particular, we can review the condition f|f 0 where
0 i |f = |0.
Lets prove |f = |0 0:
f|f =
1
2
_
f

fdl =
1
2
_
0dl = 0
Then, 0 |f = |0. For this lets consider this example:
f(x, y) = a
6
x
2
+ a
5
xy + a
4
y
2
+ a
3
x + a
2
y + a
1
3
where: a
1
= (a
4
+ a
6
)/2, a
4
= a
6
and a
2
= a
3
= a
5
= 0. Hence:
f = a
6
x
2
+ a
4
y
2
+ a
1
f|f =
1
2
_
f

fdl
=
1
2
_
(a
2
6
x
4
+ a
2
4
y
4
+ a
2
1
)dl where x = cos and y = sin
=

a
1
+
a
4
+ a
6
2

2
+
|a
4
a
6
|
2
8
applying our conditions, we found that f|f = 0. It means that there is a non-
zero polinomial with a inner product equal to zero, contrary of our postulate.
Then, G is not a inner product space.
c) Lets consider the 5-dimensional inner product space using the inner product of
part (b) and spanned by the basis vectors |1 = 1, |2 =

2x, |3 =

2y,
|4 =

2(x
2
y
2
), and |5 = 2

2xy. Check that this is an orthonormal basis.

We can prove that this set of basis are orthonormal, using denition 10 of
Shankars book. It tells us that A set of basis vectors all of unit norm, wich are
pairwise orthogonal will be called an orthonormal basis. Then we have to prove
that i|j =
ij
. (Remember that x = cos and y = sin ).
1|1 =
1
2
_
dl =
1
2
_
2
0
d = 1
2|2 =
1
2
_
2x
2
dl =
1

_
2
0
cos d =
1

2
+
sin 2
4
_
|
2
0
= 1
3|3 =
1
2
_
2y
2
dl =
1

_
2
0
sin d =
1

2

sin 2
4
_
|
2
0
= 1
4|4 =
1
2
_
2(x
2
+ y
2
)
2
dl =
1

_
2
0
(x
4
2x
2
y
2
+ y
4
)dl
=
1

_
2
0
(cos
4
2 sin
2
cos
2
+ sin
4
)d =
1
8
(4 + sin 4)|
2
0
= 1
5|5 =
1
2
_
4(2)x
2
y
2
dl =
4

_
2
0
sin
2
cos
2
d =
4

_
1
32
(4 sin 4)
_
|
2
0
= 1
As i|j =
ij
is true, this is an orthonormal basis.
4
d) Find the matrix representation in the basis (i.e., write out the 5 5 matrix) for
the following linear operators:
M (45

mirror operation) associated with the replacement x y;

To build this matrix, we will show the M|i value and then nd the matrix
representation.
M|1 = |1
M|2 =

2y = |3
M|3 =

2x = |2
M|4 =

2(y
2
x
2
) =

2(x
2
y
2
) = |4
M|5 = 2

2yx = |5
Then, the M matrix is:
M =
_
_
_
_
_
_
1 0 0 0 0
0 0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0 0
0 0 0 1 0
0 0 0 0 1
_
_
_
_
_
_
R (rotation operation) associated with the replacement x y, y x;
R|1 = |1
R|2 =

2y = |3
R|3 =

2x = |2
R|4 =

2(y
2
(x)
2
) =

2(x
2
y
2
) = |4
R|5 = 2

2yx = |5
Then, the R matrix is:
R =
_
_
_
_
_
_
1 0 0 0 0
0 0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0 0
0 0 0 1 0
0 0 0 0 1
_
_
_
_
_
_
O associated with eliminating all even-order terms in the polynomial;
O|1 = 0
O|2 =

2x = |2
O|3 =

2y = |3
O|4 =

2(0 0) = 0
O|5 = 2

2xy = |5
5
Then, the O matrix is:
O =
_
_
_
_
_
_
0 0 0 0 0
0 1 0 0 0
0 0 1 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 1
_
_
_
_
_
_
S associated with the replacement x x/2, y y/2;
S|1 = |1
S|2 =
1
2

2y =
1
2
|2
S|3 =
1
2

2x =
1
2
|3
S|4 =

2
_
_
x
2
_
2

_
y
2
_
2
_
=

2
4
(x
2
y
2
) =
1
4
|4
S|5 = 2

2
x
2
y
2
=
1
2
|5
Then, the S matrix is:
S =
_
_
_
_
_
_
1 0 0 0 0
0 1/2 0 0
0 0 1/2 0 0
0 0 0 1/4 0
0 0 0 0 1/2
_
_
_
_
_
_
W associated with the replacement f(x, y) if(x, y).
W|1 = i|1
W|2 = i|3
W|3 = i|2
W|4 = i|4
W|5 = i|5
Then, the W matrix is:
W =
_
_
_
_
_
_
i 0 0 0 0
0 i 0 0 0
0 0 i 0 0
0 0 0 i 0
0 0 0 0 i
_
_
_
_
_
_
e) Which of the operators in part (d) are Hermitian? Which are Antihermitian?
Which are unitary? Which are projection operators? Which are reection oper-
ators?
An operator V is Hermitian if V = V

= (V

)
T
. Then, it is easy to calculate
the transpose conjugate matrix of the previous operators. I found that M, O
and S are hermitian; R is unitary and W is anti-hermitian.
6
f ) From among the operators in part (d), nd a pair of Hermetian operators which
form a complete set of commuting operators (see Shankar p.46) and nd the
orthonormal basis that simultaneously diagonalizes both operators.
After several tries, we found that the pair of the operators R and S form a
complete set of commuting operators. The eigenvalues of R are: +1, 1, i, +i
and for S are: 1/2, 1, 1/4. With this eigenvalues we can parametrized the set:
|1, 1 =
_
_
_
_
_
_
1
0
0
0
0
_
_
_
_
_
_
; |1/4, 1 =
_
_
_
_
_
_
0
0
0
1
0
_
_
_
_
_
_
; |1/2, i =
1

2
_
_
_
_
_
_
0
i
1
0
0
_
_
_
_
_
_
;
|1/2, i =
1

2
_
_
_
_
_
_
0
i
1
0
0
_
_
_
_
_
_
; |1/2, 1 =
_
_
_
_
_
_
0
0
0
0
1
_
_
_
_
_
_
;
This represents the orthonormal basis that diagonalizes the two operators.
Shankar, Ex 1.6.2 Given and are Hermitian what can you say about (1) ; (2)
+ ; (3) [, ]; and (4) i[, ]?
From the denition of Hermitian:
=

. Then:
1. ()

= .
Hence = , is not Hermitian.
2. ( + )

= ()

+ ()

= + .
Therefore this operator is Hermitian.
3. From the denition: [, ] = .
[, ]

= ( )

= ()

()

= = [, ] = [, ].
Then, this operator is anti-Hermitian.
4. Similar as (3):
(i[, ])

= i( )

= i(()

()

) = i( ) = i[, ] =
i[, ]. This operator Hermitian.
Shankar, Ex 1.6.3 Show that a product of unitary operators is unitary.
Suppose U and V are unitary operators, hence U

U = 1 and V

V = 1. Then:
(UV )

UV = V

U

UV = V

V = I
Therefore this product is unitary.
7
Shankar, Ex 1.6.4 It is assumed that you know (1) what a determinant is, (2) that
det
T
= det (T denotes transpose), (3) that the determinant of a product of ma-
trices is the product of the determinants. Prove that the determinant of a unitary
matrix is a complex number of unit modulus.
Using the results from 1.6.3.:
det(U

U) = det(I) = 1
But, also:
det(U

U) = det(U

) det(U) = det((U
T
)

) det(U) = det(U

) det(U) = | det U|
2
Then:
| det U|
2
= 1 | det U| = 1
.
Shankar, Ex 1.9.2 If H is a Hermitian operator, show that U = e
iH
is unitary. (Notice
the analogy with c numbers: if is real, u = e
i
is a number of unit modulus.)
Suppose U = e
iH
is not unitary. As a result, the product U

U = 1. Then,
U

U = e
iH
e
iH
= e
iH+iH
= e
0
= 1
That is against our supposition. Then U must be unitary.
Shankar, Ex 1.9.3 For the case above, show that det U = e
iTrH
It is known that any Hermitian matrix can be diagonalized by a unitary transforma-
tion. If we diagonalize H and take
1
, ...,
m
as the eigenvalues of H, then:
det U = det(e
iH
) = e
i

m
j=1

j
= e
iTrH
8