1

Quantum Mechanics Qualier Exam

Fall 2012
For full credit solve 6 out of the following 8 problems. If you solve more than 6, please specify which are the ones to be counted toward your score. and B do not commute with each other but each 1. Show that if two observables A , i.e., [A, B ] = 0, [H, A ] = 0, [H, B ] = 0, then this commutes with a Hamiltonian H generally implies that the spectrum of the Hamiltonian is degenerate. 2. Suppose that a spin-less particle is in the presence of a periodic potential in one dimension, V (x a) = V (x) where a is the lattice periodicity. Suppose also that the potential barrier height between two adjacent lattice sites is nite. Let |n denote the ket corresponding to the state of the particle localized at the n-th lattice site, and is the lattice translation operator: |n = |n + 1 . Note that since the barrier height is not innite, the states |n are not energy eigenkets. Suppose the Hamiltonian of the system satises the equation H |n = E0 |n |n + 1 |n 1 . Show that the state | =
n=

exp(in)|n

is an eigenstate of (5 points). If it is an energy eigenstate as well, nd the energy eigenvalue as a function of (5 points). 3. The wave function of the ground state of a harmonic oscillator with force constant k and mass m is 0 (x) = (/ )1/4 ex
2 /2

2 , = m0 / , 0 = k/m.

(1)

Obtain an expression for the probability of nding the particle outside the classical region. 4. (a) Show that in the usual stationary state perturbation theory, if the Hamiltonian can be written as H = H0 + H with H0 0 = E0 0 , then the correction E0 is E0 < 0 |H |0 > (2)

2 (b) For a spherical nucleus, the nucleons may be assumed to be in a spherical potential well of radius R given by

Vsp =

0,

r < R,

, r > R.

For a slightly deformed nucleus, it may be correspondingly assumed that the nucleons are in an elliptical well, again with innite wall height, that is:

Vel =

0,

inside the ellipsoid (x2 + y 2 )/a2 + z 2 /b2 = R2 ,

, otherwise, 1.

where a = (1 + c/3), b = (1 2c/3), with c

Calculate the approximate change in the ground state energy E0 due to the ellipticity of the non-spherical nucleus by nding an appropriate H and using the result obtained in (a). Hint: Try to nd a transformation of variables that will make the well look spherical. 5. We consider a particle of mass m in a potential V (x) given by , x<0, V ( x) = 0, 0<x<L U , L<x

The particle state function satises the time-independent Schr odinger equation d2 + V (x) = E 2m dx2
2

(a) For energies E < U , nd solutions (x) inside the well (0 < x < L) that satisfy the appropriate boundary condition at x = 0, and nd solutions (x) outside the well (x > L) that satisfy the appropriate boundary condition for x . (b) Impose appropriate matching conditions at x = L and nd an equation for the allowed energies E of the system.

3 (c) Show that there are no bound states if U L2 <

2

/2m. Give a simple physical

explanation for this result in terms of the uncertainty principle. 6. A coherent state | of a one-dimensional harmonic oscillator is dened to be an eigenstate of the (non-Hermitian) annihilation operator a , a | = | where is generally a complex number. (a) Show that | = e|| is a coherent state. (b) Writing | as a superposition

2 /2

ea |0

| =
n=0

cn |n

of energy eigenstates |n , show that |cn |2 = ||2n ||2 e n!

(t) = eiHt/ (c) Using the time-evolution operator U , show that an initial coherent

state | at t = 0 evolves into a coherent state |(t) at time t > 0. What is the value of (t)? 7. An electron in an atom has two states of dierent total angular momentum for each value of l and m, except for l = 0. (a) What are the possible eigenvalues j of the total angular momentum J = L + S for a given value of l? (b) Show that + = and l 2S L/2 2 2l + 1 are projection operators for states of good total angular momentum j , i.e. that = they act as identity operators for one set of states and yield zero when applied to the other set of states. l + 1 + 2S L/ 2l + 1
2

4 (c) The most general rotationally invariant Hamiltonian for an electron has the form H= p2 + V0 (r) + V1 (r)S L/ 2m
2

Any eigenstate of H can be written as a two-component spinor of the form (r) =

s=1/2

Rls (r)Ylm (, )s

where s is the unit spinor dened by z s = 2ss for s = 1/2. Find the dierential equations for Rl,s (r) in terms of V0 (r) and V1 (r) for any valid combination of l and j . (d) Why does the radial dierential equation not depend on the quantum number m? Hint: The Laplace operator in spherical coordinates is = 1 r2 r r2 r + 1 2 r sin sin + 1 2 r2 sin2 2

8. Three spin-half particles with spin operators S1 ,S2 and S3 are xed to the corners of a triangle. The spins interact with each other such that the Hamiltonian of the system is given by H = J (S1 S2 + S1 S3 + S2 S3 ) Find the energy levels of the system and their degeneracies.