Tutorial-Sheet-4

1. Consider a free-particle wave packet in one dimension. At t=0 it satisfies the minimum
uncertainty relation



 
 
 0
4
In addition


 0  0
Using the Heisenberg picture, obtain
 t as a function of t (t0) when
 t=0 is given.


2. Let the time evolution operator is given by   

 if H is time independent. The
Hamiltonian of a system has three (normalized) eigenkets |1>, |2> and |3>, satisfying
|2  2 |2 ,
|3  3 |3 
|1   |1 ,
where E0 is a constant with dimensions of energy.
(i)
Write the matrix representation of H in the |n> basis (n=1,2,3).
(ii)
If, at time t=0, the system is the state
1
|  !1  "2!2  "|3 
2
Write an expression for the Schrodinger state at a later time t.
(iii)
Let Sx be the operator, in the Schrodinger picture

|1 & 2| " |2 & 3| " |2 & 1| " |3 & 2|

$%
2
Calculate the time dependence of the expectation value <Sx> if the system starts in the
sate |> at t=0.
3. Consider a free particle in one dimension, whose wavefunction at t=0 is the Gaussian wave
packet
1
 (    /  (
' ( |)*
 .
"
0
2,

+, (i)
What are the initial values of <x>, <(x)2>, <p> and <(p)2>?
(ii)
Calculate the wavefunction at a later time t, ' ( |), *.
4. An electron is subject to a uniform, time-independent magnetic field of strength B in the
positive z-direction. At t=0, the electron is known to be in an eigenstate of $1. 34 with eigenvalue
/2, where 34 is a unit vector, lying in the xz-plane, that makes an angle with the z-axis.

(i)
Obtain the probability for finding the electron in the $%  state as a function of time.
(ii)
Find the expectation value of $% as a function of time.
5. Consider a particle in three dimensions whose Hamiltonian is given by
1
" 671

25
=
;
<1
By calculating 87.
991 1 , : obtain ;
7.
991 1
>  
71. 9?1 6. Under what condition would the left
hand side of this relation vanish?
6. Show that, if the observables L, M, N satisfy the commutation relation
8@, A: /B
In the Schrodinger picture, this relation is valid also in the other pictures.
7. Solve the problem of the harmonic oscillator in momentum representation.