Quantum Mechanics I / Quantum Theory I.

14 December, 2015

Assignment 7: Solution

1. In class, we derived that the ground state of the harmonic oscillator |0 is given in the
position space as
 1/4
m 2 /2~
emx


0 (x) = x|0 = .
~
(a) This question deals with finding the state in the momentum basis. Lets start off
by finding the position operator x in the momentum basis. Show that



p|x| = i~ p| .
p
This is analogous to the expression of the momentum in the position basis,




x|p| = i~ x x| . You will use [Beck Eq. 10.56] expressing the momentum
eigenstate in the position basis as well as the definition of the Fourier transform.



(b) Since a|0 = 0 and the position operator p|x = i~ p , construct a differential


equation to find the wavefunction in momentum space p|0 = f0 (p). Solve this

equation to find
f0 (p). Plot
f0 (p) in the momentum space.



(c) Verify that your
f0 (p) = p|0 derived above is the Fourier transform of x|0 =

0 (x).

Answer

(a) Lets find the position operator in momentum space



p|x| = p|x1|
Z



= dx p|x|x x|
Z


  
= dx p|x x x| x|x = x|x .

Now the normalized wavefunction of the momentum eigenstate in the position

representation is
1
eipx/~


x|p = Eq 10.56 in Beck
2~ Z
1
dxeipx/~ x x| .



p|x| = (1)
2~

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Quantum Mechanics I / Quantum Theory I. 14 December, 2015

Now
ipx/~ ix ipx/~
e = e
p ~
 
ipx/~
i~ e = xeipx/~ .
p
Inserting into Eq (1):
Z

 i~ ipx/~


p|x| = dx e x|
2~ p
Z 
1 ipx/~


= i~ dxe x|
p 2~


= i~ p| ,
p
where (p)
e is the Fourier transform of (x). So we have



p|x| = i~ p| and
p

p|x = i~ p|,
p
which is the required form.

(b) We need to solve the lowering operator a in momentum space as

r  


m i 
p|a|0 = p| x + p |0
2~ m
r  
m
 i

= p|x|0 + p|p|0 .
2~ m



Since a|0 and the position operator p|x = i~ p ,

r  

 m d
 i

p|a|0 = i~ p|0 + p p|0
2~ dp m
r  
m d
 i

0 = i~ p|0 + p p|0
2~ dp m


Let
f0 (p) = p|0 be the wavefunction in momentum space,
r  
m df i f
0 = i~ 0 (p) + p0 (p)
2~ dp m
df i f
i~ 0 (p) = p0 (p)
dp m
df0 (p) 1
= p dp
f0 (p) ~m

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Quantum Mechanics I / Quantum Theory I. 14 December, 2015

Z Z
d
f0 (p) 1
= p dp
f0 (p) ~m

f0 (p) = p2
ln + ln A
2~m
p 2
f0 (p) = Ae 2~m
.

Now
Z
2
Z
p2
e ~m dp = |A|2 ~m = 1
 2
f0 (p) dp = |A|

 1/4
1
A =
~m
 1/4
1 p2
0 (p) =
f e 2~m .
~m

(c) We need to find the Fourier transform of 0 (x) and compare it with
f0 (p) derived

in (b).
Z
1
0 (p) =
f dxeipx/~ 0 (x)
2~
 1/4 Z
1 m 2
= dxeipx/~ emx /2~ by using Eq (1)
2~ ~
 1/4 Z
1 m 2
= dxe(ipx/~+mx /2~) .
2~ ~
Consider
r 2 r 2  2
mx2 ipx
  
m m ip ip ip
+ = x +2 x +
2~ ~ 2~ 2~ 2m~ 2m~ 2m~
r 2  2
m ip ip
= x+
2~ 2m~ 2m~
r 2 2
m ip p
= x+ +
2~ 2m~ 2m~

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Quantum Mechanics I / Quantum Theory I. 14 December, 2015

Let
r
m ip
y = x+
2~ 2m~
r r
m 2~
dy = dx or dx = dy
2~ m
So the integral becomes
Z r Z
2
ipx/~ mx /2~ 2~ 2 2
dxe e = dyey ep /2m~
m
r
2~ p2 /2m~
Z
2
= e dyey
m
r r
2~ p2 /2m~ 2~ p2 /2m~
= e = e .
m m
Hence
 1/4 r
f0 (p) = 1 m 2~ p2 /2m~
e
2~ ~ m
 1/4
1 2
= ep /2m~ ,
m~
which is the required result.

2. A particle of mass m in a one-dimensional harmonic oscillator is in a state for which

a measurement of the energy yields the values ~/2 or 3~/2, each with a probability


of one-half. The average value of momentum px at time t = 0 is (m~/2)1/2 . This
information specifies the state of the particle completely. What is this state and what


is px at time t?
Answer
 
The initial state is a superposition of two adjacent states |0 and |1 , with eigenvalues
E0 = ~/2 and E1 = 3/2~,
1
|(0) = |0 +ei |1 ,
  

2
where ei is the phase factor and its magnitude can be find as



px = (0)|px |(0)
 r 

m~

= (0)| i (a a ) |(0)
2
r
m~

(0)|(a a )|(0)

= i
2

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Quantum Mechanics I / Quantum Theory I. 14 December, 2015

r    
m~ 1
i


1  i 

= i 0| + e 1| (a a ) |0 +e |1 .
2 2 2
Here a and a are raising and lowering operators:
 
a|n = n|n 1

a |n = n + 1|n + 1 .
 

Therefore,
r   

 i m~
i

i
 
px = 0| + e 1| e a|1 a |0
2 2
r   
i m~
i

i
 
= 0| + e 1| e |0 |1
2 2
r
i m~ i
= (e ei )
r 2 2 r
m~ (ei ei ) m~
= = sin .
2 2i 2
q
Given that px at t = 0 = m~


2
. So we have
r r
m~ m~
= sin
2 2
sin = 1 or = /2
 1  

|(0) = |0 +i|1 ,
2
is the required state.
If |(0) = 12 (|0 +i|1 ), then after time t, the state evolves to
  

|(t) = eiHt/~ |(0) .

 

For the harmonic oscillator, the Hamiltonian is expressed as

1 1
H = ~(a a + ) = ~(N + ) (as derived in class)
2 2
with eigenvalues En = (n + 1/2)~ for n = 0, 1. Therefore,
1
|(t) = ei~(N + 2 )t/~ |(0)
 

= eit/2 eitN |(0)


 
it/2 itN 1  

= e e |0 +i|1
2
it/2
e
|0 +ieit |1
 
 
= N |n = n|n .
2

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Quantum Mechanics I / Quantum Theory I. 14 December, 2015

So the expectation value of momentum operator px at time t is



px = (t)|px |(t)
 it/2  r  it/2 
e
it


m~ e  it


= 0| ie 1| i (a a ) |0 +ie |1
2 2 2
r
i m~

0| ieit 1| a a |0 +ieit |1



 

=
2 r 2
  
i m~
it

it
 
= 0| ie 1| ie |0 |1
2 2
r
i m~ it
+ ieit


= ie
r2 2
 r
m~ eit + eit

m~
= = cos t.
2 2 2

3. Calculate the probability that a particle in the ground state of the harmonic oscillator
is located in a classically disallowed region, namely, where V (x) > E. Obtain a
numerical value for the probability. Suggestion: Express your integral in terms of a
dimensionless variable and compare with the tabulated values of the error function.
Answer
The ground state of the harmonic oscillator (or the minimum uncertainty state)
 1/4
m 2 /2~
0 (x) = emx
~

is a Gaussian function as drawn in figure.

Here xc are classical turning points (or critical points), at these points the energy of

Due Date: December. 14, 2015, 05:00 pm 6

Quantum Mechanics I / Quantum Theory I. 14 December, 2015

the particle equals to its potential energy,

1 1
~ = m 2 x2c
2 2
r
~
xc =
m
In one of the classically forbidden regions (x > xc ), where V (x) > E, the probability
of finding a particle in ground state of the harmonic oscillator is
Z r Z
2 m 2
emx /~ dx.

dx0 (x) =
xc ~ xc
Let
r
m 1
a= , xc =
~ a
By these substitutions, integral becomes
Z  
a a2 x2 a 1 1
e dx = Erf
1/a 2 a a
1
= (1 Erf(1)) 7.9%.
2
But this is only half of the desired result since we have two classically forbidden regions,
xc > a and xc < a. Hence the required probability is 16%.

 
4. Calculate E for the coherent state | .
Answer
The energy eigenvalue corresponds to hamiltonian for harmonic oscillator is
p2 1
E = + m 2 x2
2m 2
1
2 1
p + m 2 x2 .



E = (2)
2m 2

The expectation values of p2 and x2 for the coherent state | as derived in class
  

2 m~ 2 2
p = 4|| sin (t ) + 1
2
  

2 ~ 2 2
x = 4|| cos (t ) + 1 .
2m
Plugging these values in Eq(2),
     

 1 m~ 2 2 1 2 ~ 2 2
E = 4|| sin (t ) + 1 + m 4|| cos (t ) + 1
2m 2 2 2m
   
~ 2 2 ~ 2 2
= 4|| sin (t ) + 1 + 4|| cos (t ) + 1
4 4
   
~ 2 2 1
= 4|| + 2 = ~ || + ,
4 2

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Quantum Mechanics I / Quantum Theory I. 14 December, 2015

is the required result. Therefore, ||2 is a measure of the average number of photons.

2    
5. Evaluate  |  for coherent states | and | . Show that the states | and |
become approximately orthogonal in the limit | |  1.
Answer
 
The series representation of the coherent states | and | are

 ||2 /2
X ()n |n
| = e
n=0 n!

X () |n n

||2 /2

| = e
n=0 n!

 
()m m| X ()n |n 

||2 +||2

X



Now | = e 2
m=0 m! n=0 n!

X ()n
||2 +||2


= e 2

n=0
(n!)

The coherent states are the eigenstates of annihilation operator a:

 
a| = |


|a = | |a = |.

Let

|a a| = | |





= | .


(3)

From L.H.S,

()n |n

||2 /2
X



 

|a a| = |N | = |N e
n=0 n!

X ()n

2
= e|| /2

|N |n
n=0 n!

X ()n 


||2 /2
= e n |n .
n=0 n!

Now
X m


2 ( ) m|
|n = e|| /2

 
|n
m=0 m!

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Quantum Mechanics I / Quantum Theory I. 14 December, 2015

2
X ( )n e|| /2
=
n=0 n!
 
()n X ( )n

||2 /2 ||2 /2

 X
|a a| = e e n
n=0 n! n=0 n!

X ( )n
2 2
= e|| /2 e|| /2 n .
n=0
n!

Using Eq(3)



 ||2 /2 ||2 /2
X ( )n
| = e e n
n=0
n!


 1 ||2 /2 ||2 /2
X ( )n
| = e e n
( ) n=0
n!

||2 /2 ||2 /2
X n( )n1
= e e
n=0
n!

2 /2 2 /2
X n( )n1
= e|| e||
n=0
n(n 1)!

Since for n = 0 the above term vanishes, so we have

 ||2 /2 ||2 /2
X ( )n1
| = e e
n=1
(n 1)!

2 /2 2 /2
X ( )j
= e|| e|| let (n 1) = j
j=0
j!

||2 /2 ||2 /2 ( )
X xn
= e e e = ex
n=0
n!
2 2 2
=  |  = e|| e|| e( + )


 

| |
2 +||2 ( + )
= e(||
2)
= e(||

2
 |  0 if | |  1.


6. (a) Find the mean number of photons in the coherent state | .

(b) Find the probability of finding n photons in the coherent state | .

(c) Show that the probability distribution obtained above in (b) is Poissonian. Look
up and state the discrete Poissonian probability distribution function.

Due Date: December. 14, 2015, 05:00 pm 9

Quantum Mechanics I / Quantum Theory I. 14 December, 2015

Answer


(a) The mean number of photons in the coherent state | are

N = |N | = |a a|





= | |



= | = ||2 .




(b) The probability of finding the n photons in the coherent state | is given by
  
  
2
P n| =  n| 
n 2
n| = e|| /2


n!
2 n

2 (|| ) ||2
 n|  = e .
n!

(c) Poisson distribution function with parameter > 0 and k = 0, 1, 2... is given by

k e
Pr(k) = .
k!

If = ||2 and k = n, then

2
(||2 )n e||
Pr(n) =
n!

is the probability distribution function derived in (b).

7. A one-dimensional harmonic oscillator is in the n = 1 state, for which

2
n=1 (x) = 2(2 1/2 x0 )1/2 (x/x0 )e0.5/(x/x0 )

with x0 = (~/m)1/2 . Calculate the probability of finding the particle in the interval
x to x + dx. Show that, according to classical mechanics, the probability is

1 2
Pclassical (x)dx = (A x2 )1/2 dx
0

for A0 < x < A0 and zero elsewhere (A0 is the classical amplitude). With the
aid of sketches compare this probability distribution with the quantum mechanical
one. Locate the maxima for the probability distribution for the n = 1 quantum state

Due Date: December. 14, 2015, 05:00 pm 10

Quantum Mechanics I / Quantum Theory I. 14 December, 2015

8. Field emission is a common technique to eject electrons from a metal surface. In a

metal, electrons are filled upto the Fermi level EF .

The minimum energy required to eject the electron from the metal is W , called the
work function. If a nearby metal is placed at a positive voltage V0 w.r.t. the bulk
metal tip, an electric field is setup. As a result the potential energy profile changes as
shown in figure (c). The Fermi electron can now easily tunnel out of the metal tip.

(a) If |E| is the constant electric field between the tip and the nearby metal, express
V (x) EF in terms of the electric field. Use the notation
V (x)= potential energy, v=electric voltage,
EF =Fermi energy = energy of tunneling electron.

(b) Show that the tunneling property of the Fermi electron is


4 2mW 3/2

T exp .
3e|E|~

Use the approximate approximation


2 2m b p
Z 
T exp dx V (x) E ,
~ a

choosing the approximate integration limits. If you encounter an integral of the

R
form dz 1 z 2 , make the substitution z = cos .

Answer

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Quantum Mechanics I / Quantum Theory I. 14 December, 2015

(a) From the figure (c), it is clear that the potential energy varies in the region x > 0
as

V (x) = EF + W e|E|x
V (x) EF = W e|E|x.

(b) The approximate expression for tunneling coefficient is given by


2 2m b p
Z 
T exp dx V (x) E .
~ a

First we have to calculate the integral,

Z b p
I = dx V (x) E
a
Z b p
= dx W e|E|x
a
r
Z b e|E|x
= W dx 1
a W

Here [a, b] corresponds to classically forbidden region (or tunneling allowed re-
gion). So it is clear that a = 0, b is the value of x when V (x) = EF , i.e.,

W
W e|E|b = 0, b =
e|E|

So we have
W
r
Z
e|E| e|E|x
I= W dx 1
0 W

Let

e|E|x W 2
= z2, x = z
W e|E|
2W z
dx = dz.
e|E|
W
When x = 0, z = 0 and when x = e|E|
, z = 1. By these substitutions, integral
becomes
Z 1

2W
I = W z 1 z 2 dz.
0 e|E|

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Quantum Mechanics I / Quantum Theory I. 14 December, 2015

Put z = cos , dz = sin d. When z = 0, = /2 and when z = 1, = 0.

Therefore,
0
2(W )3/2
Z
I = cos sin ( sin d)
e|E| /2
3/2 Z /2
2(W )
= cos sin2 d
e|E| 0
/2
2(W ) 3/2
sin3  2(W )3/2
= =
e|E| 3 0 3e|E|

By inserting it in tunneling expression,


2 2m 2(W )3/2

T exp
~ 3e|E|

4 2m(W )3/2

= exp ,
3e~|E|

which is the desired result.

Due Date: December. 14, 2015, 05:00 pm 14