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Contents
Introduction 1 Basics 1.1 Review of earlier work . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2 The Dirac Formalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2.1 Continuum basis . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2.2 Action of operators on wavefunctions 1.2.3 Momentum space . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2.4 Commuting operators . . . . . . . . 1.2.5 Unitary Operators . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2.6 Time dependence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v 1 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 9 10 11 13 13 14 14 15 16 17 17 19 19 19 21 23 23 24 25 25 26 27
2 The Harmonic Oscillator 2.1 Relation to wavefunctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 More comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Multiparticle Systems 3.1 Combination of physical systems . . . 3.2 Multiparticle Systems . . . . . . . . . 3.2.1 Identical particles . . . . . . . 3.2.2 Spinless bosons . . . . . . . . 3.2.3 Spin 1 fermions . . . . . . . 2 3.3 Two particle states and centre of mass 3.4 Observation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 Perturbation Expansions 4.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.2 Non-degenerate perturbation theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.3 Degeneracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 General theory of angular momentum 5.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.1.1 Spin 1 particles . . . . . . . 2 5.1.2 Spin 1 particles . . . . . . . 5.1.3 Electrons . . . . . . . . . . 5.2 Addition of angular momentum . . . 5.3 The meaning of quantum mechanics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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CONTENTS
Introduction
These notes are based on the course Foundations of Quantum Mechanics given by Dr. H. Osborn in Cambridge in the Michlmas Term 1997. Recommended books are discussed in the bibliography at the back. Other sets of notes are available for different courses. At the time of typing these courses were: Probability Analysis Methods Fluid Dynamics 1 Geometry Foundations of QM Methods of Math. Phys Waves (etc.) General Relativity Physiological Fluid Dynamics Slow Viscous Flows Acoustics Seismic Waves They may be downloaded from http://www.istari.ucam.org/maths/ or http://www.cam.ac.uk/CambUniv/Societies/archim/notes.htm or you can email soc-archim-notes@lists.cam.ac.uk to get a copy of the sets you require. Discrete Mathematics Further Analysis Quantum Mechanics Quadratic Mathematics Dynamics of D.E.s Electrodynamics Fluid Dynamics 2 Statistical Physics Dynamical Systems Bifurcations in Nonlinear Convection Turbulence and Self-Similarity Non-Newtonian Fluids
Chapter 1
d3 x || = 1
then we say that d3 x || is the probability of nding the particle in the innitesimal region d3 x (at x). Superposition Principle If 1 and 2 are two wavefunctions representing states of a particle, then so is the linear combination a 1 1 + a2 2 (a1 , a2 C). This is obviously the statement that wavefunctions live in a vector space. If = a (with a = 0) then and represent the same physical state. If and are both normalised then a = e . We write e to show that they represent the same physical state. 1
CHAPTER 1. BASICS
For two wavefunctions and we can dene a scalar product (, ) d3 x C.
This has various properties which you can investigate at your leisure. Interpretative Postulate Given a particle in a state represented by a wavefunction (henceforth in a state 2 ) then the probability of nding the particle in state is P = |(, )| and if the wavefunctions are normalised then 0 P 1. P = 1 if . We wish to dene (linear) operators on our vector space do the obvious thing. In nite dimensions we can choose a basis and replace an operator with a matrix. For a complex vector space we can dene the Hermitian conjugate of the operator A to be the operator A satisfying (, A) = (A , ). If A = A then A is Hermitian. Note that if A is linear then so is A . In quantum mechanics dynamical variables (such as energy, momentum or angular momentum) are represented by (linear) Hermitian operators, the values of the dynamical variables being given by the eigenvalues. For wavefunctions (x), A is usually a differential operator. For a single particle moving in a potential V (x) we get the 2 Hamiltonian H = 2m 2 + V (x). Operators may have either a continuous or discrete spectrum. If A is Hermitian then the eigenfunctions corresponding to different eigenvalues are orthogonal. We assume completeness that any wavefunction can be expanded as a linear combination of eigenfunctions. The expectation value for A in a state with wavefunction is A , dened to be 2 2 2 i i |ai | = (, A). We dene the square deviation A to be (A A ) which is in general nonzero. Time dependence This is governed by the Schr dinger equation o = H, t
where H is the Hamiltonian. H must be Hermitian for the consistency of quantum mechanics: (, ) = (, H) (H, ) = 0 t
if H is Hermitian. Thus we can impose the condition (, ) = 1 for all time (if is normalisable). If we consider eigenfunctions i of H with eigenvalues E i we can expand a general wavefunction as (x, t) = ai e
Ei
i (x).
If is normalised then the probability of nding the system with energy E i is |ai |2 .
|i i | .
We can also rewrite A = i |i i i | and if j = 0 j then we can dene 1 1 = A i |. i |i i We now choose an orthonormal basis {|n } with n|m = nm and the completeness relation = n |n n|. We can thus expand | = n an |n with an = n| . 1 We now consider a linear operator A, and then A| = n an A|n = m am |m , . Further, putting A mn = m|A|n we get with am = m|A| = n an m|A|n am = n Amn an and therefore solving A| = | is equivalent to solving the matrix equation Aa = a. A mn is called the matrix representation of A. We also have | = n an n|, with an = m am Amn , where Amn = Anm gives the Hermitian conjugate matrix. This is the matrix representation of A .
1 bra
CHAPTER 1. BASICS
Also x| | = x(x); the action of the operator x on a wavefunction is multiplix cation by x. Something else reassuring is | = |1| = = d3 x |x x| d3 x |(x)| .
2
The momentum operator p is also expected to have continuum eigenvalues. We can similarly dene states |p which satisfy p|p = p|p . We can relate x and p using the commutator, which for two operators A and B is dened by A, B = AB B A. x x The relationship between x and p is [i , pj ] = ij . In one dimension [, p] = . We have a useful rule for calculating commutators, that is: A, B C = A, B C + B A, C . This can be easily proved simply by expanding the right hand side out. We can use this to calculate x, p2 . x, p2 = [, p] p + p [, p] x x = 2 p. It is easy to show by induction that [, p n ] = n pn1 . x We can dene an exponential by e
ap
1 n! n=0
a p
by = x,
ap
1 n! n=0
a p
= = =
1 a p x, n! n=0 1 a n! n=0
n
[, pn ] x
n
a 1 (n 1)! n=1
pn1
=a
n=1
ap
n1
pn1
= e
ap
( + a) x
and it follows that e |x is an eigenvalue of x with eigenvalue x + a. Thus we ap see e |x = |x + a . We can do the same to the bra vectors with the Hermiap ap to get x + a| = x|e . Then we also have the normalisation tian conjugate e x + a|x + a = x |x . ap ap x|p . Setting x = 0 gives We now wish to consider x + a|p = x|e |p = e ap a|p = e N , where N = 0|p is independent of x. We can determine N from the normalisation of |p . (p p) = p |p = da p |a a|p
2 2
= |N |
da e
a(pp )
= |N | 2 (p p) So, because we are free to choose the phase of N , we can set N = thus x|p =
1 2
1 2
xp
1 2
1 2
and
|p =
dx |x e
xp
CHAPTER 1. BASICS
Now x|| = x x| = x(x), so the position operator acts on wavefunctions x by multiplication. As for the momentum operator,
x|| = p = =
dp x||p p| p dp p x|p p| 1 2
1 2
dp pe
xp
p|
= (acting on
dx e
xp
(x).
In momentum space, the operators act differently on wavefunctions. It is easy to d see that p|| = p(p) and p|| = dp (p). p x We convert the Schr dinger equation into momentum space. We have the operator o = p2 + V () and we just need to calculate how the potential operates on x equation H 2m the wavefunction.
p|V ()| = x
dx p|V ()|x x| x
1 2
1 = 2 1 = 2 = where V (p) =
1 2
dx e
xp
V (x) x|
x(p p)
dx dp V (x)(p )e
dp V (p p )(p ),
xp
dx e
p2 (p) + Hp (p) = 2m
These may still be degenerate. However we can in principle remove this degeneracy by adding more commuting operators until each state is uniquely labeled by the eigenvalues of each common eigenvector. This set of operators is called a complete commuting set. This isnt so odd: for a single particle in 3 dimensions we have the operators x 1 , x2 and x3 . These all commute, so for a single particle with no other degrees of freedom we can label states uniquely by |x . We also note from this example that a complete commuting set is not unique, we might just as easily have taken the momentum operators and labeled states by |p . To ram the point in more, we could also have taken some weird combination like x 1 , x2 and p3 . For our single particle in 3 dimensions, a natural set of commuting operators in volves the angular momentum operator, L = x p, or Li = ijk xj pk . i and the other operators we know. We can nd commutation relations between L These are summarised here, proof is straightforward. Li , xl = Li , x2 = 0 L i , pm = Li , p2 = 0 Li , Lj = Li , L2 = 0
p2 If we have a Hamiltonian H = 2m + V (| |) then we can also see that L, H = 0. x We choose as a commuting set H, L2 and L3 and label states |E, l, m , where the 2 eigenvalue of L is l(l + 1) and the eigenvalue of L3 is m. ijk Lk
ilj xj
imk pk
CHAPTER 1. BASICS
H is the Hamiltonian and we require it to be Hermitian. We can get an explicit solution of this if H does not depend explicitly on t. We set |(t) = U(t)|(0) , Ht where U (t) = e . As U (t) is unitary, (t)|(t) = (0)|(0) . If we measure the expectation of A at time t we get (t)|A|(t) = a(t). This description is called the Schr dinger picture. Alternatively we can absorb the time deo pendence into the operator A to get the Heisenberg picture, a(t) = | U (t)AU(t)| . H (t) = U (t)AU(t). In this description the operators are time dependent We write A (as opposed to the states). AH (t) is the Heisenberg picture time dependent operator. Its evolution is governed by which is easily proven. For a Hamiltonian H = for the operators x H and pH AH (t) = AH (t), H , t + V ((t)) we can get the Heisenberg equations x
1 2 2m p(t)
Chapter 2
1 2
p m p x m x+
a and a are respectively called the annihilation and creation operators. We can 1. easily obtain the commutation relation a, a = It is easy to show that, in terms of the annihilation and creation operators, the Hamiltonian H = 1 aa + a a , 2 1 = a a. Then a, N = a and a , N = . a which reduces to a a + . Let N
2
Therefore N a = a N 1 and N a = a N + 1 . Suppose | is an eigenvector of N with eigenvalue . Then the commutation rela tions give that N a| = ( 1) a| and therefore unless a| = 0 it is an eigenvalue of N with eigenvalue 1. Similarly N a | = ( + 1) a | . But for any | , | N | 0 and equals 0 iff a| = 0. Now suppose we have an {0, 1, 2, . . . }. Then n such that a n | is an eigenvector of N eigenvalue of H, / with eigenvalue n < 0 and so we must have {0, 1, 2, . . . }. Returning to the Hamiltonian we get energy eigenvalues E n = n + 1 , the same result as using the 2 Schr dinger equation for wavefunctions, but with much less effort. o We dene |n = Cn an |0 , where Cn is such as to make n|n = 1. We can take a Cn R, and evaluate 0| n an |0 to nd Cn . 9
10
1 = n|n
2 a = Cn 0|n an |0 2 = Cn 0|n1 aa an1 |0 a
= = =
=n We thus require Cn =
and so we have ) |n = 1 an |0 (with eigenvalue n). |n is also an the normalised eigenstate (of N n! with eigenvalue n + 1 . The space of states for the harmonic eigenvector of H 2 oscillator is spanned by {|n }. We also need to ask if there exists a non-zero state | such that a | = 0. Then a 0 = |a | = | + | a| | > 0. a So there exist no non-zero states | such that a | = 0.
Cn1 n
1 2
x+
d m dx
x|0
and we see that 0 (x) = x|0 satises the differential equation d m + x 0 (x) = 0. dx This (obviously) has solution 0 (x) = N e 2 x for some normalisation constant N . This is the ground state wavefunction which has energy 1 . 2 For 1 (x) = x|1 = x| |0 we nd a 1 (x) = = = m 2 m 2 2m
1 2 1 m 2
x| x x
1 2
m p|0
1 2
d m dx
0 (x)
x0 (x).
11
n + 1|n + 1
and a|n =
n|n 1 .
m||n = x = =
2m
1 2
2m
1 2
2m
This is non-zero only if m = n 1. We note that x r contains terms as ars , where 0 s r and so m|r |n can be non-zero only if n r m n + r. x Ht Ht It is easy to see that in the Heisenberg picture a H (t) = e ae = et a. Then using the equations for x H (t) and pH (t), we see that xH (t) = x cos t +
1 m p sin t.
a Also, H (t) = a (t)(H + ), so if | is an energy eigenstate with eigenvalue H H E then aH (t)| is an energy eigenstate with eigenvalue E + .
1 And
such problems always occur in Tripos papers. You have been warned.
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Chapter 3
Multiparticle Systems
3.1 Combination of physical systems
In quantum mechanics each physical system has its own vector space of physical states and operators, which if Hermitian represent observed quantities. If we consider two vector spaces V 1 and V2 with bases {|r 1 } and {|s 2 } with r = 1 . . . dim V1 and s = 1 . . . dim V2 . We dene the tensor product V 1 V2 as the vector space spanned by pairs of vectors {|r 1 |s
2
: r = 1 . . . dim V1 , s = 1 . . . dim V2 }.
We see that dim(V1 V2 ) = dim V1 dim V2 . We also write the basis vectors of V1 V2 as |r, s . We can dene a scalar product on V 1 V2 in terms of the basis vectors: r , s |r, s = r |r 1 s |s 2 . We can see that if {|r 1 } and {|s 2 } are orthonormal bases for their respective vector spaces then {|r, s } is an orthonormal basis for V 1 V2 . Suppose A1 is an operator on V 1 and B2 is an operator on V 2 we can dene an 1 B2 on V1 V2 by its operation on the basis vectors: operator A A1 B2 |r 1 |s We write A1 B2 as A1 B2 . Two harmonic oscillators We illustrate these comments by example. Suppose p2 Hi = i + 1 m x2 i 2m 2 i = 1, 2.
2
= A1 |r
B2 |s
We have two independent vector spaces V i with bases |n i where n = 0, 1, . . . and i ai and a are creation and annihilation operators on V i , and Hi |n
i
= n+
1 2
|n i .
For the combined system we form the tensor product V 1 V2 with basis |n1 , n2 and Hamiltonian H = i Hi , so H|n1 , n2 = (n1 + n2 + 1) |n1 , n2 . There are N + 1 ket vectors in the N th excited state. 13
14
The three dimensional harmonic oscillator follows similarly. In general if H1 and 2 are two independent Hamiltonians which act on V 1 and V2 respectively then the H Hamiltonian for the combined system is H = H1 + H2 acting on V1 V2 . If {|r } 1 2 and {|s } are eigenbases for V 1 and V2 with energy eigenvalues {E r } and {Es } 1 2 respectively then the basis vectors {| r,s } for V1 V2 have energies Er,s = Er + Es .
if normalised.
We can interpret d3 x1 . . . d3 xN |(x1 , x2 , . . . , xN )| as the probability density that particle i is in the volume element d 3 xi at xi . We can obtain the probability density for one particle by integrating out all the other x j s. For time evolution we get the equation t | = H| , where H is an operator N on H . If the particles do not interact then
N
H=
i=1
Hi
where Hi acts on Hi but leaves Hj alone for j = i. We have energy eigenstates in each Hi such that Hi |r i = Er |r i and so | = |r1 1 |r2 2 . . . |rN N is an energy eigenstate with energy E r1 + + ErN .
We should also have U H U 1 = H and more generally if A1 is an operator on particle 1 then U A1 U 1 is the corresponding operator on particle 2 (and vice versa).
15
Note that if | is an energy eigenstate of H then so is U | . Clearly U 2 = and we 1 to be unitary, which implies that U is Hermitian. require U In quantum mechanics we require | and U | to be the same states (for identical | = | and the requirement U 2 = gives that 1 particles). This implies that U = 1. In terms of wavefunctions this means that ( x1 , x2 ) = ( 2 , x1 ). If we x have a plus sign then the particles are bosons (which have integral spin) and if a minus sign then the particles are fermions (which have spin 1 , 3 , . . . ).1 2 2 The generalisation to N identical particles is reasonably obvious. Let Uij inter ij H U 1 = H for all pairs (i, j). change particles i and j. Then U ij The same physical requirement as before gives us that Uij | = | for all pairs (i, j). If we have bosons (plus sign) then in terms of wavefunctions we must have ( 1 , . . . , xN ) = ( p1 , . . . , xpN ), x x where (p1 , . . . , pN ) is a permutation of (1, . . . , N ). If we have fermions then x ( 1 , . . . , xN ) = ( p1 , . . . , xpN ), x where = +1 if we have an even permutation of (1, . . . , N ) and 1 if we have an odd permutation. Remark for pure mathematicians. 1 and {1} are the two possible representations of the permutation group in one dimension.
+ |s 1 |r 2 ) , r = s .
and the corresponding eigenvalues are 2E r and Er +Es . The factor of 2 2 just ensures normalisation and
1 (1 2 1 r |2 s | + 1 s |2 r |) 2 (|r 1 |s 2
+ |s 1 |r 2 )
(|r1
. . . |rN
16
3.2.3 Spin
fermions
In this case (which covers electrons, for example) a single particle state (or wavefunction) depends on an additional discrete variable s. The wavefunctions are (x, s) or s (x). The space of states for a single electron H = L 2 (R3 ) C2 has a basis of the form |x |s |x, s and the wavefunctions can be written s (x) = x, s| . A basis of wavefunctions is { r (x, s) = r (x) (s)}, where r and are labels for the basis. 1 takes two values and it will later be seen to be natural to take = 2 . (1) We can also think of the vector = , in which case two possible basis (2) 1 0 vectors are and . Note that = . 0 1 The scalar product is dened in the obvious way: r |r = r |r | , which equals rr if the initial basis states are orthonormal. The two electron wavefunction is (x 1 , s1 ; x2 , s2 ) and under the particle exchange operator U we must have (x1 , s1 ; x2 , s2 ) (x2 , s2 ; x1 , s1 ). The two particle states belong to the antisymmetric combination (H 1 H2 )A . For N electrons the obvious thing can be done. Basis for symmetric or antisymmetric 2 particle spin states There is only one antisymmetric basis state 1 A (s1 , s2 ) = 1 (s1 ) 1 (s2 ) 1 (s1 ) 1 (s2 ). , 2 2 2 2 2 and three symmetric possibilities: 1 (s1 ) 1 (s2 ) 2 2 1 S (s1 , s2 ) = 2 1 (s1 ) 1 (s2 ) + 1 (s1 ) 1 (s2 ). 2 2 2 2 (s ) (s ).
1 2 1 1 2 2
s1 = s2
We can now examine two non-interacting electrons, with H = H1 + H2 and take Hi independent of spin. The single particle states are | i |s . The two electron states live in (H 1 H2 )A , which has a basis |r 1 |r 2 |A ; 1 (|r 1 |s 2 + |s 1 |r 2 ) |A ; r = s 2 1 (|r 1 |s 2 |s 1 |r 2 ) |S ; r = s, 2 with energy levels 2E r (one spin state) and E r + Es (one antisymmetric spin state and three symmetric spin states). We thus obtain the Pauli exclusion principle: no two electrons can occupy the same state (taking account of spin). As an example we can take the helium atom with Hamiltonian p2 p2 2e2 2e2 H= 1 + 2 + 2m 2m 4 0 | 1 | 4 0 | 2 | 4 x x e2 . x 0 | 1 x2 |
17
If we neglect the interaction term we can analyse this as two hydrogen atoms and glue the results back together as above. The hydrogen atom (with a nuclear charge 2e) 2e2 has En = 8 0 n2 , so we get a ground state for the helium atom with energy 2E 1 with no degeneracy and a rst excited state with energy E 1 + E2 with a degeneracy of four. Hopefully these bear some relation to the results obtained by taking the interaction into account.
P = p1 + p2 1 x X = ( 1 + x2 ) 2
p=
1 ( 1 p2 ) p 2
x = x1 x2 .
(x, s1 , s2 ) (x, s2 , s1 ) = (x, s1 , s2 ), with a plus sign for bosons and a minus sign for fermions. In the spinless case then (x) = (x). If we have a potential V (| x|) then we may separate variables to get (x, s1 , s2 ) = Yl
x with Yl |x| = (1)l Yl x |x|
x |x|
R(|x|)(s1 , s2 )
3.4 Observation
Consider the tensor product of two systems H 1 and H2 . A general state | in H1 H2 can be written as | =
i,j
aij |i 1 |j
with |i spaces.
H1 and |j
18
Suppose we make a measurement on the rst system leaving the second system unchanged, and nd the rst system in a state | i 1 . Then 1 i | = j aij |j 2 , which we write as Ai | 2 , where | 2 is a normalised state of the second system. We 2 interpret |Ai | as the probability of nding system 1 in state | i 1 . After measurement system 2 is in a state | 2 . If aij = i ij (no summation) then A i = i and measurement of system 1 as | i 1 determines system 2 to be in state | i 2 .
Chapter 4
Perturbation Expansions
4.1 Introduction
Most problems in quantum mechanics are not exactly solvable and it it necessary to nd approximate answers to them. The simplest method is a perturbation expansion. We write H = H0 + H where H0 describes a solvable system with known eigenvalues and eigenvectors, and H is in some sense small. We write H() = H0 + H and expand the eigenvalues and eigenvectors in powers of . Finally we set = 1 to get the result. Note that we do not necessarily have to introduce ; the problem may have some small parameter which we can use. This theory can be applied to the time dependent problem but here we will only discuss the time independent Schr dinger equation. o
(1) |n () = N |n + |n + . . . ,
substitute into the Schr dinger equation and require it to be satised at each power o of . The normalisation constant N is easily seen to be 1 + O( 2 ). The O(1) equation is automatically satised and the O() equation is
(1) (1) H0 |n + H |n = En |n + (1) (1) (1) n |n
Note that we can always replace | n with |n + |n and leave this equation (1) unchanged. We can therefore impose the condition n| n = 0. If we apply n| to 19
20
(1) this equation we get E n = n|H |n the rst order perturbation in energy. If we apply r| where r = n we see that
(1) r|n =
r|H |n r n
and therefore
(1) |n = r=n
|r r|H |n . r n
Note that we are justied in these divisions as we have assumed that the eigenvalues are non-degenerate. On doing the same thing to the O( 2 ) equation we see that
(2) (1) En = n|H |n
=
r=n
r|H |n
r
This procedure is valid if r n is not very small when r| H |n = 0. d Using these results we can see that d En () = n ()|H |n () and |n () = Also
H
r=n
1 |r () r ()|H |n () . Er () En ()
= H and so 2 |n () . En () = 2 n ()|H 2
(1) En = n + (2) En =
1 2
1 1 n+ 2 2
1+
2 2
+ O(3 ) .
1 2
This system can also be solved exactly to give E n = n + agrees with the perturbation expansion.
1 + 2 which
4.3. DEGENERACY
21
4.3 Degeneracy
The method given here breaks down if r = n for r = n. Perturbation theory can be extended to the degenerate case, but we will consider only the rst order shift in r . We suppose that the states |n, s , s = 1 . . . Nn have the same energy n . Nn is the degeneracy of this energy level. As before we pose a Hamiltonian H = H0 + H such that H0 |n, s = n |n, s and look for states |() with energy E() n as 0. The difference with the previous method is that we expand |() as a power series in in the basis of eigenvectors of H0 . That is |() =
s
|n, s as + | (1) .
As the as are arbitrary we can impose the conditions n, s| (1) = 0 for each s and n. We thus have to solve H|() = E()|() with E() = n + E (1) . If we take the O() equation and apply n, r| to it we get
(1) as n, r|H |n, s = ar En
which is a matrix eigenvalue problem. Thus the rst order perturbations in n are the eigenvalues of the matrix n, r| H |n, s . If all the eigenvalues are distinct then the perturbation lifts the degeneracy. It is convenient for the purpose of calculation to choose a basis for the space spanned by the degenerate eigenvectors in which this matrix is as diagonal as possible. 1
1 Dont
ask...
22
Chapter 5
5.1 Introduction
We want to nd out if there are other Hermitian operators J which satisfy this commutation relation. 1 We ask on what space of states can this algebra of operators be realised, or alternatively, what are the representations? We want [Ji , Jj ] =
ijk Jk .
We will choose one component of J whose eigenvalues label the states. In accordance with convention we choose J 3 . Note that J2 , J3 = 0, so we can simultaneously diagonalise J2 and J3 . Denote the normalised eigenbasis by | , so that J2 | = | and J3 | = | .
We know that 0 since J2 is the sum of the squares of Hermitian operators. Now dene J = J1 J2 . These are not Hermitian, but J + = J . It will be useful to note that [J , J3 ] = J [J+ , J ] = 2J3 J2 =
1 2 2 (J+ J + J J+ ) + J3 2 = J+ J J3 + J3 2 = J J+ + J3 + J3 .
1 The is taken outside - you can put it back in if you want, it is inessential but may or may not appear in exam questions. Since we are now grown up we will omit the hats if they do not add to clarity.
23
24
and J | is an eigenstate of J3 with eigenvalue 1. By similar artice we can see that J | is an eigenstate of J2 with eigenvalue . Now evaluate the norm of J | , which is |J J | = 2 0. We can now dene states | ( n) for n = 0, 1, 2, . . . . We can pin them down more by noting that 2 2 0 for positive norms. However the formulae we have are, given , negative for sufciently large || and so to avoid this we must have max = j such that J+ |j = 0: hence j 2 j = 0 and so = j(j + 1). We can perform a similar trick with J ; there must exist min = j such that J | j = 0: thus = j (j + 1). So j = j and as j = j = j n for some n {0, 1, 2, . . . } we have j = 0, 1 , 1, 3 , . . . . 2 2 In summary the states can be labelled by |j m such that J2 |j m = j(j + 1)|j m J3 |j m = m|j m J |j m = ((j m) (j m + 1)) 2 |j m 1 with m {j, j + 1, . . . , j 1, j} and j {0, 1 , 1, 3 , . . . }. There are 2j + 1 2 2 states with different m for the same j. |j m is the standard basis of the angular momentum states. We have obtained a representation of the algebra labelled by j. If J = L = x p we must have j an integer. Recall that if we have A we can dene a matrix A by A| = | A . Note that (BA) = B A . Given j, we have (J 3 )m m = m m m and (J )m m = (j m) (j m + 1) m ,m1 , giving us (2j + 1) (2j + 1) matrices satisfying the three commutation relations [J 3 , J ] = J and [J+ , J ] = 2J3 . If J are angular momentum operators which act on a vector space V and we have | V such that J3 | = k| and J+ | = 0 then is a state with angular n momentum j = k. The other states are given by J | , 1 n 2k. The conditions 2 also give J | = k (k + 1) |
1
5.1.1 Spin
1 2
particles
This is the simplest non-trivial case. We have j = 1 and a two dimensional state space 2 1 with a basis | 1 1 and | 1 1 . We have the relations J 3 | 1 1 = 2 | 1 1 and 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 J+ | 1 2 J+ | 1 2
1 2 1 2
=0 = |1 2
1 2
J | 1 2 J | 1 2
1 2 1 2
= |1 2 = 0.
1 2
5.1. INTRODUCTION
It is convenient to introduce explicit matrices such that J| 1 m = 2
m
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|1 m 2
1 2
()m m .
The matrices are 2 2 matrices (called the Pauli spin matrices). Explicitly, they are 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 2 = 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 1
+ = 1 = 1 (+ + ) = 2
= (+ ) = 2
3 =
0 . 0
2 2 2 Note that 1 = 2 = 3 = 1 and = . These satisfy the commutation relations [i , j ] = 2 ijk k (a slightly modied angular momentum commutation relation) and we also have 2 3 = 1 (and the relations obtained by cyclic permutation), so i j + j i = 2ij 1. Thus if n is a unit vector we have (. n)2 = 1 and we see that . has eigenvalues 1. n We dene the angular momentum matrices s = 1 and so s2 = 3 2 1. 2 4 1 0 and 1 = . The basis states are 1 = 2 2 0 1
2 0 0 2 0 0
1 0 S3 = 0 0 0 0
0 0 1
5.1.3 Electrons
Electrons are particles with intrinsic spin 1 . The angular momentum J = x p + s, s 2 are the spin operators for spin 1 . 2 The basic operators for an electron are x, p and s. We can represent these operators by their action on two component wavefunctions: (x) =
= 1 2
(x) .
In this basis x x, p and s 2 . All other operators are constructed in terms of these, for instance we may have a Hamiltonian H= p2 + V (x) + U (x).L 2m
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J3 |J M = M |J M
J |J M = NJ,M |J M 1 with NJ,M = (J M ) (J M + 1). We look for states in V which satisfy J+ |J J = 0 and J3 |J J = J|J J . The maximum value of J we can get is j 1 + j2 ; and |j1 + j2 j1 + j2 = |j1 j1 1 |j2 j2 2 . Then J+ |j1 + j2 j1 + j2 = 0. Similarly this is an eigenvector of J 3 with eigenvalue (j 1 + j2 ). We can now apply J repeatedly to form all the |J M states. Applying J we get
|J M 1 = |j1 j1 1 1 |j2 j2
+ |j1 j1 1 |j2 j2 1 2 .
The coefcents and can be determined from the coefcents N a,b , and we must have 2 + 2 = 1. If we choose | a state orthogonal to this;
| = |j1 j1 1 1 |j2 j2
+ |j1 j1 1 |j2 j2 1 2 .
J3 | can be computed and it shows that | is an eigenvector of J 3 with eigenvalue (j1 + j2 1). Now 0 = |j1 + j2 j1 + j2 1 |J |j1 + j2 j1 + j2 and so |J | = 0 for all states | in V . Thus J+ | = 0 and | = |j1 + j2 1 j1 + j2 1 . We can then construct the states |j 1 + j2 1 M by repeatedly applying J . For each J such that |j 1 j2 | J j1 + j2 we can construct a state |J J . We dene the Clebsch-Gordan coefcients j 1 m1 j2 m2 |J M , and so |J M =
m1 ,m2
j1 m1 j2 m2 |J M |j1 m1 |j2 m2 .
The Clebsch-Gordan coefcients are nonzero only when M = m 1 + m2 . We can check the number of states;
j1 +j2 j1 +j2
(2J + 1) =
J=|j1 j2 | J=|j1 j2 |
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Electrons have spin 1 and we can represent their spin states with 1 (s). Using this 2 2 notation we see that two electrons can form a symmetric spin 1 triplet 1 (s1 ) 1 (s2 ) 2 2 1 m (s1 , s2 ) = 2 1 (s1 ) 1 (s2 ) + 1 (s1 ) 1 (s2 ) 2 2 2 2 1 (s ) 1 (s ) 2 1 2 2 and an antisymmetric spin 0 singlet; 1 0 (s1 , s2 ) = 1 (s1 ) 1 (s2 ) 1 (s1 ) 1 (s2 ) . 2 2 2 2 2
cos sin
sin . cos
As (.n) = 1 we must have eigenvalues 1 and an inspired guess gives ,n and ,n as ,n = cos + sin 2 2 and ,n = sin + cos . 2 2
Thus (reverting to ket vector notation) if an electron is in a state | then the probability of nding it in a state |, n is cos 2 and the probability of nding it in a state 2 |, n is sin2 . 2 Now, suppose we have two electrons in a spin 0 singlet state; 1 | = {| 1 | 2
2
| 1 | 2 } .
Then the probability of nding electron 1 with spin up is 1 , and after making this 2 measurement electron 2 must be spin down. Similarly, if we nd electron 1 with spin down (probability 1 again) then electron 2 must have spin up. More generally, suppose 2 we measure electron 1s spin along direction n. Then we see that the probability for
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electron 1 to have spin up in direction n (aligned) is 1 and then electron 2 must be in 2 the state |, n 2 . If we have two electrons (say electron 1 and electron 2) in a spin 0 state we may physically separate them and consider independent experiments on them. We will consider three directions as sketched. For electron 1 there are three vari(1) (1) ables which we may measure (in separate experiments); S z = 1, Sn = 1 and (1) Sm = 1. We can also do this for electron 2. (1) (2) We see that if we nd electron 1 has S z = 1 then electron 2 has S z = 1 (etc.). If there exists an underlying deterministic theory then we could expect some probability distribution p for this set of experiments;
(1) (1) (1) (2) (2) (2) 0 p Sz , Sn , Sm , Sz , Sn , Sm 1
(1)
(2)
Bell inequality Suppose we have a probability distribution p(a, b, c) with a, b, c = 1. We dene partial probabilities p bc = a p(a, b, c) and similarly for p ac and pab . Then pbc (1, 1) = p(1, 1, 1) + p(1, 1, 1) p(1, 1, 1) + p(1, 1, 1) + p(1, 1, 1) + p(1, 1, 1) pab (1, 1) + pac (1, 1). Applying this to the two electron system we get
(1) (2) (1) (2) (1) (2) P Sn = 1, Sm = 1 P Sz = 1, Sn = 1 + P Sz = 1, Sm = 1 .
and
cos2
+ cos2
+ 2
References
P.A.M. Dirac, The Principles of Quantum Mechanics, Fourth ed., OUP, 1958.
I enjoyed this book as a good read but it is also an eminently suitable textbook.
Feynman, Leighton, Sands, The Feynman Lectures on Physics Vol. 3, AddisonWesley, 1964.
Excellent reading but not a very appropriate textbook for this course. I read it as a companion to the course and enjoyed every chapter.
There must be a good, modern textbook for this course. If you know of one please send me a brief review and I will include it if I think it is suitable. In any case, with these marvellous notes you dont need a textbook, do you?
Related courses
There are courses on Statistical Physics and Applications of Quantum Mechanics in Part 2B and courses on Quantum Physics and Symmetries and Groups in Quantum Physics in Part 2A.
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