PHY4604 Fall 2007 Problem Set 4

PHY 4604 Problem Set #4

Due Wednesday October 17, 2007 (in class)
(Total Points = 110, Late homework = 50%)
Reading: Griffiths Chapter 3 and the Appendix.

+∞
sin 2 ( x)
Useful Integrals: ∫ x 2 dx = π .
−∞

Problem 1 (25 points):.

(a) (2 points) Show that the sum of two hermitian operators is hermitian
(b) (2 points) Suppose that Hop is a hermitian operator, and α is a complex number. Under what
condition (on α) is αHop hermitian?
(c) (2 points) When is the product of two hermitian operators hermitian?
d ↑
(d) (2 points) If Oop = , what is Oop ?
dx
(e) (2 points) Show that ( Aop Bop )↑ = Bop
↑ ↑
Aop .
(f) (2 points) Prove that [AB,C] = A[B,C] + [A,C]B, where A, B, and C are operators.
df
(g) (2 points) Show that [( p x ) op , f ( x)] = −ih , for any function f(x).
dx
(h) (2 points) Show that the anti-hermitian operator, Iop, has at most one real eigenvalue (Note:
↑
anti-hermitian means that I op = − I op ).
(i) (2 points) If Aop is an hermitian operator, show that < Aop2 >≥ 0 .
(j) (2 points) The parity operator, Pop, is defined by PopΨ(x,t) = Ψ(-x,t). Prove that the parity
operator is hermitian and show that Pop2 = 1 , where 1 is the identity operator. Compute the
eigenvalues of the parity operator.
(k) (2 points) Idempotent operators have the property that Pop2 = Pop . Determine the eigenvalues
of the idempotent operator Pop and characterize its eigenvectors.
↑ ↑
(l) (3 points) Unitary operators have the property that U opU op = U opU op = 1 , where 1 is the
identity operator. Show that the eigenvalues of a unitary operator have modulus 1. Show that if
<Ψ|Ψ> = 1 then <UΨ|UΨ> = 1 (i.e. unitary transformations preserve inner products). Prove that
iA
if Aop is hermitian then e op is unitary.
(Hint: see Griffiths appendix)

Problem 2 (15 points): Schrödinger’s equation says

∂Ψ ( x, t )
H op Ψ ( x, t ) = ih ,
∂t
where the Hamiltonian operator is given by H op = p x2 / 2m + V ( x) .
(a) (2 points) Prove that Hop is hermitian.

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PHY4604 Fall 2007 Problem Set 4

(b) (5 points) Prove that

d i ∂O
< Oop >= < [ H op , Oop ] > + < op > .
dt h ∂t
If the operator Oop does not depend explicitly on time and if it commutes with the Hamiltonian,
then <Oop> is constant in time (i.e. it is conserved).
(c) (5 points) Prove that
d dV
< xop ( px )op >= 2 < T > − x ,
dt dx
where T is the kinetic energy operator (i.e. H = T + V).
(d) (3 points) Use (c) to show that in a stationary state
dV
2 < T >= x .
dx
This is called the virial theorem.
(Hint: see Griffiths section 3.5.3 and problem 3.31)

Problem 3 (30 points): Consider an infinite square well defined by V(x) = 0 for 0 < x < L, and
V(x) = ∞ otherwise. The stationary state position-space wave functions are given by
2
Ψn ( x, t ) = ψ n ( x)e −iE n t / h with ψ n ( x) = sin( nπx / L)
L
n 2π 2h 2
and the eigenvalues are En = , and n is a positive integer.
2mL2
(a) (10 points) Find the momentum-space wave function Φ n ( px , t ) for the nth stationary state.
(b) (5 points) Graph ρ1 ( p x , t ) =| Φ1 ( p x , t ) |2 as a function of px for the ground state (i.e. n = 1).
(c) (5 points) Graph ρ 2 ( px , t ) =| Φ 2 ( px , t ) |2 as a function of px for the 1st excited state (i.e. n = 2).
(d) (10 points) Use the momentum-space wave function Φ n ( px , t ) to calculate the expectation
values of px and px2 for the nth stationary state and compare your answer with your answer to
problem set #2 problem 2(c).
(Hint: see Griffiths section 3.4 and problem 3.28)

Problem 4 (20 points): Consider a three-dimensional vector space spanned by an orthonormal

basis |1>, |2>, |3>. “Ket” vectors |α> and |β> are given by
|α> = i|1> -2|2> -i|3> and |β> = i|1> + 2|3>.
(a) (5 points) Construct the “bra” vectors <α| and <β| in terms of the dual basis <1|, <2|, <3|.
(b) (5 points) Find <α|β> and <β|α> and confirm that <β|α> = <α|β>*.
(c) (10 points) Construct all nine matrix elements of the operator Aop = |α><β|, in this basis, and
construct the matrix A. Is it hermitian?
(Hint: see Griffiths section 3.6 and problem 3.22)

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PHY4604 Fall 2007 Problem Set 4

Problem 5 (20 points): The Hamiltonian for a certain three-level system is represented by the
matrix
⎛a 0 b⎞
⎜ ⎟
H = ⎜0 c 0⎟
⎜b 0 a⎟
⎝ ⎠
where a, b, and c are real numbers.
(a) (5 points) What are the energy eigenvalues of this system (i.e. the allowed energies)?
(b) (5 points) What are the (normalized) eigenvectors of H?
(c) (5 points) If the system starts out at t = 0 in the state
⎛0⎞
⎜ ⎟
| s (0) >= ⎜ 1 ⎟
⎜0⎟
⎝ ⎠
what is |s(t)> at later time t.
(d) (5 points) If the system starts out at t = 0 in the state
⎛ 0⎞
⎜ ⎟
| s (0) >= ⎜ 0 ⎟
⎜1⎟
⎝ ⎠
what is |s(t)> at later time t.
(Hint: see Griffiths section 3.6 and problem 3.37)

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