PHY4604 Fall 2007 Problem Set 1 Solutions

PHY 4604 Problem Set #1 Solutions

Problem 1 (12 points): Consider a room containing 14 people, whose ages are as follows:
One person aged 14,
One person aged 15,
Three people aged 16,
Two people aged 22,
Two people aged 24,
Five people aged 25.
(a) (1 point) If you selected one person from the room, what is the probability that the person’s
age would be 15?
Answer: 1 in 14. There are 14 people, all equally likely to be selected, of whom only one has
age 15.
(b) (1 point) What is the most probable age?
Answer: 25 since more people have age 25.
(c) (1 point) What is the median age?
Answer: 23, since 7 people have age greater than 23 and 7 have age less than 23.
(d) (1 point) What is the average age?
Answer: 21
Solution:
(14) + (15) + 3(16) + 2(22) + 2(24) + 5(25) 294
= = 21
14 14
(e) (1 point) Let N(j) be the number of people with age j. Histogram N(j) versus j.
Distribution of Ages
6

4
N(j)

0
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

(f) (2 points) Compute <j2> and <j>2.

Answer: <j2> = 459.57, <j>2 = 441
Solution:
(196) + (225) + 3(256) + 2(484) + 2(576) + 5(625) 6434
< j 2 >= = = 459.57
14 14

(g) (3 points) Determine Δj = j - <j> for each j, and compute the variance of the distribution
using, σ2 = <(Δj)2>. What is the standard deviation, σ, of this distribution.
Answer: σ2 = 18.57, σ = 4.31
Solution:
j=14: Δj = 14 – 21 = -7, (Δj)2 = 49
j=15: Δj = 15 – 21 = -6, (Δj)2 = 36
j=16: Δj = 16 – 21 = -5, (Δj)2 = 25

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PHY4604 Fall 2007 Problem Set 1 Solutions

j=22: Δj = 22 – 21 = +1, (Δj)2 = 1

j=24: Δj = 24 – 21 = +3, (Δj)2 = 9
j=25: Δj = 25 – 21 = +4, (Δj)2 = 16

(49) + (36) + 3(25) + 2(1) + 2(9) + 5(16) 260

σ 2 =< (Δj ) 2 >= = = 18.57
14 14
and σ = 4.31.
(h) (2 points) Compute the standard deviation using, σ = < j 2 > − < j > 2 , and show that you
get the same answer as in part (g).
Answer: σ = 4.31
Solution:
6434 6434 − 6174 260
σ 2 =< j 2 > − < j > 2 = − (21) 2 = = = 18.57
14 14 14
and σ = 4.31 which is the same as in (g).

Problem 2 (10 points): Consider the (Gaussian) wave function

− λ2 ( x − a ) 2
ψ ( x) = Ae
,
where A, a, and λ are positive real constants. The probability density is defined by
ρ ( x) = ψ ( x) ≡ ψ ∗ ( x)ψ ( x) .
2

(a) (1 point) Find the value of A that normalizes this wave function such that
+∞

∫ ρ ( x)dx = 1 .
−∞
1

⎛ λ ⎞4
Answer: A = ⎜ ⎟
⎝π ⎠
Solution:
+∞ +∞ +∞ +∞
Γ( 12 ) π
∫ ρ ( x)dx = A ∫ e dx = A2 ∫ e − λy dy = 2 A2 ∫ e − λy dy = 2 A2
−λ ( x −a)
= A2
2 2 2
2

−∞ −∞ −∞ 0 2 λ λ
Hence,
1
λ ⎛λ⎞ 4

A =
2
and A = ⎜ ⎟ .
π ⎝π ⎠
I made the substitution y = x-a and used
+∞ +∞
Γ( 12 ) π
∫e dy = 2 ∫ e − λy dy = 2
− λy 2
=
2
.
−∞ 0 2 λ λ
Also note that
+∞ +∞
Γ( 32 ) 1 π
∫y e dy = 2 ∫ y 2e − λy dy = 2
2 − λy 2
=
2

−∞ 0 2λ λ 2λ λ
+∞ +∞
Γ( 52 ) 3 π
∫ y e dy = 2 ∫ y e dy = 2
4 − λy 4 − λy
= 2
2 2

−∞ 0 2λ λ 4λ λ
2

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PHY4604 Fall 2007 Problem Set 1 Solutions

+∞

∫y e
n − λy 2
dy = 0 for n odd
−∞

(b) (2 points) Find <x> and <x2> for this wave function.
1
Answer: < x >= a , < x 2 >= + a2
2λ
Solution:
+∞ +∞ +∞ +∞
π
∫ xρ ( x)dx = A ∫ xe dx = A2 ∫ ( y + a)e − λy dy = 2aA2 ∫ e − λy dy = aA2
−λ ( x −a)
< x >= =a
2 2 2
2

−∞ −∞ −∞ 0
λ
+∞ +∞ +∞

∫ x ρ ( x)dx = A ∫ x e dx = A2 ∫ ( y + a) 2 e − λy dy
2 −λ ( x − a) 2
< x 2 >=
2
2 2

−∞ −∞ −∞
+∞ +∞
A π 2
π 1
= 2 A2 ∫ y 2e − λy dy + 2a 2 A2 ∫ e − λy dy = + a 2 A2 = + a2
2 2

0 0
2λ λ λ 2λ

(c) (2 points) Sketch the graph ρ(x) versus x.

Gaussion Distribution
1

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6

(d) (2 points) Find <px> and <px2> for this wave function.
Answer: < px >= 0 , < px2 >= 12 h 2λ
Solution:
+∞ +∞ +∞
⎛ dψ ⎞
< px >= ∫ψ ∗ ( px )opψdx = ∫ ψ ∗ ⎜ − ih = λ ∫ ( x − a)e − λ ( x − a ) dx
2
⎟
2
dx 2i h A
−∞ −∞ ⎝ dx ⎠ −∞
+∞

∫ ye
− λy 2
= 2ihλA 2
dy = 0
−∞
+∞ +∞
⎛ d 2ψ ⎞
< px2 >= ∫ψ ∗ ( px2 )opψdx = ∫ ψ ⎜⎜ − h
∗ 2
⎟⎟dx
−∞ −∞ ⎝ dx 2 ⎠
+∞ +∞

∫ ( x − a) e ∫e
2 −λ ( x −a)2 −λ ( x −a)2
= −h λ A2 2 2
dx + h λA 2 2
dx
−∞ −∞
+∞ +∞
h 2λ2 A2 π π 1 2
= −2h 2λ2 A2 ∫ y 2e − λy dy + 2h 2λA2 ∫ e − λy dy = − + h 2 λ A2 = hλ
2 2

0 0
2λ λ λ 2

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PHY4604 Fall 2007 Problem Set 1 Solutions

(e) (3 points) Compute Δx = σx and Δpx = σ p x . Is the product ΔxΔpx consistent with the
uncertainty principle?
1 λ h
Answer: Δx = , Δpx = h , and ΔxΔpx =
2λ 2 2
Solution:
⎛ 1 ⎞ 1
Δx = < x 2 > − < x > 2 = ⎜ + a2 ⎟ − a2 =
⎝ 2λ ⎠ 2λ
λ
Δpx = < px2 > − < px > 2 = h
2
1 λ h
ΔxΔp x = h = (saturates the lower bound of the uncertainty principle)
2λ 2 2

Problem 3 (16 points): Consider a particle of mass m described by the wave function
ψ ( x, t ) = Ae − a ( mx / h + it ) ,
2

where A and a are positive real constants and i = − 1 .

(a) (1 point) Find the value of A that normalizes this wave function such that
+∞

∫ ρ ( x)dx = 1 .
−∞
1

⎛ 2am ⎞ 4
Answer: A = ⎜ ⎟
⎝ πh ⎠
Solution: This is the same as Problem 2 with λ = 2am / h and a = 0. Don’t get confused the a in
Problem 2 is not the same a as in this problem and it is the a in Problem 2 that we set to zero.
Thus,
1 1

⎛ λ ⎞ 4 ⎛ 2am ⎞ 4
A=⎜ ⎟ =⎜ ⎟
⎝ π ⎠ ⎝ πh ⎠
(b) (2 points) For what potential energy function V(x) does Ψ satisfy Schrödinger’s equation?
Answer: V ( x) = 2a 2 mx 2 (harmonic oscillator)
Solution: Schrödinger’s equation tells us that
∂ψ ( x, t ) h 2 ∂ 2ψ ( x, t )
V ( x)ψ ( x, t ) = ih +
∂t 2m ∂x 2
∂ h 2 ∂ 2 − a ( mx 2 / h + it )
= ihA e − a ( mx / h + it ) +
2
A e
∂t 2m ∂x 2
h 2 ⎛ 4a 2 m 2 x 2 2am ⎞ − a ( mx 2 / h + it )
= hAae − a ( mx 2 / h + it )
+ A⎜ − ⎟e
2m ⎜⎝ h 2 h ⎟⎠
= 2a 2 mx 2ψ ( x, t )
Thus, V ( x) = 2a 2 mx 2 .
(c) (4 points) Calculate the expectation values of x, x2, px, and px2.

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PHY4604 Fall 2007 Problem Set 1 Solutions

h
Answer: < x >= 0 , < x 2 >= , < px >= 0 , < px2 >= ham
4am
Solution: This is the same as Problem 2 with λ = 2am / h and a = 0. Don’t get confused the a in
Problem 2 is not the same a as in this problem and it is the a in Problem 2 that we set to zero.
Thus,
1 h
< x >= a = 0 , < x 2 >= + a2 =
2λ 4am
< px >= 0 , < px >= 2 h λ = ham
2 1 2

(d) (3 points) Compute Δx and Δpx. Is the product ΔxΔpx consistent with the uncertainty
principle?
h h
Answer: Δx = , Δpx = ham , and ΔxΔpx =
4am 2
Solution:
h
Δx = < x 2 > − < x > 2 =
4am
Δp x = < px2 > − < p x > 2 = ham
h
ΔxΔpx = (saturates the lower bound of the uncertainty principle)
2

(e) (6 points) The kinetic energy, T, of the particle is defined by

p2
T= x .
2m
Calculate the expectation value of the kinetic energy T. What is ΔT for this state?
Answer: < T >= 12 ha , ΔT = 12 2ha
Solution: From Part (c) we see that
1 ham 1
< T >= < px2 >= = ha
2m 2m 2
Also if we let λ = 2am / h then,
+∞ +∞
∗⎛ 4 d ψ ⎞
4
1 1 1
4m 2 −∫∞ 4m 2 −∫∞ ⎜⎝ dx 4 ⎟⎠
< T >=
2
< p 4
x >= ψ ∗
( p 4
)
x opψ dx = ψ ⎜ h ⎟dx
4m 2
+∞ +∞
h 4 A2 − 12 λx 2 d 4 − 12 λx 2 h 4 A2
= ∫ + ∫ (λ x − 6λ3 x 2 + 3λ2 )e − λ dx
2
4 4
e e dx
4m 2 −∞
dx 4 4m 2 −∞

h A λ ⎛3 6
4 2 2
⎞ π 3h A λ
4 2 2
π 3h 4λ2 3 2 2
= 2 ⎜
− + 3⎟ = = = ha
4m ⎝ 4 2 ⎠ λ 16m 2 λ 16m 2 4
and hence,
3 1
ΔT = < T 2 > − < T > 2 = h a − = 1
2
2 ha
4 4

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PHY4604 Fall 2007 Problem Set 1 Solutions

Problem 4 (10 points): Use Schrödinger’s equation to show that the time derivative of the
expectation value of px is equal to the expectation value of minus the derivative of the potential,
V. Namely,
d < px > ∂V
= − .
dt ∂x
Solution: Schrödinger’s equation tells us that (assuming V is real)
∂ψ 1 ⎛ h 2 ∂ 2ψ ⎞ ∂ψ ∗ 1 ⎛ h 2 ∂ 2ψ ∗ ⎞
= ⎜− + Vψ ⎟⎟ and = − ⎜⎜ − + Vψ ∗
⎟⎟ .
∂t ih ⎜⎝ 2m ∂x 2 ⎠ ∂t ih ⎝ 2 m ∂x 2 ⎠
Now
+∞ +∞ +∞
d < px > d ∗⎛ ∂ ⎞ ⎛ ∂ψ ∗ ∂ψ ∂ ∂ψ ⎞ ⎛ ∂ψ ∗ ∂ψ ∂ ∂ψ ⎞
dt
= ∫ ψ
dt − ∞ ⎝
⎜ − i h ⎟
∂x ⎠
ψ dx = −i h ∫ ⎜⎜
−∞ ⎝
∂t ∂x
+ψ ∗
∂t ∂x
⎟⎟dx = −ih ∫ ⎜⎜
⎠ −∞ ⎝
∂t ∂x
+ψ ∗
∂x ∂t
⎟⎟dx
⎠
+∞
⎛ ⎛ h 2 ∂ 2ψ ∗ ∗ ⎞ ∂ψ ∗ ∂ ⎛ h 2 ∂ 2ψ ⎞⎞
= ∫−∞ ⎜⎝ ⎜⎝ 2m ∂x 2
⎜ ⎜ − + Vψ ⎟
⎟ ∂x
⎠
− ψ ⎜
⎜ −
∂x ⎝ 2m ∂x 2
+ Vψ ⎟⎟ ⎟⎟dx
⎠⎠
+∞ +∞
h 2 ⎛ ∂ 2ψ ∗ ∂ψ ∗ ∂ψ ⎞
3
⎛ ∂ψ ∂ ⎞
=− ∫ ⎜⎜ 2
2m − ∞ ⎝ ∂x ∂x
−ψ ⎟dx + ∫ ⎜Vψ ∗
3 ⎟
∂x ⎠ −∞ ⎝
∂x
− ψ ∗ (Vψ ) ⎟dx
∂x ⎠
The first integral is
+∞ +∞
⎛ ∂ 2ψ ∗ ∂ψ ∗ ∂ψ ⎞
3
⎛ ∂ 2ψ ∗ ∂ψ ∂ 2ψ ∗ ∂ψ ⎞
∫ ⎜ ∂x 2 ∂x
⎜
−∞ ⎝
− ψ ⎟
∂x 3 ⎟⎠
dx = ∫ ⎜⎜ ∂x 2 ∂x − ∂x 2 ∂x ⎟⎟⎠dx = 0 ,
−∞ ⎝

where I integrated by parts twice and dropped the boundary terms. The second integral is
+∞ +∞
⎛ ∗ ∂ψ ∗ ∂ ⎞ ⎛ ∂V ∗ ⎞ ∂V
∫−∞ ⎜⎝Vψ ∂x − ψ ∂x (Vψ ) ⎟⎠dx = −∫∞ ⎜⎝ − ∂x ψ ψ ⎟⎠dx = − ∂x .
Problem 5 (12 points): The time dependent Schrödinger equation is given by
∂ψ ( x, t ) h 2 ∂ 2ψ ( x, t )
ih =− + V ( x)ψ ( x, t ) .
∂t 2m ∂x 2
Suppose that the potential V(x) is complex and Ψ(x,t) is a (normalizable) wave function.
(a) (2 points) Use Schrödinger’s equation to show that in general
∂ρ ( x, t ) ∂j ( x, t ) 2
+ = h Im V ( x) ρ ( x, t ) ,
∂t ∂x
where ρ(x,t) is the probability density defined by
ρ ( x, t ) = ψ ( x, t ) ≡ ψ ∗ ( x, t )ψ ( x, t ) ,
2

and j(x,t) is the probability current given by

ih ⎛ ∂ψ ∗ ∂ψ ⎞
j ( x, t ) = ⎜⎜ψ −ψ ∗ ⎟.
2m ⎝ ∂x ∂x ⎟⎠
Solution: Schrödinger’s equation tells us that (assuming V is complex)
∂ψ 1 ⎛ h 2 ∂ 2ψ ⎞ ∂ψ ∗ 1 ⎛ h 2 ∂ 2ψ ∗ ⎞
= ⎜−⎜ + Vψ ⎟ and
⎟ = − ⎜⎜ − + V ∗ψ ∗ ⎟⎟ .
∂t ih ⎝ 2m ∂x 2
⎠ ∂t ih ⎝ 2m ∂x 2
⎠
We see that,

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PHY4604 Fall 2007 Problem Set 1 Solutions

∂ρ ( x, t ) ∂ ∗ ∂ψ ∂ψ ∗
= (ψ ψ ) = ψ ∗ + ψ
∂t ∂t ∂t ∂t
1 ⎡ ∗ ⎛ h 2 ∂ 2ψ ⎞ ⎛ h 2 ∂ 2ψ ∗ ∗ ∗⎞
⎤
= ⎢ψ ⎜⎜ − + V ψ ⎟ − ⎜ −
⎟ ⎜ 2m ∂x 2 + V ψ ⎟ψ
⎟ ⎥
ih ⎣ ⎝ 2m ∂x 2 ⎠ ⎝ ⎠ ⎦
ih ⎛ ∗ ∂ 2ψ ∂ 2ψ ∗ ⎞ 1
= ⎜⎜ψ − ψ ⎟⎟ + (V − V ∗ )ψ ∗ψ
2m ⎝ ∂x 2
∂x 2
⎠ ih
ih ∂ ⎛ ∗ ∂ψ ∂ψ ∗ ⎞ 2
= ⎜ψ − ψ ⎟ + ImVψ ∗ψ
2m ∂x ⎜⎝ ∂x ∂x ⎟⎠ ih
∂j ( x, t ) 2
=− + h ImV ( x) ρ ( x, t )
∂x
(b) (2 points) Show that
+∞
dP(t ) d
dt −∫∞
= ρ ( x, t )dx = h2 < ImV ( x) > .
dt
Solution: Using the result from (a) we see that,
+∞ +∞ +∞
dP(t ) d ∂ρ ( x, t ) ⎛ ∂j ( x, t ) 2 ⎞
dt
= ∫
dt − ∞
ρ ( x, t )dx = ∫
−∞
∂t
dx = ∫ ⎜ −
−∞ ⎝
∂x
+ h ImV ( x) ρ ( x, t ) ⎟dx
⎠
+∞
= j (−∞, t ) − j (+∞, t ) + 2
h ∫ (ImV ( x) ρ ( x, t ))dx =
−∞
2
h
< ImV ( x) >

Note that if <ImV(x)> < 0 then P(t) decreases with time and if <ImV(x)> > 0 P(t) increases
with time.
(c) (2 points) Use the results from (a) and (b) to show that if V(x) is a real function then
∂ρ ( x, t ) ∂j ( x, t )
+ = 0,
∂t ∂x
and
+∞
d
dt −∫∞
ρ ( x, t )dx = 0 .

Solution: Using the result from (a) we see that,

∂ρ ( x, t ) ∂j ( x, t ) 2
+ = h ImV ( x) ρ ( x, t ) ⎯Im
⎯V⎯=0
→0
∂t ∂x
+∞
d
dt −∫∞
ρ ( x, t )dx = h2 < ImV ( x) > ⎯Im ⎯V⎯
=0
→0

(d) (2 points) If V(x) is a real function, show that

+∞
d
∫
dt − ∞
ψ 1∗ ( x, t )ψ 2 ( x, t )dx = 0 ,

For any two (normalizable) solutions to Schrödinger’s equation, Ψ1 and Ψ2.

Solution: Schrödinger’s equation tells us that (assuming V is real)

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PHY4604 Fall 2007 Problem Set 1 Solutions

∂ψ 2 1 ⎛ h 2 ∂ 2ψ 2 ⎞ ∂ψ 1∗ 1 ⎛ h 2 ∂ 2ψ 1∗ ⎞
= ⎜⎜ − + Vψ ⎟
2⎟ and = − ⎜⎜ − + Vψ 1∗ ⎟⎟ .
∂t ih ⎝ 2m ∂x 2
⎠ ∂t ih ⎝ 2m ∂x 2
⎠
We see that
∂ ∗ ∗ ∂ψ 2 ∂ψ 1∗
= (ψ 1ψ 2 ) = ψ 1 + ψ2
∂t ∂t ∂t
1 ⎡ ⎛ h 2 ∂ 2ψ 2 ⎞ ⎛ h 2 ∂ 2ψ 1∗ ∗⎞
⎤
= ⎢ψ 1∗ ⎜⎜ − + V ψ 2⎟ − ⎜ −
⎟ ⎜ 2m ∂x + Vψ ⎟ψ
⎟ ⎥
ih ⎣ ⎝ 2m ∂x 2 2 1 2
⎠ ⎝ ⎠ ⎦
ih ⎛ ∗ ∂ 2ψ 2 ∂ 2ψ 1∗ ⎞
= ⎜ψ 1 − ψ 2 ⎟⎟
2m ⎜⎝ ∂x 2 ∂x 2 ⎠
and hence
+∞ +∞ +∞
d ∂ (ψ 1∗ψ 2 ) ih ⎛ ∗ ∂ 2ψ 2 ∂ 2ψ 1∗ ⎞
dt −∫∞ ∫ ∂t 2m −∫∞ ⎜⎝
(ψ ∗
ψ ) dx = dx = ⎜ψ 1 − ψ 2 ⎟⎟dx
∂x 2 ∂x 2
1 2
−∞ ⎠
+∞ +∞
ih ⎛ ∂ψ 1∗ ∂ψ 2 ∂ 2ψ 1∗ ⎞ ih ⎛ ∂ 2ψ 1∗ ∂ 2ψ 1∗ ⎞
2m −∫∞ ⎜⎝ ∂x ∂x 2m −∫∞ ⎜⎝ ∂x 2
= ⎜− − ψ 2 ⎟⎟dx = ⎜ ψ 2 − 2 ψ 2 ⎟⎟dx = 0
∂x 2 ⎠ ∂x ⎠
where again I integrated by parts twice and dropped the boundary terms.

(e) (2 points) Let Pab(t) be the probability of finding a particle in the range, a < x < b, at time t.
Namely,
b b
Pab (t ) = ∫ ρ ( x, t )dx ≡ ∫ψ ∗ ( x, t )ψ ( x, t )dx .
a a

If V(x) is a real function, use (c) to show that

dPab ( t )
= j ( a , t ) − j (b , t ) .
dt
Solution: If V is real then,
∂ρ ( x, t ) ∂j ( x, t )
+ =0
∂t ∂x
and
∂ρ ( x, t ) ∂j ( x, t )
b b b
dPab (t ) d
= ∫ ρ ( x, t )dx = ∫ dx = − ∫ dx = j (a, t ) − j (b, t )
dt dt a a
∂ t a
∂ x

(f) (2 points) Find the probability current for the wave function given in Problem 2.
Answer: j(x,t) = 0
Solution:
ih ⎛ ∂ψ ∗ ∂ψ ⎞ ihA ⎛ − λ2 ( x−a )2 ∂ − λ2 ( x−a )2 − λ ( x −a )2 ∂ − λ ( x −a )2 ⎞
j ( x, t ) = ⎜⎜ψ −ψ ∗ ⎟⎟ = ⎜e e −e 2 e 2 ⎟=0
2m ⎝ ∂x ∂x ⎠ 2m ⎝ ∂x ∂x ⎠
Note that if ψ = ψ* then j(x,t) is zero.

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