QUALIFYING EXAMINATION Part 1

Morning Session, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon

September 5, 2008
Attempt all parts of all three problems.
Please begin your answer to each problem on a separate sheet, write your 3 digit
code and the problem number on each sheet, and then number and staple together
the sheets for each problem. Each problem is worth 10 points; partial credit will
be given. Some information that you may find useful is given on the last two pages
of the exam.
Calculators may NOT be used.

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Problem 1: Classical Mechanics

M
L
M x1
x2

Equilibrium
k k k k

The figure above shows a uniform density rod of length L with negligible trans-
verse dimensions. It is supported by two vertical springs, each with a spring constant
k. Each end of the rod is free to move up and down. However, when this occurs
the springs stay vertical and the bar does not move in the horizontal direction. The
mass of the rod is M. Ignore gravity.

a) Calculate I, the rod’s moment of inertia about an axis perpendicular to its length
and passing through its center of mass.

b) What is the Lagrangian of the system in terms of x1 , x2 and their time derivatives,
assuming small oscillations.

c) What are the coupled equations of motion?

d) Argue that if initially x1 (0) = x2 (0), then at later times x1 (t) = x2 (t), i.e., we
have a normal mode. What is the corresponding frequency ω1 ?

e) Argue that if initially x1 (0) = −x2 (0), then at later times x1 (t) = −x2 (t), i.e., we
have a normal mode. What kind of motion is this and what is the corresponding
frequency ω2 ?

f) What is the most general solution for the motion of this system with zero initial
velocity? If at t = 0, x1 = s and x2 = 0 but their time derivatives are zero, what
are x1 (t) and x2 (t)?

g) At what time does point x1 then first pass through its equilibrium position?

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Problem 2: Electromagnetism

(0,b)

x
Va(y)
(0,0) (a,0) z

ground

An infinitely long rectangular pipe runs parallel to the z axis. Three of the walls,
y = 0, x = 0, and y = b, are held at ground potential. The fourth, at x = a, is
insulated from the first three and is at a potential Va = Va (y).

a) Derive a general formula for the potential everywhere in the pipe.

b) Find the potential everywhere in the pipe explicitly for Va (y) = Va (constant).

c) For Va equal to a constant, find the charge per unit length on the wall at x = 0.

Note: you may leave the answer of part c) as a sum.

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Question 3: Quantum Mechanics I
Particles of mass m and spin s = 1/2 move in a 1-D potential

V (x) = 0 (0 < x < a);

V (x) = ∞ (x < 0, x > a).

You may take h̄ = m = a = 1 throughout the problem if you wish.

a) For a single particle in this potential, write the eigenenergies En (with n =

1, 2, . . .) and associated eigenfunctions |ψn i. Be sure to include the spinor part
of the wavefunction, and the proper normalization for the spatial part of |ψn i.
Draw an energy level diagram with the lowest 4 levels and indicate the degeneracy
of each level.

b) Now suppose there are two identical particles in the potential. Assume for now
that the particles do not interact. Write the eigenenergies En,n0 and associated
eigenfunctions |Ψn,n0 i. including the spinor part. Draw an energy level diagram
for the lowest four levels of two-particle system and indicate the degeneracy of
each level.

c) For the same system as in part b), suppose there is a weak contact interaction of
the form V 0 (x1 , x2 ) = αδ(x1 − x2 ) between the two particles. Use perturbation
theory to find the first-order correction to the energy of each eigenstate in part
b). Draw an energy level diagram,including the degeneracy of each level, for the
perturbed system that includes all levels in the diagram from part b).

d) For the same system as in part c), write the expression for the wavefunction of
the perturbed ground state,correct to first order in perturbation theory. What is
the lowest level that has non-zero mixing with the ground state in this expansion?

e) What is the condition on α such that perturbation theory is valid in parts c) and
d)?

Some useful standard trigonometric relations for this problem include:

1
sin2 A = [1 − cos (2A)]
2
1
cos A cos B = [cos (A − B) + cos (A + B)]
2
1
sin A sin B = [cos (A − B) − cos (A + B)]
2

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 QUALIFYING EXAMINATION Part 2
Afternoon Session, 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
September 5, 2008
Attempt all parts of all three problems.
Please begin your answer to each problem on a separate sheet, write your 3 digit
code and the problem number on each sheet, and then number and staple together
the sheets for each problem. Each problem is worth 10 points; partial credit will
be given. Some information that you may find useful is given on the last two pages
of the exam.
Calculators may NOT be used.

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Problem 4: Mathematical Methods
a) Given that
Z 1
dx −1 1 π
= tan x|0 = ,
0 1 + x2 4
expand the integrand by series and integrate term by term to obtain Leibniz’s
formula for π: ∞
π X (−1)n
=
4 n=0 2n + 1

b) Show that
Z ∞
s!
x2s+1 exp (−ax2 )dx = . (1)
0 2as+1
Z ∞
(s − 21 )! (2s − 1)!! π
r
2s 2
x exp (−ax )dx = = . (2)
0 2as+1/2 2s+1 as a
These Gaussian integrals are of major importance in statistical mechanics and
in all quantum mechanical problems with harmonic oscillator wave functions.
Hint: Recall the Euler Integral
Z ∞
Γ(z) ≡ e−t tz−1 dt.
0

c) A group of transformations in a real vector space Rn ≡ (x1 , x2 , . . . , xn ) is called

orthogonal (and denoted SO(n)) if it leaves invariant the quantity
n
x2i .
X

i=1

Show that the n × n matrices of orthogonal transformations have n(n − 1)/2

independent parameters. Consider the case n = 2 (two dimensional rotations)
and write down explicitly the parametrization of the matrix in terms of the
rotation angle ϕ.
A group of transformations in Rn that leaves invariant the quantity
p p+q
x2i x2i
X X
−
i=1 i=p+1

with n = p + q is called pseudo-orthogonal (and denoted by SO(p, q)). Show

that the n × n pseudo-orthogonal matrices have also n(n − 1)/2 independent pa-
rameters. Consider the case p = 1, q = 1 (one plus one Lorentz transformations)
and write down a parameterization of the matrices in terms of the rapidity ρ,
where tanh ρ = vc ). Using this parameterization and performing two successive
transformations, derive the Einstein velocity addition law
v1 + v2
v= .
1 + v1 v2 /c2

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Question 5: Statistical Mechanics
Consider three Ising spins s1 , s2 and s3 which can assume values ±1 and sit at the
corners of an equilateral triangle. Their interaction energy is

E = −J(s1 s2 + s2 s3 + s3 s1 )

(a) Find the partition function Z(K) where K = J/kT ≡ βJ. (Hint: Compete
squares).

(b) Find hs1 i the average of s1 .

(c) Find hs1 s2 i. Argue that this has the right limits at zero and infinite tempera-
tures.

(d) What is the average energy hEi?

(e) Consider the case when the three Ising spins are replaced by quantum spin-1/2’s
with a hamiltonian

H = −J(S1 · S2 + S2 · S3 + S3 · S1 )

where in terms of Pauli matrices

σ
S= .
2
(We are setting h̄ = 1) Calculate the quantum partition function Tr(e−H/kT ) in
terms of K = J/kT and the average energy hEi.

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Question 6: Quantum Mechanics II
NOTE: Except for part C (which depends on a solution to part B), each part of
this problem can be solved independently.

a) The pion is a boson with mass mπ . “Virtual” pions are said to mediate the
nuclear force in the sense that they violate energy conservation during the time
of their existence.
What is the characteristic range of the nuclear force according to the uncertainty
principle? Assume that the pions are moving at the speed of light when traveling
between nucleons. The mass of the pion is mπ ≈ 140 MeV and h̄c ≈ 197 MeV·fm.
b) Starting from the classical relativistic dispersion relation,

E 2 = c2 p·p + c4 m2π ,

write a quantum-mechanical single particle wave equation for the pion making the
∂
usual operator substitutions, including E → ih̄ ∂t . Place all the terms involving
the wave function on the left hand side of the equation.
(This equation is known as the homogeneous Klein-Gordon equation because the
right hand side is zero. Solutions to this equation describe pion propagation in
the absence of any sources.)
c) To the right hand side of the homogeneous Klein-Gordon equation derived in
the previous part, add a term ρ(x) = g δ (3) (x). Note that this term IS NOT
multiplied by the wavefunction on the right hand side. (This new term describes
a static point source at the origin, NOT a potential.)
Show that the wavefunction
e−µ|x|
φ(x) = −a , (µ > 0)
|x|
is a time-independent solution to this equation (now the inhomogeneous Klein-
Gordon equation).
Use the divergence theorem
Z Z
2
∇ φ dV = (∇φ) ·n̂ dS
V S

to determine a and µ of φ(x) in terms of constants in the problem.

(This wavefunction φ(x) describes the probability amplitude for finding a pion
at position x, due to a nucleon that constitutes a point source for the pion field.)
d) The nuclear force can be described by pion exchange between nucleons. Hence,
the interaction energy between two static, point-like nucleons located at position
x1 and x2 can be described by
Z
Hint = φ1 (x)ρ2 (x) d3 x.

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Here φ1 (x) is the same pion wavefunction used above, but now translated from
the origin to position x1 ; and ρ2 (x) is same delta-function source term used
above, but now translated from the origin to position x2 .
Determine Hint when the protons are separated by a distance R = |x2 − x1 |.

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