A10431W1

SECOND PUBLIC EXAMINATION

Honour School of Physics Part A: 3 and 4 Year Courses

Honour School of Physics and Philosophy Part A

A3: QUANTUM PHYSICS

TRINITY TERM 2018

Friday, 15 June, 9.30 am – 12.30 pm

Answer all of Section A and three questions from Section B.

For Section A start the answer to each question on a fresh page.

For Section B start the answer to each question in a fresh book.

A list of physical constants and conversion factors accompanies this paper.

The numbers in the margin indicate the weight that the Examiners expect to
assign to each part of the question.

Do NOT turn over until told that you may do so.

1
 Section A

1. Show that the time derivative of the expectation value of an observable associated
with the operator Q̂ is given by
* +
d i D E ∂ Q̂
hQi = [Ĥ, Q̂] + .
dt h̄ ∂t

d
Show that dt hQi = 0 for a stationary state (Ĥ|Ψi = E|Ψi) in the case that Q̂ has no
explicit time dependence. [6]

2. Derive an expression for the uncertainty product ∆x̂∆p̂ for the nth state of a
one-dimensional
p harmonic oscillator, where the uncertainty for an operator q̂ is defined
as ∆q̂ = hq̂ 2 i − hq̂i2 .
h √ √ q  
Hint: â|ni = n|n − 1i and ↠|ni = n + 1|n + 1i, with â = mω 2h̄ x̂ + i
mω p̂ and
q   i
↠= mω
2h̄ x̂ − i
mω p̂ . [8]

3. The z-component of the spin of an electron in free space is measured and found
to be h̄/2.
(a) If a subsequent measurement is made of the x-component of the spin, what are
the possible results?
(b) What are the probabilities of finding each of these results?
(c) The spin operator along a different axis ~n defined by the spherical polar angles
~
θ and φ with respect to the original coordinate system is given by Ŝ~n = ~n · S.
Show that the possible results for the measurement of the spin orientation in this
direction are the same as in (a).
(d) In this case the eigenvectors of Ŝ~n can be written as
! !
cos 2θ e−iφ/2 sin 2θ e−iφ/2
and
sin 2θ eiφ/2 − cos 2θ eiφ/2

in the basis which diagonalizes Ŝz .

What now are the probabilities of the various possible results?
h̄
(e) What is the expectation value of a measurement of Ŝ~n for the electron in the 2
eigenstate of Ŝz ? [8]
" ! ! ! #
1 h̄ 0 1 h̄ 0 −i h̄ 1 0
For S = : Ŝx = , Ŝy = , Ŝz = .
2 2 1 0 2 i 0 2 0 −1

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 4. A particle of mass m moves in one dimension under the influence of an attractive
delta function potential at the origin. The Schrödinger equation is
" #
h̄2 ∂ 2
− − Cδ(x) Ψ(x) = EΨ(x),
2m ∂x2

where C is a constant which is real and positive.

(a) Find the energy and the normalized wavefunction of the bound state. [6]
(b) If the system is in the bound state and the position of the delta potential is
shifted suddenly by a distance a > 0, what is the probability that the particle
stays bound? [6]

5. Make a qualitative sketch of the wavefunction of the first excited state n = 2 in

the potential shown below in the case that VI < E2 < 0.
V

x
I II

VI

VII

[Things to look out for: How does the wavelength in the two regions I and II compare?
Where is the momentum higher? Hence, where is the probability density higher?] [6]

A10431W1 3 [Turn over]

 Section B

6. This question explores bound states in finite square wells. Throughout this prob-
lem you may discuss solutions to the eigenvalue condition by graphical means.
(a) Given a one-dimensional potential V (x) = −V0 for |x| ≤ a, V (x) = 0 otherwise,
show that there is always at least one bound state for attractive potentials V0 > 0. [8]
(b) In the three-dimensional case, the wavefunction for the rotationally symmetric
potential V (r) = −V0 for r ≤ a, V (r) = 0 otherwise, with V0 > 0, can be written
as
Ψ(r) = r−1 U (r)Ylm (θ, φ).
For l = 0 the Schrödinger equation for the radial part U (r) is

h̄2 ∂ 2
− U (r) + V (r)U (r) = EU (r).
2µ ∂r2
Is there, analogous to the one-dimensional case, always a bound
q state in the three-
dimensional case? Show that there is always a bound state if 2µV0 a2 /h̄2 ≥ π/2. [7]
(c) In a simple model of the deuteron (a nucleus made of one proton and one neutron)
the potential due to the strong interaction between the proton and the neutron
is described by a spherical potential well as in (b) with a = 2 × 10−15 m and
V0 = 35 MeV. Show that there is a bound state for this system. Estimate how
much weaker the strong interaction would have to be for no bound state to exist.
[5]

7. State (without derivation) expressions which can be used to calculate to first

order the energy shift and the change to the wavefunction due to a time-independent
perturbation ∆H to the Hamiltonian. What problem arises if there are degenerate
states, and how can this be overcome? If the perturbation breaks the degeneracy what
does this do to the degenerate eigenstates? [5]
The energy of an object rotating in three dimensions can be written as

L2x L2y L2
E= + + z,
2Ix 2Iy 2Iz

where the Ii are the moments of inertia about the principal axes and the Li are the
corresponding components of the angular momentum. In terms of the quantum numbers
l and m find expressions for the energies of the l = 0 and l = 1 states of a symmetric
top with Ix = Iy = I 6= Iz . Identify any degenerate states. [4]
A slightly asymmetric top has Ix = I + ∆ ∆
2 and Iy = I − 2 , where (∆/2I)  1
and Iz 6= Ix and Iz 6= Iy . Compute the energy shifts to the l = 0 and l = 1 states due
to this modification through to first order in ∆.
What are the approximate eigenstates after the modification? [11]
[Hint: Express the perturbation through p angular momentum ladder operators L̂± =
L̂x ± iL̂y and remember that L̂± |l, mi = h̄ l(l + 1) − m(m ± 1)|l, m ± 1i]

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 8. Outline the setup used in the experiment by Stern and Gerlach, and explain how
it demonstrated the existence of half-integer spins. Give an expression for the force
experienced by the particles in the setup. [6]
Assume that two particles with s = 21 and identical magnetic moment form a
bound state. Initially the spins are aligned randomly. If a beam of such bound states
is analyzed in a Stern–Gerlach setup, what is the pattern of emerging beams? List the
quantum numbers associated with the different beams. [5]
In the pattern there is one degenerate beam (a beam made up of particles with
two different values for a quantum number). Suggest an extension of the experiment
which would allow you to discriminate between these two values, and calculate what
pattern you would observe in your extended experiment. [9]

9. Outline the method of separation of variables for the solution of a partial differ-
ential equation.
A system of n distinguishable particles can be described by a time-independent
Schrödinger equation HΨ = EΨ with the Hamiltonian
n
X h̄2 2
H= − ∇ + V (r1 , r2 , ...rn )
i=1
2mi i

with the differential operator ∇i acting on the position of the ith particle. What condi-
tion for V makes the associated Schrödinger equation generally separable?
If you can separate the Schrödinger equation into equations of the form
" #
h̄2 2
Hi Ψi (ri ) = − ∇ + Vi (ri ) Ψi (ri ) = Ei Ψi (ri ),
2mi i

and solve these eigenvalue problems, how can you find the overall wavefunction Ψ and
the total energy E? [6]
The Hamiltonian for a hydrogen atom is

h̄2 2 h̄2 2 1 e2
H=− ∇p − ∇e − ,
2mp 2me 4π0 |rp − re |

where p and e denote the proton and the electron, respectively. Can this equation be
separated in the positions of the proton and the electron?
Transfer this equation into the center-of-mass coordinate R = (mp rp +me re )/(mp +
me ) and the relative coordinate r = rp − re . (Hint: you can use the chain rule
∇p = (∇p r)∇r + (∇p R)∇R , etc.) After separation of the Schrödinger equation, de-
rive the wavefunction dependent on the center-of-mass coordinate and its associated
energy. [11]
The remaining part, which depends on the relative coordinate, can be separated
in spherical polar coordinates into a radial wavefunction Rnl (r) and an associated radial
energy Er , and an angular wavefunction Ylm (θ, φ) with an associated rotational energy
Erot . What is the total wavefunction and energy of the hydrogen atom using these
wavefunctions and energies? [3]

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