PROBLEMS ON QUANTUM MECHANICS

QUANTUM MECHANICAL PRINCIPLES

1. STATE FUNCTION

(a) Determine the expression for normalization constant for any function.
(b) Given ψ(x) = a1 e−|x|/a ; a = 1.0 nm. (a) Find the probability that measured value of position
of the particle lies between x = 1.5000 nm to x = 1.5001 nm. (b) Find the probability that
measured value of position lies between x = 0 nm to x = 2 nm.
(c) Given a state function ψ(x) = xe−αr . Determine the normalization constatnt and normal-
ized state function.
(d) Check whether the following functions can be proposed as wave functions or not.
i. ψ = e−x (0 6 x < ∞);
ii. ψ = e−x (−∞ < x < ∞);
iii. ψ = e−x (−∞ < x < ∞);
iv. ψ = e−|x| (−∞ < x < ∞);
sin x
v. ψ = x
(0 6 x < ∞);
−1
vi. ψ = sin x (−1 6 x 6 1);
vii. ψ = A sin x (0 6 x 6 2π);
A
viii. ψ = x
(0 6 x < ∞);
ix. ψ = Ae−x cos x (0 6 x < ∞);
x. ψ = eix/2 (−∞ < x < ∞).

2. OERATOR ALGEBRA
d
(a) Given  = dx
, B̂ = 3̂ and f (x) = x3 − 5. Calculate (Â ± B̂)f (x).
d
(b) Given two operators  = dx
and B̂ = x̂. Calculate ÂB̂.
d 2


(c) Evaluate x̂ + dx
(d) T̂h is called ”Translational Operator” that satisfies the relation : T̂h f (x) = f (x + h).
i. Is T̂h linear?
 
ii. Evaluate T̂1 − 3T̂1 + 2̂ x2 .
2

(e) Construct the following operators for a 1D, 2D, 3D and nD system.
i. Position;
ii. Linear Momentum;
iii. Kinetic energy;
iv. Potential energy;
 2

v. Total energy.
(f) Construct the Hamiltonian operator for a n-particle 3D system.

3. EIGENFUNTION and EIGENVALUE

d
(a) Find eigenfunction and eigenvalue of the operator dx
. Under the boundary condition −∞ <
x < ∞ find eigenvalue.
(b) If  is a linear operator and satisfies the equation Âf = λf then show that e f = eλ f .
(c) If Âf = λf then show that Â−1 f = λ1 f .
(d) Find eigenfunction of the linear momentum operator. What will be the nature of it’s
eigenvalue.
(e) For particle in a box, ψn (x) = sin nπx


l
; n = 1, 2, 3, . . . Which values of linear momentum
are obtained in measurement?
(f) Consider a particle in a box system. Two state functions are given:
n2 h2
(g) ψ(x) = sin nπx


l
; n = 1, 2, 3, . . . ; En = 8ml 2

(h) ψ(x) = x(l − x)

What will be the observed energy values for each case.
ˆ where n is a positive integer and no lower
(i) Let R̂ be a linear operator such that R̂n = I,
ˆ Find the eigenvalues of R̂.
power R̂ = I.

4. AVERAGE VALUE

(a) What would be the average value of any observable in any quantum mechanical measure-
ment?
q q
(b) If ψ = 21 φ1 − 38 φ2 + 3i8 φ3 where φi -s are the eigenfunctions of any quantum mechanical
operator of any observable with their respective eigenvalues then determine the average
value of that observable.
(c) For particle in a box the energy eigenfunction is given by φn (x) = sin nπx


l
; n = 1, 2, 3, . . .
Two cases are given:
i. ψ = φn ;
q
ii. ψ = 30 l5
x(l − x).
Calculate hxi, hx2 i, hpx i and hTx i for each case.
? We are avoiding the calculation of above averages for harmonic oscillator since those will
be difficult for present situation and we shall deal with harmonic oscillator and all those
average calculations in next semester

5. HERMITIAN OPERATOR

(a) Determine the condition for Hermiticity for any operator.

 3

(b) Check the nature of Hermiticity of following operators:

i. Position;
ii. Potential energy;
d
iii. dx
;
d
iv. i dx ;
d2
v. dx2
;
vi. Linear Momentum;
vii. Kinetic energy;
viii. Total energy.
(c) Prove that eigenvalues of any Hermitian operators must be real.
(d) Prove that if eigenvalues of any operator are real then the operator must be Hermitian.
(e) Prove that Inverse of any Hermitian operator is also Hermitian.
(f) Prove that eigenfunctions of any Hermitian operator correspponding to non-degenerate
eigenvalues are always orthogonal. Eigenfunctions of any Hermitian operator corresppond-
ing to degenerate eigenvalues can always chosen to be orthogonal.
(g) Given φm = 1 and φn = x where (0 6 x 6 1). Check the orthonormality for the given
functions. If not then make them orthonormal.
P
(h) Prove that every linear combination ψ = i ci φi of the eigenfunctions of a degenerate level
of eigenvalue λ is an eigenfunction of the same operator with same eigenvalue.
(i) Prove that if {φi } be the complete set of eigenfunctions of any Hermitian operator and ψ
be another function is eigenfunction of that same operator with some eigenvalue then the
P
only non-zero coefficients in the expansion ψ = i ci φi are those for which φi -s degenerate.

6. COMMUTATOR

(a) Calculate the following:

 d
i. 3̂, dx ;
d 
ii. dx , x̂ ;
 d 2
iii. dx , x̂ ;
 3 d
iv. x̂ , dx ;
h i
2 d2
v. x̂ , dx2 .

(b) Check whether (Â ± B̂)2 = Â2 ± 2ÂB̂ + B̂ 2 or not. If not then at what condition it will
satisfy?
(c) Prove the following:
h i h i h i
i. k Â, B̂ = Â, k B̂ = k Â, B̂ where k is a constant;
h i h i h i
ii. Â, B̂ Ĉ = Â, B̂ Ĉ + B̂ Â, B̂ ;
 4
h i h i h i
iii. ÂB̂, Ĉ = Â, Ĉ B̂ + Â B̂, Ĉ ;
h i h i h i
iv. Â, B̂ + Ĉ = Â, B̂ + Â, Ĉ ;
h i h i h i h i h i
v. Â + B̂, Ĉ + D̂ = Â, Ĉ + Â, D̂ + B̂, Ĉ + B̂, D̂ .
(d) Calculate the following:
i. [q̂, q̂ 0 ];
ii. [p̂q , p̂q0 ];
iii. [q̂, p̂q0 ];
 
iv. p̂q , p̂2q0 ;
 
v. p̂q , p̂2q0 ;
h i
vi. q̂, V̂ ;
h i
vii. p̂q , V̂ ;
h i
viii. q̂, T̂q0 ;
h i
ix. q̂, Ĥ ;
h i
x. p̂q , Ĥ ;
xi. [q̂ n , p̂q0 ].
(e) Prove that the sum and difference of two Hermitian operators is Hermitian.
(f) Prove that the sum and difference of two anti-Hermitian operators is anti-Hermitian.
(g) Prove that the product of two Hermitian operators is not necessarily Hermitian. It will be
Hermitian if the operators commute.
(h) Prove that the product of two anti-Hermitian operators is not necessarily anti-Hermitian.
It will be anti-Hermitian if their anti-commutator becomes zero.
(i) Prove that commutators of two Hermitian operators is anti-Hermitian.
(j) Prove that commutators of two anti-Hermitian operators is anti-Hermitian.
(k) Prove that anti-commutators of two Hermitian operators is Hermitian.
(l) Prove that anti-commutators of two anti-Hermitian operators is Hermitian.
(m) If φm and φn are two eigenfunctions of any Hermitian operator  with non-degenerate
eigenvalues and if B̂ is a linear operator that commutes with  then prove that hφm |B̂|φn i =
0.
(n) Prove that if any two linear operators have a common complete set of eigenfunctions the
those operators always commute.
(o) Prove that if any two linear Hermitian operators commute the they have common complete
set of eigenfunctions.

7. UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE
 5

(a) Derive the general expression for Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. Using this general
expression calculate the well-known uncertainty relation between position and momentum
operator.
2
(b) For particle in a box given that hxi = 21 , hx2 i = l2 31 − 2π1 2 , hpx i = 0 and hp2x i = 4lh 2 . Verify

whether this system obeys Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle or not.

2
1 1/4 − x


(c) Given ψ(x) = λπ e 2λ ; (−∞ < x < ∞). Show that ∆x∆px is in agreement with
Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle.

8. PARITY OPERATOR

(a) Derive the eigenfunction and eigenvalues for parity operator.

(b) Let Π̂ be the parity operator and m be a positive integer. What is Π̂m if m is even? If m
is odd?
h i
(c) Calculate Ĥ, Π̂ . At what condition these two operators commute?
(d) State the condition for a wave function having and not having any definite parity.
(e) Show that the parity operator is linear; a proof in one dimension is sufficient.
(f) Show that the parity operator is Hermitian; a proof in one dimension is sufficient.

QUANTUM MECHANICS OF TRANSLATIONAL MOTION

1. PARTICLE IN A 1D BOX

(a) Determine the energy eigenfunctions and eigenvalues for particle in a box model under the
condition V = 0 for 0 < x < l and V = ∞ elsewhere.
(b) Prove that the quantum number n can’t be zero.
(c) Determine the difference between the succesive energy levels for particle in a box. At what
condition the energy levels become continuous?
(d) Can average kinetic energy for the particle in a box be zero? Give reason to justify your
answer.
(e) Determine the normalization constant for particle in a box.
(f) Plot |ψn | and |ψn |2 vs x for particle in a box.
(g) Using de Broglie’s hypothesis derive the energy expression for particle in a box.
(h) Prove that the particle in a box wavefunctions are orthonormal.
(i) Calculate average and square average of position for particle in a box for general quantum
state. Thus calculate the uncertainty in position.
(j) Calculate average and square average of momentum for particle in a box for general quan-
tum state. Thus calculate the uncertainty in momentum.
(k) Verify whether the particle in a box model obeys Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle or not.
 6

(l) Prove that a particle in a 1D box is equally likely to be moving in either direction. Thus
explain why average momentum for particle in a box is zero.
(m) Derive the Selection Rule for particle in a box.
(n) Derive the expression for number and position of nodes for particle in a box.
(o) Check how good the model particle in a 1D box is?

2. PARTICLE IN A 3D BOX

(a) Determine the energy eigenfunctions and eigenvalues for particle in a 3D box model under
the condition V = 0 for 0 < x < a, 0 < y < b, 0 < z < c and V = ∞ elsewhere.
(b) Using the above determine the energy eigenfunctions and eigenvalues for a cubic box.
(c) State the nature of degenaracy for both the above cases.