EPGY Singapore

Quantum Mechanics: 2009

Quantum Mechanics: Problems Lecture 3
Solutions
Physics Problems

Problem 3.1
A parallel beam of light from a He-Ne laser, with a wavelength of 656 nm, falls on two very narrow slits 0.050 mm apart.
How far apart are the fringes in the center of the pattern if the screen is 2.6 m away? (Central max to first max).

6.56 × 10−7 m x
d sin θ = λ, sin θ = = 0.01312 = −→ x = 2.6 ∗ 0.01312 = 0.034m
5 × 10 m
−5 L

x = 0.034m

Problem 3.2 Can classical physics describe the PE effect?

This problem is one of estimating the time lag (expected classically but not observed) for the photoelectric effect.
Assume a point light source gives 1 W = 1 J/s of light energy.
eV
a. Assuming uniform radiation in all directions, find the light intensity in m2 s at a distance of 1 m from the source.
b. Assuming some reasonable size for an atom, find the energy per unit time incident on the atom for this intensity.
c. If the work function is 2 eV, how long does it take for this much energy to be absorbed, assuming that all the
energy hitting the atom is absorbed?
d. What conclusions can you draw from this exercise? Should find it takes a long time to eject an electron.

Problem 3.3: More Practice with Wave Equations

2π
Recall that we defined the wavenumber as k = λ and the angular frequency as ω = 2πf .
ω
a. Express the wave relation, c = f λ in terms of ω and k. → c = k

Also, recall that Einstein had introduced the energy of a photon as E = hf . This result also holds for other objects
(that comes later). In addition, the de Broglie wavelength for a photon (or any particle) is defined as λ = hp . (And
h
lastly we can use the shorthand notation ~ = 2π ).
b. Express the wave relation, c = f λ in terms of E and p. → E = pc.
Now consider the function y(x, t) = y0 ei(kx−ωt) .

c. Does this function satisfy the following equation? (Show) Yes.

∂2y ∂2y
2
− c2 2 = 0
∂t ∂x

d. Does this function satisfy the following equation? (Show) Yes.

∂y ω ∂2y
i =− 2 2
∂t k ∂x

e. Does the function y(x, t) = y0 cos(kx − ωt) satisfy the previous equation (d)? No. This form is much like the
Schroedinger equation, which does not admit real solutions.
Problem 3.4 Even More Practice with Wave Equations
In the last problem set we played around with some wave equations. In particular we examined Maxwell’s wave equation
(say y = E),

∂2y 2
2∂ y
− c =0
∂t2 ∂x2
The result you found in a) is the relativistic energy of a massless particle (like a photon).
a) Use the relations given above (E = hf and p = λh ), show that we can write the complex exponential wavefunction
above as, y(x, t) = y0 ei(px−Et)/~ .
b) Find the equation (in terms of E and p and canceling like factors of y) that results for the form of y in a).
∂y −~2 ∂ 2 y
i~ =
∂t 2m ∂x2

c) Do you recognize this equation? Discuss what it represents.

p2
You should find the equation E = 2m = 12 mv 2 which is the kinetic energy.
∂y E
i~ = (i~)(−i
)y = Ey
∂t ~
−~2 ∂ 2 y −~2 p 2 p2
= ( )(i ) y = y canceling y
2m ∂x2 2m ~ 2m
2
p
E =
2m
This is the kinetic energy of a particle of mass m..

Problem: Reading Assignments

By Friday, read the first chapter of “Quantum Challenge” of which you were provided copies. Read the second chapter by Monday.

More mathematical problems: Vectors

In a few lectures we will begin describing quantum states in terms of vectors. Thus, we should review some basics of
vectors. If you do not know how to proceed with the following questions ask the instructor and/or counselor, and also
review the notes on vectors by the weekend.

Problem 3.5 Dot products of vectors

What is the dot product, ~v · w,
~ of the following pairs of vectors? (All coefficients are real)
~ = −1î − 3~j + 0.2k̂ 9.4
1) ~v = 2î − 3ĵ + 12k̂ and w
~ = −2î + 13 k̂ -2
2) ~v = 12 î − 7ĵ − 3k̂ and w

3) ~v = aî − k ĵ + 0k̂ and w

~ = 1î − cĵ + 42k̂ a + ck
4) ~v = (1, 1, 1) and w
~ = (−1, 1, −1) -1
5) ~v = 2î + 12k̂ and w
~ = −3ĵ 0

What is the length of each of the following vectors?

√ √
6) ~v6 = 2î − 3ĵ + 12k̂ 157 = 12.5 7) ~v7 = −2î + 3ĵ − 12k̂ 157 = 12.5 8) ~v8 = −2î 2
√ √ √
9) ~v9 = î + ĵ + k̂ 3 = 1.73 10) ~v10 = −î − ĵ − k̂ 3 = 1.73 11) ~v11 = î + ĵ − 2k̂ 6 = 2.45
√ √ √ √
12) ~v12 = 2î + 12k̂ 148 = 12.17 13) ~v13 = î − 2ĵ + k̂ 4 = 2 14) ~v14 = î − ĵ + 0k̂ 2 = 1.414

Which of the following pairs of vectors are perpendicular (orthogonal)?

15) ~v = 2î − 3ĵ + 12k̂ and w
~ = −1î − 3ĵ + 0.2k̂ 16) * ~v = 2î + 12k̂ and w
~ = −3ĵ
17) * ~v = aî + bĵ and w
~ = bî − aĵ + 7k̂ 18) ~v = 2î + 12k̂ and w
~ = −3k̂