SOLUTION PROBLEM SET 4, FYS3110

Read this first:

General advice about feedback:

Base your evaluation on what you see on the answer sheet, and not on the impression
you have of the person who wrote it!

Be polite and encouraging, but do not hesitate to point out errors or suggest im-
provements. After all, this is the main purpose with feedback.

Be concrete in your feedback. If you think something is missing from an explanation,

tell the student what is missing, not just that something is missing.

Then:
Tasks for the feedback session on Friday Sep. 15:

For those not in Origo: Logon to Devilry. Click on Examiner and Problem set 4.

Give feedback on Problem 4.10(H). (if 4.10(H) is missing do 4.9(H) instead).

Give points on a scale 0-6 (6 is the best) for each of the subproblems 4.11(X) a),b),c)
and d).

Return your feedback.

Problem 4.1(L)
Harmonic oscillator ladder operators
1
a = (mx + ip)
2~m
1
a = (mx ip)
2~m
The commutator
h i 1 1
a, a = [mx + ip, mx ip] = ([mx, ip] + [ip, mx])
2~m 2~m

1 1 1
= im [x, p] +im [p, x] = + = 1, q.e.d.
2~m | {z } | {z } 2 2
i~ i~

1
SOLUTION PROBLEM SET 4, FYS3110

Problem 4.2(L)
H = ~ a a + and a, a = 1. Energy eigenkets: H|Ei = E|Ei.
1


2
 
1 ~
Ha|Ei = ~ a a + a a a|Ei +
a|Ei = ~ |{z} a|Ei
2 2
aa 1
~ ~
= ~aa a|Ei a|Ei = a ~a
a} |Ei a|Ei
2 | {z 2
H ~
2
   
~ ~ ~ ~
= a E |Ei a|Ei = E a|Ei a|Ei
2 2 2 2
= (E ~) a|Ei, q.e.d.

Thus we see that a|Ei is also an eigenstate of H with eigenvalue E ~.

Problem 4.3(L)

n
Show that the state |ni 1
n!
a |0i has norm 1 when h0|0i = 1. i.e. Show that
hn|ni = 1.
1  n
hn|ni = h0| (a)n a |0i
n!
1  n1
= h0| (a)n a 1|1i
n!
1
= h0| (a)n n n 1 1|ni
n!
1
= h0| 1 2 n n n 1 1|0i
n!
1
= n! n!h0|0i = 1, q.e.d.
n!

Problem 4.4(L)
Since the Hamiltonian H = ~ a a + 1
must be hermitian, then a a is also hermitian


2
and has real eigenvalues. This implies
 
hm|a a|ni = hn| a a |mi = hn|a a|mi

The left hand side of this is

hm|a a|ni = nhm|ni
while the right hand side is
hn|a a|mi = m hn|mi = mhm|ni
Subtracting these two we find
0 = (n m) hm|ni
which implies that hm|ni = 0 for n 6= m. Thus eigenstates for different eigenvalues are
orthogonal, as is the case for any hermitian operator.

2
SOLUTION PROBLEM SET 4, FYS3110

Problem 4.5(L)
Harmonic oscillator ladder operators
1 1
a = (mx + ip) , a = (mx ip)
2~m 2~m
Adding and subtracting these we find the inverse relations
r r
~   ~m  
x = a + a , p = i a a
2m 2
Thus the kinetic energy operator is
1 ~k  2
V = kx2 = a + a
2 4m
The expectation value of V in the energy eigenstate |ni is
~k    ~k  
hn|V |ni = hn| a + a a + a |ni = hn| a a + aa + a a + aa |ni
4m 4m
~k

= hn| n + 2 n + 1|n + 2i + n 1 n|n 2i + n n|ni + n + 1 n + 1|ni
4m
~k
= n + 2 n + 1 hn|n + 2i + n 1 n hn|n 2i + n n hn|ni + n + 1 n + 1 hn|ni
4m | {z } | {z } | {z } | {z }
0 0 1 1
~k ~
= (n + (n + 1)) = k (2n + 1)
4m 4m
p
With = k/m or k = m 2 we find
 
~ 1
hn|V |ni = n+
2 2

which is exactly one half (50%) of the total energy (En = ~ (n + 1/2)).

Problem 4.6(L)
  n
1 1 d
n (n) = mx ~ 0 (x)
n! 2~m dx
  n 
1 1 d m 1/4 mx2
= mx ~ e 2~
n! 2~m dx ~
!n
m 2
 m 1/4 1 r r
m ~ d
= x e( ~ x) /2
~ 2n n! ~ m dx
p m d
p m d
Set q = ~ x. It follows that dx = ~ dq and we get
 m 1/4  n
1 d 2 /2
 m ,
eq

n (n) = q q=
q.e.d.
~ 2n n! dq ~

3
SOLUTION PROBLEM SET 4, FYS3110

Problem 4.7(L)
The angular momentum ladder operators are L = Lx iLy .

[Lz , L+ ] = ~L+ = [Lz , L+ ] = ~L+

(Lz L+ ) (L+ Lz ) = ~L+
L+ Lz Lz L+ = ~L+
L Lz Lz L = ~L
[L , Lz ] = ~L = [Lz , L ] = ~L , q.e.d.

Problem 4.8(L)
L2 |, i = |, i, Lz |, i = |, i.
Using the commutation relation [Lz , L ] = ~L we get

Lz |wi = Lz L |, i = (~L + L Lz ) |, i = L (~ + ) |, i = ( ~) L |, i
= ( ~) |wi

The commutation relation L2 , L = 0 gives

 

L2 |wi = L2 L |, i = L L2 |, i = L |, i = L |, i = |wi

Thus |wi is an eigenstate of both L2 and Lz with eigenvalues and ~, respectively.

Problem 4.9(H)
Work out the normalization constants c+ , c in

L+ |l, mi = c+ |l, m + 1i, L |l, mi = c |l, m 1i

by requiring that hl, m|l, mi = hl, m 1|l, m 1i = 1.

We get

|c+ |2 hl, m + 1|l, m + 1i = hl, m|L+ L+ |l, mi = hl, m|L L+ |l, mi

| {z }
1

= hl, m| L2x + L2y + i (Lx Ly Ly Lx ) |l, mi

| {z }
i~Lz

= hl, m| L2x + L2y + L2z L2z ~Lz |l, mi

| {z }
L2
2 2


= ~ l(l + 1) ~ (m + 1)m hl, m|l, mi
| {z }
1
2 2
= |c+ | = ~ (l(l + 1) m(m + 1))

4
SOLUTION PROBLEM SET 4, FYS3110

For c we similarly get

|c |2 hl, m 1|l, m 1i = hl, m|L L |l, mi = hl, m|L+ L |l, mi

| {z }
1

= hl, m| L2x + L2y i (Lx Ly Ly Lx ) |l, mi

| {z }
i~Lz

= hl, m| L2x + L2y + L2z L2z + ~Lz |l, mi

| {z }
L2
2 2


= ~ l(l + 1) ~ m(m 1) hl, m|l, mi
| {z }
1
= |c+ |2 = ~2 (l(l + 1) m(m 1))

Seting the phase factors to one we get

p
c = ~ l(l + 1) m(m 1)

5
SOLUTION PROBLEM SET 4, FYS3110

Problem 4.10(H)
In this exercise, we will need

r
~  
x = a + a , a |ni = n + 1|n + 1i, a|ni = n|n 1i, hn|mi = n,m
2m
Be careful not to confuse the particle mass and summation index that both are called m.

r r
~ 

 ~

Xnm = hn|x|mi = hn| a + a |mi = hn| m + 1|m + 1i + hn| m|m 1i
2m 2m
r
~

= m + 1 n,m+1 + m n,m1
2m
b)Unit norm: h(0)|(0)i = 1. Inserting |(0)i =
P
n=0 cn |ni gives

X
X X
X X
X
cn hn| cm |mi = 1 = cn cm hn|mi = 1 = cn cm n,m = 1
n=0 m=0 n=0 m=0 n=0 m=0

X
= |cn |2 = 1
n=0

Now for the time-dependent state:

iHt iHt 1
cn ei(n+ 2 )t |ni =
X X X
|(t)i = e ~ |(0)i = e ~ cn |ni = cn (t)|ni,
n=0 n=0 n=0

1
where we have defined cn (t) = cn ei(n+ 2 )t . We see that cn (t = 0) = cn .

c)
X
X
h(t)|H|(t)i = cn (t)cm (t)hn|H|mi (1)
n=0 m=0
X
X 1
= cn (t)cm (t)~(m + )n,m (2)
2
n=0 m=0

X 1
= |cn (t)|2 ~(n + ) (3)
2
n=0

Note that |cn (t|2 = |cn |2 , so the expectation value of the energy is time-independent (energy
conservation).

6
SOLUTION PROBLEM SET 4, FYS3110

Now for h(t)|X|(t)i:

X
X
h(t)|x|(t)i = cn (t)cm (t)hn|x|mi
n=0 m=0
r
~ XX

= cn (t)cm (t) m n,m1 + m + 1 n,m+1
2m
n=0 m=0

r ! !!
~ X X
= cn (t)cn+1 (t) n + 1 + cn (t)cn1 (t) n
2m
n=0 n=1

In the second step, we have inserted the result from exercise a). We are free to name the
summation indices as we want. In the second term, rename n to n + 1. This gives

r ! !!
~ X X
h(t)|x|(t)i = cn (t)cn+1 (t) n + 1 + cn+1 (t)cn (t) n + 1
2m
n=0 n=0
r
~ X
= n + 1 ((cn (t)cn+1 (t)) + (cn (t)cn+1 (t)) )
2m
n=0
r r
~ X 2~ X
< n + 1 cn cn+1 eit ,



= 2 < n + 1 cn (t)cn+1 (t) =
2m m
n=0 n=0

where we have used

cn+1 (t)cn (t) = cn+1 cn eit

cn (t)cn+1 (t) = cn cn+1 eit .

d) We will start with the result from c), and insert for cn . Note that the expression
2
cn = c0 n! holds also for n = 0.
r
2~ X
< n + 1 cn cn+1 eit


h(t)|x|(t)i =
m
n=0

r !
2~ X n n+1 it
= < n+1 c20 p e
m n! (n + 1)!
n=0
r
(2 )n it
 
2~ X
= < c20 e
m n!
n=0
r
2~ 2 2
c0 e < eit


=
m
r
2~
= cos(t)
m

7
SOLUTION PROBLEM SET 4, FYS3110

Now, for the classical amplitude:

X 1 X n 1
h(t)|H|(t)i = |cn (t)|2 ~(n + ) = |c0 |2 ~(n + )
2 n! 2
n=0 n=0
 n 2 !
1 n 2
 
X
= ~c20 n +
n! 2 n!
n=0

X (2 )n1
   2 )n
!
1 X (
= ~c20 2 +
(n 1)! 2 n!
n=1 n=0
 
2 1 1
= ~c20 e (2 + ) = ~(2 + )
2 2
Setting r r
kA2 1 2~ 1
= ~(2 + ) = A = 2 +
2 2 m 2
Where we used k = m 2 . We can therefore write
r
2~
h(t)|x|(t)i = cos(t) = A q cos(t)
m 2 + 1
2

We see that h(t)|x|(t)i oscillates with an angular frequency , and has an amplitude
A q 1 , which is smaller than the classical amplitude A for any value of , but approaches
2 + 2
A as .

Problem 4.11(X)
1 2
The Hamiltonian for the one dimensional harmonic oscillator H1dx = 2m px + 12 m 2 x2 can
be written in terms of ladder operators ax and ax
1
ax = (mx + ipx )
2~m
1
ax = (mx ipx )
2~m
 
as H1dx = ~ ax ax + 12 . Introducing another set of ladder operators for the y-direction

1
ay = (my + ipy )
2~m
1
ay = (my ipy )
2~m
 
py + 12 m 2 y 2 = ~ ay ay + 12 . Adding these two we get
1 2
we similarly find that 2m
   
1 1  
H = ~ ax ax + + ~ ay ay + = ~ ax ax + ay ay + 1
2 2

8
SOLUTION PROBLEM SET 4, FYS3110

which is the sought-after expression.

b) Lowest energy: nx = 0, ny = 0, E00 = ~, state: |00i.

First excited level: E01 = E10 = 2~, states: |10i and |01i. Degeneracy: 2.
Second excited level: E02 = E11 = E20 = 3~, states: |02i,|11i,|20i. Degeneracy: 3.

c) Here we need to express the coordinate and momentum operators in terms of the ladder
operators. They are
r r
~   ~m  
x= ax + ax , px = i ax ax
2m 2
r   r
~ ~m  
y= ay + ay , py = i ay ay
2m 2
Inserting these expressions we get

Lz = xpy ypx
~        
=i ax + ax ay ay ay + ay ax ax = i~ ay ax ax ay .
2
where we have made use of the fact that ax and ay operators commute with each other.
The commutator
h    i
[H, Lz ] = ~ ax ax + ay ay + 1 , i~ ay ax ax ay
h i
= i~2 ax ax + ay ay , ay ax ax ay
h i h i h i h i
= i~2 ax ax , ay ax + ay ay , ay ax ax ax , ax ay ay ay , ax ay
 h i h i h i h i
= i~2 ay ax ax , ax + ay ay , ay ax ax ax , ax ay ax ay ay , ay

h i

h

i

h

i

h

i
= i~2
ay ax , ax ax + ay ay , ay a x ax a x , ax a y ax ay , ay ay

| {z } | {z } | {z } | {z }
1 1 1 1
=0

d) The commutator [H, Lz ] = 0. Thus it is possible to find a common complete set of

eigenstates for the two operators H and Lz .

For the lowest energy level there is only one state |00i. It is an eigenstate of both H
and Lz : Lz |00i = 0 and H|00i = ~|00i with eigenvalues 0 and ~ respectively.

The first excited energy level is two-fold degenerate |01i and |10i. Any linear combi-
nation of these two states is an eigenstate of H, but not necessarily of Lz . However the
fact that [H, Lz ] = 0 guarantees that we can find a linear combination of these which

9
SOLUTION PROBLEM SET 4, FYS3110

is also an eigenstate of Lz . Lets form a general eigenstate of the two degenerate states:
|01i + |10i, and let Lz act on this
 
Lz (|01i + |10i) = i~ ay ax ax ay (|01i + |10i) = i~ (|01i |10i)

We want this linear combination to be an eigenstate. Labeling the eigenvalue this re-
quirement is
Lz (|01i + |10i) = (|01i + |10i)
The kets |01i and |10i are orthogonal, so combining these two equations implies

i~ =
i~ =

multiplying these together we find = ~. Setting = +~ gives = i while = ~

gives = i. Therefore
1
|+i (i|01i + |10i)
2
is an eigenvector of both H and Lz with eigenvalues 2~ and +~ respectively. while
1
|i (i|01i + |10i)
2
is an eigenvector of both H and Lz with eigenvalues 2~ and ~ respectively.

Problem 4.12(E)
The Hermite-polynomials Hn (q) are defined as

d n q2 /2
 
2
q e = Hn (q)eq /2
dq

2 /2 2
H0 (q)eq = eq /2 = H0 (q) = 1
 
2 /2 d 2 2
H1 (q)eq = q eq /2 = (q + q) eq /2 = H1 (q) = 2q
dq
d 2 q2 /2
   
2 /2 d 2 2
H2 (q)eq 2qeq /2 = 2q 2 2 + 2q 2 eq /2 = H2 (q) = 4q 2 2


= q e = q
dq dq

10