hw9-22.

nb: 10/3/04::11:19:57 1

Homework: Due 9-22-04

ü Sakurai Chap 1: 13,18,19,26. Chap 3: 9. Also, BJ 6.20 for spin ÄÄÄÄ12

ü 1.13

Label the three Stern-Gerlach apparati by 1,2,3, and let the spin state just after the three s.g. filters be
1,
2,
3, and
the intensity of the beam in the three cases be I1 , I2 , I3 . Then we are told to use the normalization I1 = 1. Since the
filters just find the probability for the beam to be in the appropriate state, we have that the intensity after s.g. 2 is
I2 =
1  22 and I3 = I2
2  32 . For the case at hand, in the Sz basis,
1 =
+,
2 = c
+ + s
-,
3 =
-, where
c, s = cos ÅÅÅÅ2bÅ , sin ÅÅÅÅ2bÅ as in problem Sakurai 1.12, or BJ 6.20 (but for spin ÅÅÅÅ12 , below). Then I3 = c2 s2 .

dcÅÅ c 1 - c  = 2 c - 4 c = 0, which has solutions at c = 0, ÅÅÅÅ

dI3 d 1


ÅÅÅÅÅÅ . The second solution
To maximize I3 , solve ÅÅÅÅ
ÅÅÅÅÅ = ÅÅÅÅ 2 2 3
dc 2
gives the maximum of I3 , and corresponds to b = ≤ ÅÅÅÅp2 . The max value is found to be I3 = ÅÅ14ÅÅ . Alternatively, recognize
that c s = sin b, so I3 = sin2 b, which is maximized by b = ≤ ÅÅÅÅp2 .

ü 1.18

a) Schwartz's inequality states that a  a b  b ¥
a  b2 . Since the inner product of any state with itself is real and
positive, one may define a2 = a  a, and b2 = b  b, with both a, b positive. Similarly, one may separate out the
magnitude and phase of a  b =
a  b eif . Then, consider the linear combination
c =
a + l
b, with l = ÅÅÅÅab e-if ,
and since c  c ¥ 0,

a + l* b ÿ 
a + l
b = a  a +
l2 b  b + 2 Rel a  b

= a2 +  ÅÅÅÅab 2 b2 + 2 ÅÅÅÅab
a  b
= 2 a2 + 2 ÅÅÅÅab
a  b ¥ 0

or

a  b < ab

which is equivalent to the Schwartz inequality. Another approach is to take l = -b  a  b  b, which also works.

b) Suppose D A
a = lDB
a. Then a D A = l* a DB, and DA2  = a  DAD A  a =
l2 DB2 . It follows that
2
D A2  DB2  =
l2 DB2 

Similarly,
hw9-22.nb: 10/3/04::11:19:57 2

ÅÅÅÅ14
 A, B
2 = ÅÅÅÅ14
AB - BA2
= ÅÅÅÅ14
a AB - BA
a2
= ÅÅÅÅ14
a DADB - DBD A
a2
2
= ÅÅÅÅ14
a l* - l DB2
a
2
= ÅÅÅÅ41
l* - l2 DB2 

The Schwartz inequality is saturated if

l2 = ÅÅÅÅ14
l* - l2

which is true iff l is pure imaginary.

c) A gaussian wave function is given by

+x-a/2
x  a = ya x = ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ1ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ1ÅÅÅÅÅÅ Å eik x e- ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ
4 d2
ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ
2 pd 2  4

Then

X  =  „ x a  x x  X  a
=  „ xy*a x x ya x
+x-a/2
Å1ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ  „ xxe- ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ


= ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ 2 d2
ÅÅÅÅÅÅ Å
2 pd 2
y2
Å1ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ  „ yy + ae- ÅÅÅÅ2 ÅdÅÅÅ2ÅÅ


= ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ
2 pd 2

=a
and

P =  „ x a  x x  P  a
∑
=  „ xy*a x -i ÅÅÅÅ
∑xÅÅ  ya x
+x-a/2
x-a - ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ
ÅÅÅÅÅÅ Å


= ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ dÅ2ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ e
Å1ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ  „ xk - i ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ 2 d2
2 pd 2

=k

The problem asks for

x  D X  a = x  x - a  a
= x - a ya x

and

x  D P  a = x  p - k  a
∑
= -i ÅÅÅÅ
∑xÅÅ - k ya x
x-a
= k - i ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ
d2
ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ  - k ya x
= -i ÅÅÅÅ

d2
ÅÅ x - a ya x
d 2ÅÅ x  D X  a

= -i ÅÅÅÅ
hw9-22.nb: 10/3/04::11:19:57 3

so the proportional relation with an imaginary coefficient is satisfied, and one may infer that Gaussian wave packets
satisfy the minimal uncertainty relation..

ü 1.19
2
a) This is similar to 1.12 b. For the polarization state
z̀, b = 0, and the dispersion is DSx 2  = ÅÅÅÅ4ÅÅ . Note that Sx  = 0


for this state. This makes intuitive sense, since a state polarized in the z direction shouldn't favor either +x` or -x` .
`
0 -i 
Similarly, DS y 2  = ÅÅÅÅ2
4
ÅÅ , where S y = ÅÅÅÅ2 s y , with s y =  . Again, notice that
i 0 
0 -i   1 
S y  = ÅÅÅÅ2  1 0      = 0 for the current case. Also note that sx 2 = s y 2 = sz 2 = 1, so
 i 0   0 2
Sx 2  = S y 2  = Sz 2  = ÅÅÅÅ

3 S  for any polarization state.
1
4ÅÅ = ÅÅÅÅ
2

For the other side of the equation, we have Sx , S y

= i  Sz . For the z` polarization Sz  = ÅÅÅÅ2 , so the right hand side
evaluates to
2 4
ÅÅÅÅ14
i  Sz 2 = ÅÅÅÅ
4ÅÅ Sz  = ÅÅÅÅ
2
16ÅÅ , and we see that the ¥ relation is just satisfied.

b) For any eigenstate of an operator a  DA2  a = 0, and so for the +x` polarization state DSx 2  = 0. The L.H.S of
the inequality is therefore 0. On the R.H.S. we end up with x̀  Sz  x`  = 0, and again the ¥ relation is just satisfied.

ü 1.26

We are asked to find U that "connects" the Sz diagonal basis and the Sx diagonal basis. For this problem, let me adopt a
notation for states written in the Sz diagonal basis
ǹ, ≤, where n` refers to the direction of polarization. The transformed
states are given in the Sx diagonal basis and denoted with a ',
ǹ, ≤'. Then

1  ` 0 ` 1 1 1 1 
`
ƒz, +? =  ÅÅÅÅÅÅ  , ƒx` , -? = ÅÅÅÅ
, ƒz, -? =  , ƒ x, +? = ÅÅÅÅ

 ÅÅÅÅÅÅ 

 , but in the Sx diagonal basis
0 1 2 1 2  -1 

` 1 ` 0
ƒx, +? ' =  ,ƒx, -? ' =  . The transformation between the two bases for a ket
a is
0 1

a' = U
a

0 1  1 0 
Similarly, denote operators in the Sx diagonal basis by a '. So, Sx = ÅÅÅÅ2  , but Sx ' = ÅÅ2ÅÅ  . The
1 0  0 -1 
transformation relation for an operator S is

Sx ' = U Sx U †

The eigenvalue equation for Sx in the Sz - basis is

Sx
x̀, + = +
x` , +

After transformation

Sx
x̀, +' = U S U †  U
x̀, + = Sx '
x̀, +' = +
x` , +' = +
x̀, +',

so the transformed eigenstates are eigenstates of the transformed operators.

hw9-22.nb: 10/3/04::11:19:57 4

There are many ways one may proceed. My first reading of the problem was that the intent was to solve the operator
equation

Sx ' = U Sx U †

This approach is given below. An alternative is to solve for U from the requirement that it transform the eigenstates

x̀, +' = U
x̀, +

x̀, -' = U
x̀, -

Since the eigenstates are all known, one may solve for U . This is equivalent to using the relation

e1  e1 ' e2  e1 '   1 1 

U =   = ÅÅÅÅ
1


ÅÅÅÅÅÅ   where
e12  =
x̀, ≤ and
e'12  =
x̀, ≤'.
e
 1 2  e ' e2  e 2 
' 2  1 -1 

ü Sx ' = U Sx U †

In the ≤ x` basis, Sx is diagonal and is proportional to sz . On the other hand, if we write Sx in the z-basis it is
proportional to sx . We are therefore looking for U such that

eq. 1: sz = U sx U †

There are a lot of ways to do this. The crudest is to define the components of the matrix U
* c* 
a b  a
U =   and then U † =  * . The values for a, b, c, d must satsify eq 1. Also U should be unitary
 c d * * b d* 
a c  a b 
 = 
1 0
U † U =  * *   .
b d  c d   0 1

eq 1 is rewritten as
* *
 1 0   a b   0 1   a c 
 =   * * 
 0 -1   c d   1 0   b d 

Evaluation of the 11 components of U † U = 1 and eq. 1 leads to

a* a + c* c = 1 (U † U = 1)
a* c + c* a = 1 (eq. 1)

rewriting a Ø a eifa , etc we get

a2 + c2 = 1 and 2 a c cosfa - fc  = 1. These two equations require a = c = ÅÅÅÅ

1


ÅÅÅÅÅÅ , fc = fa fa is left undetermined.
2
Similarly, the 22 components yield

b2 + d 2 = 1 and 2 b d cosfb - fd  = -1. Which requires b = -d = ÅÅÅÅ

1


ÅÅÅÅÅÅ , fd = fb and again fb is undetermined.
2
We can also look at the 11 component of U U † = 1, which yields a* a + b* b = 1, which requires fb = fa .

The off diagonal components give relations such as a* b + c* d = ÅÅÅÅ12 ei-fa +fb  + ei-fc +fd   = 0, This leads to a constraint
on phases -fa + fb  = -fc + fd , which is already satisfied, so there is no new information.
hw9-22.nb: 10/3/04::11:19:57 5

There is one overall phase of U which cannot be resolved from the operator relation, since its conjugate always shows
up in U † . It can be resolved from the relationship between the two bases of kets. Since this phase is not observable, it is
conventionally just taken to be zero everywhere.

The solution is then

1 1 1 
ÅÅÅÅÅÅ 


U = ÅÅÅÅ 
2  1 -1 

As a check, confirm that U = r
br  ar  where the kets are in the Sz basis,
1 1 1 1 
;a1 ‡ =  1 0 , ;a2 ‡ =  0 1  , ƒb1 ? = ÅÅÅÅ
ÅÅÅÅÅÅ  , ƒb2 ? = ÅÅÅÅ

 ÅÅÅÅÅÅ 

 , so
2 1 2  -1 

1 1 0  0 1   1 1 
ÅÅÅÅÅÅ 


U = ÅÅÅÅ  + ÅÅÅÅ
1


ÅÅÅÅÅÅ   = ÅÅÅÅ
1


ÅÅÅÅÅÅ  , as above.
2 1 0 2  0 -1  2  1 -1 

ü 3.9

ü a) Determine a spinor state from observed values of ;Si ?

A pure ensemble is an ensemble that includes just one state. That state can be any state for the system. It is not
necessarily an energy eigenstate, but it could be expressed as a linear combination of energy eigenstates. For the 2
a
component spinor with an appropriate choice of overall phase, one can write the state as   with a real and positive,
b
and b = br + i bi complex. In matrix notation

a2 +
b2 = 1
0 1 a
sx ª ÅÅÅÅ2 Sx  =  a b*      = ab + ab* = 2 abr
1 0b
0 -i  a 
s y ª ÅÅÅÅ2 S y  =  a b*      = -iab - ab*  = 2 abi
i 0  b
1 0   a 
sz ª ÅÅÅÅ2 Sz  =  a b*      = a2 -
b2
 0 -1 b

which can be solved algebraically

a = 
1+sz 
ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ
2 ÅÅÅÅ
sx
br = ÅÅÅÅ
2 ÅaÅÅÅ

The magnitude of bi is now determined by the normalization condition, but the sign is not. The magnitude of s y is
redundent (or acts as a consistancy check), but the sign determines the sign of bi .

ü b) Determine the density matrix from the ensemble averages #Si '

The ensemble average for an operator O is given by Trr O. The density matrix is given by a Hermitian matrix with
a c 
Trr = 1. Writing the matrix as r =  *  with a, b real and c = cr + i ci , we obtain the conditions
c b
hw9-22.nb: 10/3/04::11:19:57 6

a+b=1
a c  0 1 
 = Tr 
c a 
sx ª ÅÅÅÅ2 Sx
= ÅÅÅÅ2 Trr Sx  = Tr *   
*  = 2 cr
 c b   1 0  b c 
a c  0 -i  c -a 
s y ª ÅÅÅÅ2 S y
= ÅÅÅÅ2 Trr S y  = Tr *    = i Tr  
*  = -2 ci
 c b   i 0   b -c 
a c   1 0  a -c 
sz ª ÅÅÅÅ2 Sz
= ÅÅÅÅ2 Trr Sz  = Tr *   = Tr * * =a-b
 c b   0 -1   c -b 

which leads to

1+sz
a = ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ
2 ÅÅÅÅ
1-sz
b = ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ
2 ÅÅÅÅ
s -i s
c = ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ
x
2ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ
y

ü Bransden and Joachain 6.20 with +s = 1/ fi +s = 1 s 2/

Obtain eigenvalues and eigenvectors of Sn = n` ÿ S , where for spin ÅÅÅÅ12 , S = ÅÅÅÅ2 s. Work in the basis of polarization in the
z -direction,
z̀, +,
z̀, -. Then, taking the factor of ÅÅÅÅ2 aside

cos q sin q e-if 

n` ÿ s =  
 sin q e+if -cos q 

The eigenvalues are found by solving for
ǹ ÿ s - l I = 0, or l2 - cos2 q - sin2 q = l2 - 1 = 0, which has solutions
l = ≤1. Use a notation where cos q = c, sin q = s. Then, solving for the eigenvector for l = +1,

 c s e-if  a  a
 +if    = +  
se -c   b  b

The upper line eqn is

c a + s e-if b = a

solving for a,
s
ÅÅÅÅÅ e-if
a = -b ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ
c-1

ÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ e-if 
s
which gives an unnormalized eigenvector  1-c  . Normalizing, the + eigenstate
 1 

 
1+c  -if 
 ÅÅÅÅ2ÅÅÅÅÅ e   cos ÅÅÅÅ2 e 
q -if
`
ƒn, +? =   =  
 
1-c 
ÅÅÅÅ2ÅÅÅÅÅ

 sin q
ÅÅÅÅ 
  2

Note, that for q = 0, one gets the
z, + eigenstate up to a phase, while for q = p  2, and f = 0, p  2 one appropriately
finds the
x, + and
y, + eigenstates. Similarly
hw9-22.nb: 10/3/04::11:19:57 7

 - 
1-c  -if 
ÅÅÅÅ   -sin ÅÅÅÅ2q e-if 
`  2ÅÅÅÅÅ e  = 
ƒn, -? =    

 
1+c 
ÅÅÅÅÅ ÅÅÅ
Å   cos q
ÅÅÅÅ 
 2  2