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McGill University PHYS-271 INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM PHYSICS

FINAL EXAM
Tuesday April 12 2011 14:00-17:00
Examiner: Guillaume Gervais, McGill Physics
Associate examiner: Bill Coish, McGill Physics
There are 3 problems to be solved completely, and the corresponding marks for each
of them is indicated below. Only paper and pencil is allowed; the exam is closed book and
no calculators are allowed. Show all your work and do all problems, and everything should go
into the exam books. The total of the exam is out of 100. Students are allowed to use a
translation dictionary.
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PHYS-271 INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM PHYSICS
1. On the Schrodinger Equation and its Wavefunction (40 pts.)
The backbone of the quantum theory is given by the Schrodinger equation. Considering
a wavepacket given by the complex function
(x, t) =

(p)e
i

pxE(p)t)

dp, (1)
I would like you to do the following:
a) (10 pts) For the case where a quantum particle is subjected to a general potential V ,
show that from E = p
2
/2m + V (x) you can construct an equation for the wavepacket given
above. This equation is the Schrodinger equation.
b) (10 pts.) Discuss the meaning of having a complex-valued wavefunction = ||e
i
and state the superposition principle. Show how one can obtain an interference pattern in the
two-slit experiments from the superposition principle and its wave function.
c) (10 pts.) In the Born interpretation of quantum physics, what is the meaning of

=
||
2
? Using the Schrodinger equation show that
||
2
t
+
J
x
= 0, where J

2mi
(

x

x
).
d) (10 pts.) Consider a generic time-independent potential V = V (x) only. Using the
methods of separation of variables, where you poses that (x, t) = T (t) U(x), derive the
dierential equation for T (t) as well as for U(x). Provide the solution for T (t).
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PHYS-271 INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM PHYSICS
2. The Atomic Model (30 pts.)
The early 20th century saw the birth of quantum physics of the models for the atoms.
The led to a fundamental revolution in our thinking of what is matter made out of. I would
like you to:
a) (10 pts.) Describe qualitatively the atomic models of Thomson, Rutherford and Bohr.
What are the main problems with the Rutherford model of the atom? In the Bohr theory, what
is the ad hoc quantization condition? (write it down explicitly).
b) (15 pts.) Starting from the condition that the centripetal force equals the coulomb force
between the nucleus and the electron, i.e.
1
4
0
Ze
2
r
2
=
mv
2
r
and Bohrs quantization condition,
show that the energy of the electron will be quantized and given by E
n
=
mZ
2
e
4
(4
0
)
2
2
2
1
n
2
. What
is the meaning of n = 1 and the limit n ?
c) (5 pts) Discuss the meaning of the electron spin. Using the Pauli exclusion principle,
state how many electrons you can pile up in the n = 1 energy level of the Bohr theory. If
electrons were bosons, rather than fermions, how many could you pile up in the same energy
level?
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PHYS-331 PHYS-271 INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM PHYSICS
3. The Particle in the Innite Potential box. (30 pts.)
We consider a quantum particle in an innite potential box, i.e. a potential dened by
V 0 for 0 x a, and V = for x < 0 and x > a. We shall refer to region I for x < 0,
region II for 0 x a and region III for x > a. The particle has a nite energy E.
a) (10 pts) Considering the solution for (x, t) = T (t) U(x), write down the dierential
equation to solve for U(x) and for T (t) in all region of space, i.e. in region I, II and III, and
provide the general solution. You do not have to solve for the amplitude coecients, but you
must provide the most general solution for both U(x) and T (t). You should also write down the
relation between the wave vector k and the energy E.
b) (10 pts.) State the correct boundary condition at x = 0, a, and calculate the energy
levels E
n
. Provide the formula for the lowest three energy levels and make a sketch of U(x)
versus x associated with these three energy levels.
c) (10pts.) Making use of the Pauli exclusion principle, write down the correct solution
for the ground state of two identical particles in the innite potential box in the case where i)
they are fermions and ii) they are bosons.