PH 504: Practice Problem Set

Note

These questions are on the subject of symmetries and angular momentum in QM. These
problems are for your practice only and will not be graded. You will have a tutorial on Jan
18 when you can discuss these with the tutor.
Problem 1.1. An angular momentum eigenstate |j, m = mmax = ji is rotated by an infinitesimal angle  about the yaxis. Without using explicit forms of the [d(j) ]m m0 functions,
calculate the probability for the new rotated state to be found in the original state up to
terms of order 2 .
Problem 1.2. Consider a system with total angular momentum j = 1. Recall from your
assignment (or look up!) the form of the generators Jx , Jy , and Jz .
(a) What are the possible values when measuring Jx ?
(b) Calculate hJz i and hJz2 i if the system is in the state
jx = 1.
1
1

(c) If the system were initially in the state |i = 6 2, what are the probabilities for the
1
values one obtains on measuring Jx ?
Problem 1.3. Calculate the energy eigenvalues of an axially symmetric rotator and find
the degeneracy of each energy level. Recall that the Hamiltonian for this is given by:
2 + L
2
2
L
L
x
y
H=
+ z.
2I1
2I2
Problem 1.4. Revise the standard textbook treatment of the eigenvalue problem of L2 , Lz .
Write down and practice the orthogonality relations between the different Ylm (, ).
Problem 1.5. Show that the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients satisfy the following recurrence
relation:
p
p
j(j + 1) m(m 1)hj1 m1 ; j2 m2 |j, m + 1i =
j1 (j1 + 1) m1 (m1 1)hj1 m1 1; j2 m2 |j, m + 1i
p
+
j2 (j2 + 1) m2 (m2 1)hj1 m1 ; j2 m2 1|j, m + 1i