PHY3063 Spring 2006 R. D.

Field

PHY 3063 Final Exam Name_________________

Problem 1 (35 points): Consider an particle with mass m
confined within an infinite square well defined by Infinite Square Well

V(x) = 0 for 0 < x < L, V = +infinity V = +infinity

V(x) = +∞ otherwise.
(a) (5 points): Using Schrödinger’s equation calculate the
allowed stationary state eigenfunctions ψn(x), where the complete
wavefunctions are given by Ψn ( x, t ) = ψ n ( x )e n . Normalize
− iE t / h
0 L x

the eigenfunctions so that the probability of finding the particle somewhere in the box is one.

(b) (5 points): Show that the allowed energy levels of the system are, En = E0 n2,
where E0 = h 2π 2 /(2mL2 ) is the ground state energy and n = 1, 2, 3, …. Why is n = 0 excluded as
a possible energy level?

(c) (10 points): Consider the operator, O = (x)op(px)op (i.e. the product of the position operator
times the momentum operator). Is the operator O hermitian? Calculate the expectation value of
the operator O for the nth stationary state (i.e. calculate <ψn|O|ψn>).

(d) (15 points): Suppose the particle in this infinite square well has an initial wave function at
t = 0 given by
Ψ ( x,0) = A sin 2 (πx / L) .
What is the normalization A? If you measure the energy of this particle, what is the probability
that you will measure the ground state energy E0?

Final Exam Page 1 of 7 April 25, 2006

PHY3063 Spring 2006 R. D. Field

PHY 3063 Final Exam Name_________________

Problem 1 Scratch Paper

Final Exam Page 2 of 7 April 25, 2006

PHY3063 Spring 2006 R. D. Field

Problem 2 (35 points): Consider the case of two non-interacting particles Two Particles in a Box
both with mass m in a one-dimensional infinite square well given by
V(x) = 0 for 0 < x < L, and V(x) = ∞. For one particle we know that the
stationary states of Schrödinger’s equation are given by ψ(x2)
Ψn ( x, t ) = ψ n ( x)e −iE n t / h and En = n 2 E0 , and n is a positive integer and
π 2h 2 ψ(x1)
E0 = and where you calculated ψn(x) in the previous problem. For
2mL2
two (non-interacting) particles we look for a solution of the form
Ψ ( x1 , x 2 , t ) = ψ ( x1 , x 2 )e − iEt / h = ψ ( x1 )ψ ( x 2 )e − iEt / h with 0 L
2 2
(p ) (p )
+ x 1
=E. x 2

2m 2m
(a) (15 points): Show that ψ αβ ( x1 , x2 ) = ψ α ( x1 )ψ β ( x2 ) , is a solution to the two particle non-
interaction Schrödinger equations, where α and β are positive integers and ψα(x) and ψβ(x) are
the one particle stationary state solutions from the previous problem. Show that the allowed
energy levels are given by Eαβ = (α 2 + β 2 ) E0 . This solution corresponds to the case where the
two particles are distinguishable. The probability of finding both particles on the left side of the
box (0 < x < L/2) is given by
L/2 L/2
Pαβ = ∫ ∫ | ψ αβ ( x , x ) |
LL 2
1 2 dx1dx2 .
0 0

Calculate PαβLL for the state where α = 1 and β = 2 (i.e. 1st excited state) for the distinguishable
case.

(b) (10 points): For two identical bosons (i.e. particles with integral spins) we must use the
symmetric wavefunction

ψ αβ
S
( x1 , x 2 ) =
1
(ψ αβ ( x1 , x2 ) + ψ αβ ( x2 , x1 ) ) (α ≠ β symmetric under 1↔2)
2
1
ψ αα
S
( x1 , x 2 ) =(ψ αα ( x1 , x2 ) + ψ αα ( x2 , x1 ) ) (α = β symmetric under 1↔2)
2
Calculate PαβLL for the state where α = 1 and β = 2 (i.e. 1st excited state) for two indistinguishable
bosons.

(c) (10 points): For two identical fermions (i.e. particles with half-integral spins) we must use
the symmetric wavefunction

ψ αβA ( x1 , x 2 ) = (ψ αβ ( x1 , x2 ) −ψ αβ ( x2 , x1 ) ) (antisymmetric under 1↔2)

1
2
Calculate PαβLL for the state where α = 1 and β = 2 (i.e. ground state) for two indistinguishable
fermions.

Final Exam Page 3 of 7 April 25, 2006

PHY3063 Spring 2006 R. D. Field

PHY 3063 Final Exam Name_________________

Problem 2 Scratch Paper

Final Exam Page 4 of 7 April 25, 2006

PHY3063 Spring 2006 R. D. Field

Problem 3 (30 points): Suppose we have two vector operators

r r r r
( J1 )op and ( J 2 )op with [( J1 )op , ( J 2 )op ] = 0
and each of the vectors obey the same SU(2) “lie algebra”
[( J1i )op , ( J1 j )op ] = iε ijk ( J1k )op and [( J 2i )op , ( J 2 j )op ] = iε ijk ( J 2 k )op .
The states |j1m1> are the eigenkets of ( J12 ) op and ( J1z )op and the states |j2m2> are the eigenkets
of ( J 22 ) op and ( J 2 z )op as follows:

( J12 )op | j1m1 >= j1 ( j1 + 1) | j1m1 > ( J 22 )op | j2 m2 >= j2 ( j2 + 1) | j2 m2 >

( J1z )op | j1m1 >= m1 | j1m1 > ( J 2 z )op | j2 m2 >= m2 | j2 m2 >
Also we know that
( J1± )op | j1m1 >= j1 ( j1 + 1) − m1 (m1 ± 1) | j1m1 ± 1 >
( J 2± )op | j2 m2 >= j2 ( j2 + 1) − m2 (m2 ± 1) | j2 m2 ± 1 >
± ±
where ( J1 )op = ( J1x )op ± i ( J1 y )op and ( J 2 )op = ( J 2 x )op ± i ( J 2 y )op . Now consider the vector
sum of the two operators,
r r r
( J )op = ( J1 )op + ( J 2 )op or ( J i )op = ( J i1 )op + ( J i 2 )op for i = 1,2, 3.
(a) (5 points): Show that
r r r r r r r r
( J 2 )op = ( J )op ⋅ ( J )op = ( J1 + J 2 )op ⋅ ( J1 + J 2 )op = ( J12 )op + ( J 22 )op + 2( J1 )op ⋅ ( J 2 )op
= ( J12 )op + ( J 22 )op + ( J1+ )op ( J 2− )op + ( J1− )op ( J 2+ )op + 2( J1z )op ( J 2 z )op

(b) (5 points): Evaluate the following in SU(2).

3×2= 4×3= 5×3=
5×4= 2×3×4=

(c) (20 points): Now consider the case where j1 = 1 and j2 = ½ (i.e. 3 × 2) and define the states as
follows:
| Y11 >1 =| 11 >
|↑>2 =| 12 12 >
| Y10 >1 =| 10 > and
|↓>2 =| 12 − 12 >
| Y1−1 >1 =| 1 − 1 >
Now consider the two superposition states
1 2 2 1
| + >≡ | Y11 >1|↓> 2 + | Y10 >1|↑> 2 and | − >≡ | Y11 >1|↓> 2 − | Y10 >1|↑> 2 .
3 3 3 3
Calculate the following and express your answer in terms of |±>:
(1) J z | ± > (2) J1 | ± > (3) J 2 | ± >
2 2

+ − − +
(4) 2 J1z J 2 z | ± > (5) ( J1 J 2 + J1 J 2 ) | ± > (6) J | ± >
2

Are the states | ± > eigenstates of the J and Jz and if so what are their eigenvalues?

Final Exam Page 5 of 7 April 25, 2006

PHY3063 Spring 2006 R. D. Field

PHY 3063 Final Exam Name_________________

Problem 3 Scratch Paper

Final Exam Page 6 of 7 April 25, 2006

PHY3063 Spring 2006 R. D. Field

Useful Math
Trigonometric Relations:
sin( A ± B ) = sin A cos B ± cos A sin B
cos( A ± B ) = cos A cos B m sin A sin B
2 cos A cos B = cos( A + B ) + cos( A − B )
2 sin A sin B = cos( A + B ) − cos( A − B )
2 sin A cos B = sin( A + B ) + sin( A − B )
Indefinite Integrals:
sin 2 x
∫ sin x cos xdx = 2
∫ x sin xdx = sin x − x cos x
x sin 2 x
∫ sin xdx =−
2

2 4
3
cos x
∫ sin xdx = 3 − cos x
3

3 x sin 2 x sin 4 x
∫ sin xdx = 8 − 4 + 32
4

x 2 x sin 2 x cos 2 x
∫ = − −
2
x sin xdx
4 4 8
x x
3 2
1 x cos 2 x
∫ x sin xdx = 6 −  4 − 8  sin 2 x − 4
2 2

∫ x cos xdx = cos x + x sin x

x sin 2 x
∫ cos xdx = +
2

2 4
2
x x sin 2 x cos 2 x
∫ x cos xdx = 4 + 4 + 8
2

x3  x2 1  x cos 2 x
∫ = +  −  sin 2 x +
2 2
x cos xdx
6  4 8  4
Definite Integrals:
π
π
∫ sin mx sin nxdx = 2 δ
0
mn

π
π
∫ cos mx cos nxdx = 2 δ
0
mn

Final Exam Page 7 of 7 April 25, 2006