Quantum Mechanics

Problem Sheet 7
24th November 2008

Tanya Hutton
Tutor: Paul Fulda

1
 Part a
h i
Two operators, Â and B̂, satisfy the commutation relation Â, B̂ = B̂.
Also Âψ = aψ.

To show that B̂ψ is an eigenfunction of  with eigenvalue a + 1.

Proof:
h i
Â, B̂ = B̂ = ÂB̂ − B̂ Â (1)

Multiplying through by ψ gives;

h i
Â, B̂ ψ = B̂ψ = ÂB̂ψ − B̂ Âψ
 
 B̂ψ = B̂ψ + B̂ Âψ
 
 B̂ψ = B̂ψ + B̂aψ
 
 B̂ψ = B̂ψ (1 + a)

Where B̂ψ is the eigenfunction and 1 + a is the eigenvalue :)

To show that  has a series of eigenfunctions of the form B̂ n ψ, where n is

any integer greater than 0.

For n = 1  
 B̂ψ = B̂ψ (1 + a)

For n = 2 h i
Â, B̂ B̂ ψ = B̂ B̂ψ = ÂB̂ B̂ψ − B̂ ÂB̂ψ
 
 B̂ B̂ψ = B̂ B̂ψ (1 + a)

For n = n  
 B̂ n ψ = B̂ n ψ (1 + a)

2
 Part b

d
To showh that i the energy operator, Ê = ih̄ dt , and the time operator, t̂ = t,
satisfy Ê, t̂ = ih̄.

Proof:
h i  d 
Ê, t̂ = ih̄ , t (2)
dt
h i d d
Ê, t̂ = ih̄ t − ih̄t
dt dt
Knowing that
d d
t−t =1 (3)
dt dt
d d
t=1+t
dt dt
Finally substituting back into the above equation:
 
h i d d
Ê, t̂ = ih̄ 1 + t − t = ih̄
dt dt