Columbia University Department of Physics QUALIFYING EXAMINATION Wednesday, January 13, 2010 3:10 PM - 5:10 PM Applied QM and Special Relativity Section 4. ‘Two hours are permitted for the completion of this section of the examination, Choose 4 problems out of the 5 included in this section. Remember to hand in only the 4 problems of your choice (if by mistake you hand in 5 problems, the highest scoring problem grade will be dropped). Apportion your time carefully. Use separate answer booklet(s) for each question. Clearly mark on the answer booklet(s) which question you are answering (e.g., Section 4 (Applied QM and Special Relativity), Question 2; Section 4 (Applied QM and Special Relativity), Question 6; etc.) Do NOT write your name on your answer booklets. Instead clearly indicate your Exam Letter Code. ‘You may refer to the single handwritten note sheet on 8 1/211” paper (double-sided) you have prepared on Applied QM and Special Relativity. The note sheet cannot leave the exam room once the exam has begun. This note sheet must be handed in at the end of today’s exam. Please include your Exam Letter Code on your note sheet. No other extraneous papers or books are premitted. Simple calculators are permitted. However, the use of calculators for storing and/or recovering formulae or constants is NOT permitted. Questions should be directed to the proctor Good luck! Section 4 1of61. The hole spectrum of GaAs at k = 0 is four-fold degenerate at k = 0 (T' point of the Brillouin zone). In the vicinity of this point the spectrum is described by the Luttinger Hamiltonian _ A= ARi+ B(k- 3)? where J,y,. are matrices of angular momentum J = 3/2 and Tis the unit matrix (a) Find the eigenvalues c(k) of the Luttinger Hamiltonian. (b) The Luttinger Hamiltonian is spherically symmetric but the crystal has a cubic metry. Generalize the Luttinger Hamiltonian so it would have a cubic symmetry. (c) Ifthe crystal is deformed, the degeneracy at the P point can be partially lifted. What is the minimal possible degeneracy of the spectrum at the P point? Section 4 20f62. Two identical superconductors are separated by a thin insulator and connected to a battery whose DC voltage is given by V, as shown in the figure below. Let yy be the wave function of the condensed superconducting electron pairs on one side of the superconductor and 2 be the wave function on the other side, The two wave functions are related to each other by the time dependent Schrédinger equation in the following way: a iho = Vd + Kvn aa Via + indy = eV + Kt i Here, the constant ‘is a characteristic of junctions, related to the tunneling process of v the clectron pairs across the insulator, and V | is the voltage applied by the battery. {} In this problem we express each wave function in terms of its corresponding condensation density and the phase of the wave function: vi = me” and v2 = yie"™, where m and nz are the densities, and 6, and 6 are the phases of the condensate wave functions of superconductor 1 and 2, respectively. (a) Assuming m and ng are real, show that the current density of this junction is given by where 6 = 62 — 6). Find the expression for Jo in terms of K, my, and ng (b) Assume that initially the condensation densities are equal and large, and that the tunneling probability is small so that n,(t) © na(t). Show that the current density J derived in part (a) oscillates periodically over time. Find the frequency of the oscillation in terms of the applied DC voltage V. Section 4 Bof63, A spinless particle of charge —e and mass m is constrained to move in the x-y plane. There is a constant magnetic field B along the direction normal to the plane. Assume that the field derives from a vector potential that has a single component along the x-direction given by Ay = —By, (a) (b) (ce) Section 4 Write the expression for the Hamiltonian of one particle. ‘To find the solutions of the Schrédinger equation for the stationary states, consider wavefunctions vay) = S(x)oly) where £(2) = exp [(i/A)pe] and p, is the z-component of momentum. Write the Schrédinger equation for ¢{y) and obtain the expression for the spectrum of energy levels F,, (Landau levels) in the field B. What are the quantum numbers ‘that correspond to a Landau level? Assume that the area of the plane is given by the product of two lengths L-Ly, that are along the «- and y-directions. Also assume that the function f(z) satisfies the ‘obvious’ boundary condition f(z =0) = f(z = Lz), Find the degeneracy of a Landau level as a function of the magnetic field for Le = L, 40f64. A perpendicularly incident monochromatic plane wave is reflected from a mirror moving with a constant velocity along the line of propagation of the wave. Using Maxwell's equations, determine the angular frequency of the reflected wave as seen by a stationary observer, Section 4 5 of 65, In colliding beam detectors, KS,o,, mesons can be detected through their decay to two charged pions K Cylindrical gas trackers composed of many wires in an argon gas volume located inside a solenoidal magnet can detect the ionization trail left by the pions and measure their vector momenta. shone The lifetime of the Kx is 0.89 x 10~” s and the mass is 498 MeV. (The mass of the charged pion is 140 MeV.) For the following questions, assume that the energy of the K%,,,, in the laboratory frame of the detector is 60 GeV. (a) What is the minimum opening angle in the lab frame of the two pions from the K3,on, decay? (b) How far, on average, does the K',,., go before decaying into two pions? (c) How far, on average, would the K%,o,¢ go before interacting with an argon atom in the gas if the cross section for K+p or K+n interactions is about 20 millibarns (1bar 10-** m*)? (The density of argon gas is 1.8 x 10-8 g/cm®.) (d) The Kjjng has a lifetime of 5.17 x 10-* s and a substantial fraction (38.7%) decay as a Kogg = ety, From this information, what branching fraction would you prediet for the decay Kon = tet Section 4 6 of 6poy Abewe Se. 4 Rel» Aepled aM 4 ‘The hole spectrum of Gas at k = Os four-fold degenerate at k = 0 (F point of the Brillouin zone). In the vicinity of this point the spectrum is described by. ‘he Luttinger Hamiltonian Jp where Jaye are the matrices of angular momentum J = 9/2 and isthe unit nate Ha AKi+ 2 1, Find the eigenvalues ¢(k) of the Luttinger Hamiltonian. 2, The Luttinger Hamiltonian is spherically symmetric and the crystal has @ cubic symmetry. Generalize the Luttinger Hamiltonian so it would have a cubic symmetry as well 3, Ifthe erystal is deformed, the degeneracy at T point can be partially lifted. ‘What is the minimal possible degeneracy of the spectrum in I’ point?Solution: 1. Choose direction of F as z-axis. Then elk Je = 21/2) ?(A+ B/a); light holes and chs Je 3/2) = IP(A+9B/4); heavy holes. A= ARE + BOE J)? + O22 + 122 + 4232) 3, As the electron has spin 1/2 and the time reversal symmetry is not broken the minimal degeneracy in P-point is two because of the Kramers theorem,AQM [re S&.4 Applied QM Pathe pp ) had &w DDC Josephson superconductor tunneling ‘Two identical supercondutors are separated by a thin insulator and connected to a battery F an whose DC voltage is given by as shown in the figure below. Let y, be the wave function of the condensed superconducting electron pairs in one side of super conductor and y, be the ‘wave function of the other side, The two wave functions are related to each other by the time- dependent Schr8dinger equation in the following way: indy, =eVu,+Ky, as eee a oy, erys ek | dy anern +k, v Here, the constant K is a characteristic of junctions related L__4 to the tunneling process of the electron pairs across the insulator and is voltage applied by the battery outside. In this problem we express each wav function in its corresponding condensation density and the phase of wave function: y, = ./n,e" and y, =./r,e where n, and m are the density of condensate and 0 and 6 are the phase of the condensate wave functions of superconductor 1 and 2, respectively. (@) Considering m and n are real, show that the current density of this junction defined is given by on, __ an, feo Sin aa where 5= 6 - 6. Find the expression of Jp in terms of K and my and m, (b) We assume that initially the condensation densities are equal and large, and further assume that the tunneling probability is small so that,7, =n for all time.S how that the current density J derived above oscillates periodically over time. Find the frequency of the ‘oscillation in terms of the applied DC voltage V.Apple QM _ TC Sesephson tromeless . A, al . AO, A= mh et! @ Bh= thes 16 me Jo aOx v y . Fs OT oy Bo ie ait 8 its a Fieamn the conpled eg. hi tr pa ai a Fe OHO mF = Gy 08 5 ic ae An = oe xk Mi ee a Sm tA = ev + KR os —o Like wise we Nave wD - tO. = -evt KE SE -O Consens) onl LM, OLO. ave all real Lnctnn , Fron? Base have. am = zK Ua, sin § now ae (8) Fin the real Pet gt ® &@ 1 & Mom -*O, =ev + kim nd Hon Wil vedo the pollen. agelysrg boundary emdshond te He wants. 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Last stat adrme anal ke % and ki MK: U(wyt-wt) U(-w’gt- wt meet Lee! igt- wt) Now» tow nueds fo RH Toh ALL T Follaony the logae we've wood cepted wn dase and YW foe orgy BUS, we det chat tagGm ooty hefeun (cinmce Ey. and Bo, do nt depandl ont) ta! ongumcaats of tre txperurtiode ane idtwh al : Ff ao (gid>-0/ (ge) } - % | EF OE), eaetyes Loe! | Baty eminent de i addin» me?Lahnty HA cecly Sec4 Ceir Mn Quals Problem 2 — Relativity M. Shaevitz m Fall, 2009 es In colliding beam detectors, K°sjon mesons can be detected through their decay to two charged pions Ki, ote Cylindrical gas trackers composed of many wires in an argon gas volume located inside a solenoidal magnet can detect the ionization trail left by the pions and measure their vector ‘momenta, The lifetime of the K°xhon is 0.89x10"° s and the mass is 498 MeV. (The mass of a charged pion is 140 MeV.) For the following questions, assume that the energy of the K°sior in the laboratory frame of the detector is 60 GeV. a) What is the minimum opening angle in the lab frame of the two pions from the K°sjox decay? b) How far on average does the K°syon g0 before decaying into the pions? c) How far on average would a K°syon go before interacting with an argon atom in the gas if the cross section for K+p or Kn interactions is about 20 millibarns? (The density of argon gas is 1.8 x 107 g/em’.) d) The Kong has a lifetime of 5.17x10* s and a substantial (38.7 %) decay fraction to Koy > ev, From this information, what branching fraction would you predict for the Kibo PCV,Soludon AY Minmnn operiny ay whe OL = 0° an Cee 2 B86 ge But! Meo ones J ey ee wet fone wr PT ~ OW > . Bost + lab 7 or (te ay = 0.206 GeV Pee ee (ce Fae) Se 2 ()+ & ce = 30 &ev Ae Ge OEY =o epgee Sy B= 0.00007 = bt ue So Gey Orpenry = 2G= [3.9m Dy hewer= 130.5) Gxi0% m/s serie", = BQH 1 =. . 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