763622S ADVANCED QUANTUM MECHANICS Solution Set 6 Spring 2013

1. Constructing irreducible tensors Go through the details of the proof of Theorem 6 in

(k ) (k )
the lecture notes: Let X̂q1 1 and Ẑq2 2 be irreducible spherical tensors of ranks k1 and k2 .
Then
XX
T̂q(k) = hk1 k2 ; q1 q2 |k1 k2 ; kqiX̂q(k1 1 ) Ẑq(k2 2 ) (1)
q1 q2

is an irreducible spherical tensor of rank k.

(k)
Solution We show that T̂q transforms like

X
k
(k) ∗ (k)
D̂† (R)T̂q(k) D̂(R) = Dqq0 (R)T̂q0 :
q 0 =−k

We will need the Clebsch-Gordan series and orthogonality of the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients:
(j ) (j )
X (j)
Dm11 m0 (R)Dm22 m0 (R) = hj1 j2 ; m1 m2 |j1 j2 ; jmihj1 j2 ; m01 m02 |j1 j2 ; jm0 iDmm0 (R); (2)
1 2
jmm0
X
hj1 j2 ; m1 m2 |j1 j2 ; jmihj1 j2 ; m1 m2 |j1 j2 ; j 0 m0 i = jj 0 mm0 : (3)
m1 m2

(k)
First, transform the operator T̂q as defined in Eq. (1) by multiplying from the left by D̂† (R)
and by D̂(R) from the right:

D̂† (R)T̂q(k) D̂(R)

XX
= hk1 k2 ; q1 q2 |k1 k2 ; kqi D̂† (R)X̂q(k1 1 ) Ẑq(k2 2 ) D̂(R)
q1 q2 | {z }
Insert D̂(R)D̂ † (R)
XX
= hk1 k2 ; q1 q2 |k1 k2 ; kqi D̂† (R)X̂q(k1 1 ) D̂(R) D̂† (R)Ẑq(k2 2 ) D̂(R)
q1 q2 | {z }| {z }
(k ) (k )
D̂(R−1 )X̂q1 1 D̂ † (R−1 ) D̂(R−1 )Ẑq1 1 D̂ † (R−1 )
| {z }
Transformation of tensor ops. Write open!
XX hX ihX i
(k ) (k ) (k ) (k )
= hk1 k2 ; q1 q1 |k1 k2 ; kqi X̂q0 1 Dq0 q11 (R−1 ) Ẑq0 2 Dq0 q22 (R−1 )
1 1 2 2
q1 q2 q10 q20
| {z }
Move sums to front
XXXX (k1 ) (k2 ) (k1 ) (k )
= hk1 k2 ; q1 q1 |k1 k2 ; kqiX̂q0 Ẑq0 Dq0 q1 (R−1 )Dq0 q22 (R−1 )
q1 q2 q10 q20
1 2
| 1
{z 2 }
Use CG-series, Eq. (2)
XXXX (k ) (k )
= hk1 k2 ; q1 q2 |k1 k2 ; kqiX̂q0 1 Ẑq0 2
1 2
q1 q2 q10 q20
hX X X i
(k00 )
× hk1 k2 ; q10 q20 |k1 k2 ; k 00 q 0 ihk1 k2 ; q1 q2 |k1 k2 ; k 00 q 00 iDq0 q00 (R−1 )
k00 q 00 q0
| {z }
Rearrange summations
X X X X X hX X i
= hk1 k2 ; q1 q2 |k1 k2 ; kqihk1 k2 ; q1 q2 |k1 k2 ; k 00 q 00 i
k00 q10 q20 q 00 q0 q1 q2
| {z }
Use orthogonality of CG coefs, Eq. (3)
(k00 ) (k ) (k )
× hk1 k2 ; q10 q20 |k1 k2 ; k 00 q 0 iDq0 q00 (R−1 )X̂q0 1 Ẑq0 2 ;
1 2
 XXXXX (k00 ) (k ) (k )
0 0 00 0 −1
= kk00 qq 00 hk1 k2 ; q1 q2 |k1 k2 ; k q iDq 0 q 00 (R )X̂q0 1 Ẑq0 2
1 2
q10 q20 q0 k00 q 00
| {z }
Sums removed
X hX (k ) (k )
i
(k)
= hk1 k2 ; q10 q20 |k1 k2 ; kq 0 iX̂q0 1 Ẑq0 2 Dq0 q (R−1 )
1 2
q0 q10 q20
| {z }| {z }
(k) (k) ∗
T̂q0 Dqq0 (R)
X (k) ∗ (k)
= Dqq0 (R)T̂q0 ;
q0

which is what we set out to prove!

2. Vector operators Show that p̂ is a vector operator.

Solution A vector operator V̂ is defined as an operator having the commutator

[V̂i ; Jˆj ] = ih̄ ijk V̂k ; (4)

where Jˆj are the components of the angular momentum operator Jˆ. We need to show that
the above holds when V̂ = p̂.
Let us write angular momentum as a sum of orbital and spin momenta:

Jˆ = L̂ + Ŝ:

Substituting this and V̂ = p̂ into Eq. (4), we get

[p̂i ; L̂j + Ŝj ] = ih̄ ijk p̂k :

Spin angular momenta always commute with p̂i , and so we have

[p̂i ; L̂j ] = ih̄ ijk p̂k :

On the other hand, we can write orbital angular momentum as

L̂ = x̂ × p̂ ⇔ L̂i = ijk x̂j p̂k :

Putting this into the commutator above, we get

[p̂i ; L̂j ] = [p̂i ; jkl x̂k p̂l ] Pull constants out

= jkl [p̂i ; x̂k p̂l ]
= jkl [p̂i x̂k p̂l − x̂k p̂l p̂i ] p̂l can be moved to right
= jkl [p̂i ; x̂k ]p̂l Use canonical commutator
=− jkl ih̄ ik p̂l
=− jil ih̄p̂l Rearrange indices in jil
= ijl ih̄p̂l Change summation index l → k
= ijk ih̄p̂k ;

which is indeed what we needed to show!

3. On spherical harmonics
(a) Write xy, xz, and (x2 − y 2 ) as components of a spherical irreducible tensor of rank 2.

(b) The quadrupole moment is the expectation value

Q = eh ; j; m = j|(3z 2 − r2 )| ; j; m = ji:

Evaluate

eh ; jm|(x2 − y 2 )| ; j; m = ji

in terms of Q and Clebsch-Gordan coefficients (m0 = j; j − 1; j − 2; : : :).

Solution

(a) A spherical tensor is constructed from spherical harmonics by replacing the arguments
on the unit sphere by components of a vector operator. For example,
r r
−2 1 15 2 (2) −2 1 15
Y2 (n0 ) = (nx − iny ) ⇒ T̂−2 = Y2 (x̂) = (x̂ − iŷ)2 :
4 2 4 2
Similarly,
r
(2) 1 15
T̂±2 = (x̂ ± iŷ)2
4 2
r
(2) 1 15
T̂±1 =∓ (x̂ ± iŷ)ẑ
2 2
r
(2) 1 5
T̂0 = (2ẑ 2 − x̂2 − ŷ 2 ):
4
With proper subtraction and addition of above expressions one ends up with
r
2 (2) (2)
x̂ẑ = T̂−1 − T̂1
15
r
2 (2) (2)
x̂ŷ = i T̂−2 − T̂2
15
r
2 2 2 (2) (2)
x̂ − ŷ = 2 T̂−2 + T̂2
15

(k)
(b) By means of Wigner-Eckart theorem we have that for a tensor T̂q

h ; j||T̂ (k) || ; ji
h ; jm0 |T̂q(k) | ; j; m = ji = hjk; mq|jk; jm0 i √ ; (5)
2j + 1

where the coefficient h ; j||T̂ (k) || ; ji is the reduced matrix element of T̂ (k) , and which
is independent of the magnetic quantum numbers.
The decomposition of 3ẑ 2 − r̂2 and x̂2 − ŷ 2 into rank 2 spherical tensors results:
r
2 2 (2)
3ẑ − r̂ = 4 T̂ ;
5 0
r
2 2 2 (2) (2)
x̂ − ŷ = 2 T̂−2 + T̂2 :
15
 We are given the quadrupole moment Q from which we can calculate the reduced matrix
element by means of Wigner-Eckart

Q = eh ; j; m = j|(3ẑ 2 − r̂2 )| ; j; m = ji
r D E
(2)
= 4e ; j; m = j T̂0 ; j; m = j
5
r
h ; j||T̂ (2) || ; ji
= 4e hj2; j0|j2; jji √ :
5 2j + 1

Now, because of the Clebsch-Gordan coefficient in the Wigner-Eckart theorem, the

(k)
matrix element h 0 ; j 0 m0 |T̂q | ; jmi = 0 unless m0 = q + m. Using this, we get

Q̃ := eh ; jm0 |(x̂2 − ŷ 2 )| ; j; m = ji
r h i
2 (2) (2)
= 2e h ; jm0 |T̂2 | ; j; m = ji + h ; jm0 |T̂−2 | ; j; m = ji
15 | {z } | {z }
=0,because m0 6= 2 + j =0,unless m0 = −2 + j
r
2 (2)
= 2e h ; j; j − 2|T̂−2 | ; j; m = ji
15
r
2 h ; j||T̂ (2) || ; ji
= 2e hj2; j; −2|j2; j; j − 2i √
15 2j + 1
Q hj2; j; −2|j2; j; j − 2i
Q̃ = √ :
6 hj2; j0|j2; jji

4. Anticommuting operators A quantum mechanical state |Ψi is known to be simultaneous

eigenstate of two Hermitian operators  and B̂ which anticommute,

{Â; B̂} = ÂB̂ + B̂ Â = 0:

What can you say about the eigenvalues of  and B̂ for the state |Ψi? Illustrate your point
using the parity ˆ and momentum p̂ operators.

Solution Let the eigenvalues of  and B̂ in the state |Ψi be a and b, i.e.

Â|Ψi = a|Ψi; B̂|Ψi = b|Ψi:

The two operators anticommute, therefore

{Â; B̂}|Ψi = ÂB̂|Ψi + B̂ Â|Ψi = Âb|Ψi + B̂a|Ψi = ab|Ψi + ba|Ψi = 2ab|Ψi = 0:

If a state |Ψi =6 0 is simultaneously an eigenstate of two anticommuting operators  and

B̂, one of the corresponding eigenvalues must be zero. In the case of parity and momentum
operators we have

p̂|Ψi = p|Ψi; ˆ |Ψi = ±|Ψi:

The parity eigenvalues cannot be zero, so the only momentum eigenstate with definite parity
is the zero-momentum state |Ψi = |p̂ = 0i.