Quantum Mechanics – Tutorial 08

1. Evaluate the following matrix element:

(a) h0|a† aa† |0i (b) h0|aa† aa† |0i (c) hn|x̂|0i (d) h0|x̂|1i
(e) hm|p̂|ni.
2. Verify Virial theorem for the one-dimensional harmonic
oscillator. That is, show that

hn|T̂ |ni = hn|V̂ |ni

where T̂ is the kinetic energy operator and V̂ is the potential

energy operator.
3 Write down Heisenberg’s time evolution equation for the
annihilation operator â and creation operator ↠.
4 The translation operator for a finite (spatial) displacement is
given by  
i p~ · ~a
T̂ (~a) = exp − ,
~
where p~ is a momentum operator in three dimensions.
Evaluate the commutator [ˆ ri , T̂ (~a)] where rˆi is the operator of
the ith component of position. Determine how the
expectation value hr i will change under translation.
5 A coherent state |αi is defined as an eigenstate of ladder
operator â (called destruction or annihilation operator) with
eigenvalue α whose explicit form is
2 /2 †
|αi = e −|α| e αâ |0i.

(a) • Evaluate expectation value of x̂, x̂ 2 , p̂, p̂ 2 in the coherent

state |αi and determine the uncertainty product ∆x∆p. What
can we infer from this result?
(b) If [Â, B̂] = constant, then e  e B̂ = e B̂ e  e [Â,B̂] = e Â+B̂ e [Â,B̂]/2 .
Using this show that
† ∗ 2
/2 (α↠−α∗ a)
e αâ e −α â
= e |α| e .

(c) Using the above, we can rewrite the coherent state |αi as

|αi = D̂(α)|0i,
† ∗
where D̂(α) = e (αâ −α a) is called the displacement operator.
Show that the displacement operator is unitary.