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Formula Sheet
• Conservation of probability
∂ ∂
ρ(x, t) + J(x, t) = 0
∂t ∂x
2 ~ ∗ ∂ ∂ ∗
ρ(x, t) = |ψ(x, t)| ; J(x, t) = ψ ψ−ψ ψ
2im ∂x ∂x
• Variational principle:
Z Z
∗
Egs ≤ dx ψ (x)Hψ(x) , for all ψ(x) satisfying dxψ ∗ (x)ψ(x) = 1
• Spin-1/2 particle:
~, e~ 1 ~ ~
Stern-Gerlach : H = −~µ · B ~µ = g S = γS
2m ~
e~ ~
S
µB = , ~µe = −2 µB ,
2me ~
~ 0 1 0 −i 1 0
Si = σi σx = ; σy = ; σz =
2 1 0 i 0 0 −1
[σi , σj ] = 2iǫijk σk → Si , Sj = i~ ǫijk Sk (ǫ123 = +1)
~a
exp i~a · ~σ = 1 cos a + i~σ · sin a , a = |~a|
a
exp(iθσ3 ) σ1 exp(−iθσ3 ) = σ1 cos(2θ) − σ2 sin(2θ)
exp(iθσ3 ) σ2 exp(−iθσ3 ) = σ2 cos(2θ) + σ1 sin(2θ) .
~ = nx Sx + ny Sy + nz Sz = ~ ~n · ~σ .
S~n = ~n · S
2
~
(nx , ny , nz ) = (sin θ cos φ, sin θ sin φ, cos θ) , S~n |~n; ±i = ± |n;
~ ±i
2
|~n; +i = cos(θ/2)|+i + sin(θ/2) exp(iφ)|−i
2
• Complete orthonormal basis |ii
X
hi|ji = δij , 1= |iihi|
i
X
Oij = hi|O|ji ↔ O = Oij |iihj|
i,j
˜
• Position and momentum representations: ψ(x) = hx|ψi ; ψ(p) = hp|ψi ;
Z
x̂|xi = x|xi , hx|yi = δ(x − y) , 1 = dx |xihx| , x̂† = x̂
Z
p̂|pi = p|pi , hq|pi = δ(q − p) , 1 = dp |pihp| , p̂† = p̂
1 ipx 1 ipx
Z Z
hx|pi = √ exp ; ψ̃(p) = dxhp|xihx|ψi = √ dx exp − ψ (x)
2π~ ~ 2π~ ~
~ d n d n ~ ′
hx|p̂n |ψi = ψ(x) ; hp|x̂n |ψi = i~ ψ̃(p) ; [p̂, f (x̂)] = f (x̂)
i dx dp i
Z ∞
1
exp(ik x)dx = δ(k)
2π −∞
1 2
(∆A)2 (∆B)2 ≥ hΨ| [A, B]|Ψi
2i
~
∆x ∆p ≥
2
∆ ~ 1 x2
∆x = √ and ∆p = √ for a gaussian wavefuntion ψ ∼ exp −
2 2∆ 2 ∆2
+∞
r
π
Z
2
dx exp −ax =
−∞ a
~ ∆Q
∆H∆t ≥ , ∆t ≡ dhQi
2
dt
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• Commutator identities
[A, BC] = [A, B]C + B[A, C] ,
1 1
eA Be−A = B + [A, B] + [A, [A, B]] + [A, [A, [A, B]]] + . . . ,
2 3!
eA Be−A = B + [A, B] , if [[A, B], A] = 0 ,
[ B , eA ] = [ B , A ]eA , if [[A, B], A] = 0
1 1
eA+B = eA eB e− 2 [A,B] = eB eA e 2 [A,B] , if [A, B] commutes with A and with B
• Harmonic Oscillator
1 2 1 2 2 1
Ĥ = p̂ + mω x̂ = ~ω N̂ + , N̂ = ↠â
2m 2 2
r r
mω ip̂ † mω ip̂
â = x̂ + , â = x̂ − ,
2~ mω 2~ mω
r r
~ † mω~ †
x̂ = (â + â ) , p̂ = i (â − â) ,
2mω 2
1
|ni = √ (a† )n |0i
n!
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1. True or false questions [20 points] No explanations required. Just indicate T or F
for true or false, respectively.
Consider a potential V (x) such that V (x) = 2V0 for x < 0, V (x) = 0 for 0 ≤ x ≤ a,
and V (x) = V0 for x > a, with V0 > 0. (We recommend a sketch!) The next three
questions apply to this potential.
(1) There are two energy eigenstates for each energy E greater than V0 but smaller
than 2V0 .
(2) There is one normalizable state for each E greater than zero but smaller than V0 .
(3) There are no energy eigenstates for E < 0.
(4) The state of a spin-1/2 particle whose spin points along the ẑ direction is orthog-
onal to the state in which the spin points along the x̂ direction.
(5) The spin operators Sx2 and Sy2 commute.
(6) The product of two unitary operators is a unitary operator.
(7) A projector operator can have an eigenstate with eigenvalue minus one.
(8) If two arbitrary operators can be diagonalized simultaneously then they commute.
(9) The exponential of a hermitian operator is a unitary operator.
(10) The commutator of two hermitian operators is hermitian.
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In the basis {|u1i, |u2i, |u3 i} the matrix A2 takes the form
3 ∗ √∗
0 ∗ − 2 . (1)
0 ∗ 0
Determine the missing entries (denoted by ∗) in the above matrix. Use your result
to find the eigenvalues of A2 .
————————————————————————————————-
For the following two problems you will find the following result useful:
A q
q
q p p+q p+q
p
Useful fact: Minx>0 + Bx = 1+ A B , p, q > 0 .
xp p q
————————————————————————————————-
V (x) = V0 |x| ,
Consider a particle of mass m in the ground state of the Schrödinger Hamiltonian with
potential
V (x) = γ x8 , with γ > 0 .
(a) Find an inequality relating the ground state expectation value hx8 igs to some suit-
able power of the ground state uncertainty (∆x)gs . Explain your steps explicitly.
(b) Use the uncertainty principle to calculate a lower bound E0 on the ground state
energy. Simplify E0 as in the previous problem.
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5. Spin state in a magnetic field [20 points]
(a) Write down the state |Ψ, 0i that represents the spin-1/2 particle at t = 0 in terms
of the basis states |+i and |−i along the z-direction.
(b) Calculate the state |Ψ, ti. Write your answer in terms of the basis states |+i and
|−i along the z-direction.
(c) Describe the time-dependent spin orientation in terms of functions θ(t) and φ(t).
Addition formulas for trigonometric functions are easily derived (if you forgot them)
from
ei(A±B) = eiA e±iB
by expanding the exponentials using eiθ = cos θ + i sin θ.
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