QUESTION 1

Sn=S ∙ n^ =n x S x +n y S y +n z S z

S isthe spinvector ∈the direction specified by n^ . The direction cosines of n^ are n x =sinθcos ∅ , n y =sinθsin ∅∧n z =

The matrix elements for S x, S y , and S z are written as;

ℏ
0
Sx=
( )( )
ℏ
2
2 =ℏ 0 1
0
2 1 0

ℏ
0

( )( )
−i
2 = ℏ 0 −i
Sy=
ℏ 2 i 0
i 0
2

ℏ
0
S z= 2
0 ( )( ) −ℏ
2
=
ℏ 1 0
2 0 −1

For any arbitrary direction, the matrix Sn can be explicitly written as:

ℏ 0 1 ℏ ℏ
+n y 0 −i +n z 1 0
( ( ) (
Sn = n x
2 1 0 2 i 0 )
2 0 −1 ( ))
ℏ
Factoring in the equation above gives:
2

ℏ
n 0 1 +n y 0 −i + n z 1 0
Sn =
(( ) (
2 x 1 0 i 0 0 −1 ) ( ))
n x , n y and n z multiplies the corresponding matrices.

ℏ 0 nx 0 −in y n z 0
Sn=
(( ) (
2 nx 0
+
iny 0
+
0 −nz )( ))
Adding the three matrices gives:
ℏ
Sn = ¿
2
Further simplification reduces the equation to:
ℏ nz n x −i n y
Sn=
(
2 nx +in y −nz )
Now replacing n x =sinθcos ∅ , n y =sinθsin ∅ ,∧n z =cosθ gives:
ℏ cosθ sinθcos ∅−i sinθsin ∅
Sn= (
2 sinθcos ∅+ i sinθsin ∅ −cosθ )
To deal withsinθcos ∅−i sinθsin ∅, sinθ can be factorised out.
ℏ cosθ sinθ(cos ∅−isin ∅)
Sn = (
2 sinθ(cos ∅+i sin ∅) −cosθ )
Euler’s formula states that for any real number x: e ix =cos x+ isinx

Therefore e i ∅=cos ∅ +isin ∅ and e−i ∅ =cos ∅−isin ∅

Now the equation is reduced to:

ℏ cosθ sinθ e−i ∅

Sn = (
2 sinθ ei ∅ −cosθ )
Now the eigenvalue can be determined using the relation:
det ( S n−λ 1 ) =0

ℏ ℏ
cosθ−λ sinθ e−i ∅
( S¿¿ n−λ 1)=
2
ℏ
2
(
sinθ ei∅
2
−ℏ
2
cosθ−λ
¿
)
ℏ −ℏ ℏ ℏ
((
det ( S n−λ 1 ) =
2
cosθ− λ
2 )( 2 )) (
cosθ− λ − sinθ e−i ∅ × sinθ e i ∅
2 )
ℏ2 2
ℏ ℏ ℏ2 2
( 4 2 2
2
det ( S n−λ 1 ) = − cos θ− λcosθ+ λcosθ + λ −
4
sin θ )( )
ℏ2 2
ℏ2 2
(
det ( S n−λ 1 ) = −
4
cos θ+ λ2 −
4 )(
sin θ )
ℏ2 2
2 ℏ2 2
det ( S n−λ 1 ) =λ − cos θ− sin θ
4 4

2 ℏ2 2
det ( S n−λ 1 ) =λ − (cos ¿ ¿ 2θ+ sin θ) ¿
4
From Trigonometric identities, cos 2 θ+ sin2 θ=1

2 ℏ2
λ− =0
4

2 ℏ2
λ=
4
 ℏ2
√ λ2 = √ 4
ℏ
λ=±
2
ℏ
Therefore the eigenvalues of Sn = ±
2
To find for the eigenket of Sn,
ℏ
Let ¿ n ;+ ⟩ be the eigenket of the eigenvalue
2
¿
C1
( Sn −λ 1 ) ( ) C2
=0

ℏ ℏ ℏ
cosθ− sinθ e−i ∅

( 2
ℏ
2
sinθ e
2
i∅
2
−ℏ
2
cosθ− )( )
C1
ℏ C2
2
=0

When the matrix and column vector above is multiplied, two equations are obtained in a 2 ×1
matrix. To obtain an equation relating C 1 andC 2, any of the equations can be used. In this
case the first row equation will be used.

( ℏ2 cosθ− ℏ2 )C + ℏ2 sinθ e
1
−i ∅
C 2=0

The equation can be written as:

ℏ ℏ
( cosθ−1 ) C1 + sinθ e−i ∅ C 2=0
2 2
ℏ
When is cancelled out, the equation takes the form:
2

( cosθ−1 ) C1 + sinθ e−i ∅ C 2

To make C 2 the subject, the equation will take the form:

1−cosθ
C 2= C
sinθ e−i ∅ 1
The equation can be expressed as:
1−cosθ
C 2=e i ∅ C
sinθ 1

θ 1−cosθ
From Trigonometric identity, tan =
2 sinθ
 θ
C 2=e i ∅ tan C
2 1
θ
sin
θ 2
From Trigonometric identities, tan =
2 θ
cos
2
Therefore,
θ
sin
2
C 2=e i ∅ C
θ 1
cos
2
For a normalised state,

¿ C 1∨¿2 +¿ C2∨¿2=1 ¿ ¿
2
θ

| | sin
ei ∅
cos
2
θ
2
C 1 +¿ C1∨¿ 2=1 ¿

When C 1is factorised, the equation takes the form:

θ
¿ C 1∨¿2 1+
[ ]
cos
sin 2
2
2θ
2
=1 ¿

θ θ
¿ C 1∨¿2
[ ]
cos 2 +sin2
2
cos 2 θ
2
2
=1 ¿

θ θ
cos 2 + sin 2 =1(Trigonometric identity)
2 2

1
¿ C 1∨¿2
[ ]
cos
θ
2
2
=1 ¿

θ
¿ C 1∨¿2=cos 2 ¿
2

θ
√ √
¿ C1∨¿2= cos2 ¿
2
θ
C 1=cos
2
When the value of C 1 is replaced in the equation below,
θ
sin
2
C 2=e i ∅ C
θ 1
cos
2

The value of C 2 will be:

θ
C 2=sin e i ∅
2
Therefore,
¿
θ θ i∅
The coefficients are cos and sin e
2 2

b)
|α ⟩ =cosδ ¿
|α ⟩ is the spin state in which a beam of spin 1/2 atoms are prepared.
1
|α ⟩ = cosδ ¿
√2
ℏ
The probability that an S x measurement returns is:
2
ℏ
(
P Sx=
2 )
=¿ ⟨ S x ;+ ¿ α ⟩∨¿2 ¿

1
where ⟨ S x ;+¿= ¿
√2
Therefore

( ℏ2 )=¿ √12 (⟨ +¿+⟨−¿) ¿ ¿

P Sx=

ℏ 1
P ( S = )=¿
x ¿¿
2 √2
2
ℏ 1
P ( S = )=( ( cosδ +sinδ ) )
x
2 √2
ℏ 1
P ( S = )= (cosδ +sinδ ) 2
x
2 2
When (cosδ + sinδ)2 is expanded we obtain ( sin 2 δ + cos2 δ + 2cosδsinδ ) =1+ sin 2 δ

ℏ 1
(
P Sx= )
= (1+sin 2 δ)
2 2

Therefore:

( ℏ2 )= 12 + 12 sin 2δ
P Sx=

ℏ 1 π
P ( S = ) evaluates to when δ =0 , , π
x
2 2 2

QUESTION 5

[ A , [ B , C ]] +[ B , [C , A ]] +[ C , [ A , B ]]
Where A, B and C are arbitrary operators.
[ A ,(BC−CB)] + [ B ,(CA− AC )]+ [ C ,( AB−BA)]
A ( BC −CB )− ( BC−CB ) A+ B ( CA− AC )−( CA− AC ) B+C ( AB−BA )− ( AB−BA ) C=0

Therefore [ A , [ B , C ] ] + [ B , [ C , A ] ] + [ C , [ A , B ] ] =0

QUESTION 6
a)
Let ¿ 1,2 ⟩ be complete. Therefore,
A∨1,2 ⟩=a1|1 ⟩ + a2|2 ⟩

b=¿ 1 ⟩ ⟨ 2∨¿
b is not projection operator because a projection operator is idenpotent (i.e ¿ a' ⟩⟨ a ' ∨¿ )

b+ ¿=¿2 ⟩⟨ 1∨¿ ¿
b+ ¿¿is also not projection operator because a projection operator is idenpotent (i.e ¿ a' ⟩⟨ a ' ∨¿
)
Both b and b+ ¿¿ are not compatible with A because b and b+ ¿¿ are not observables, hence not
measurable. We compare compatibility with two observables.

c)

[ b , b ]=bb−bb
[ b , b ]=¿

[ b , b ]=|1 ⟩ ⟨ 2|∗⟨ 2|1 ⟩−¿ 1 ⟩ ⟨ 2∨¿ ⟨ 2|1 ⟩ =0

¿
¿
¿

¿
¿
¿
¿

¿
since [ b ,b ] =0 , the second term on the ¿ hand side of the equation vanishes
¿
¿
¿
¿
¿
since ,b=¿ 1 ⟩⟨ 2∨¿
¿
¿
¿

¿
since ¿ side of the equation vanishes
¿
¿
¿
¿
since b+¿=¿ 2 ⟩ ⟨ 1∨¿¿
¿
¿
¿
d) The action of b+ ¿b ¿ on each eigenkets of A forms a diagonal matrix.

QUESTION 2

Given an Infinitesimal operator in one dimension:

I ( dx' ) =1−iK x d x '

i) To show that I ( dx' ) satisfies the Unitarity requirement to first order in d x '.

For a unitarity requirement,

' '

I +¿ ( d x ) I ( dx )=1¿
' '

I +¿ ( d x ) I ( dx )=¿¿
'2
' +¿K dx ¿
' ' ' + ¿d x + K x x
¿
+¿ ( d x ) I ( dx ) =1−iK x d x +i K x ¿
I
' '

I +¿ ( d x ) I ( dx )=1−i ¿¿

the terms of second order∈d x ' isignored

' '

I +¿ ( d x ) I ( dx )=1¿
ii) To show that I ( dx' ) satisfies the composition requirement to first order in d x '

For a composition requirement,

I (d x ' 1) I (d x ' 2)=I ( d x '1 +d x '2 )

I (d x ' 1) I (d x ' 2)=(1−i K x d x' 1)(1−i K x d x '2 )

I ( d x ' 1 ) I ( d x '2 ) =1−i K x d x ' 2−i K x d x ' 1−K x 2 d x ' 1 d x '2

I ( d x ' 1 ) I ( d x '2 ) =1−i K x (d x '2 +d x '1 )−K x2 d x' 1 d x ' 2

I ( d x ' 1 ) I ( d x '1 ) I ( d x ' 2 )=1−i K x ( d x ' 2+ d x ' 1)

I ( d x ' 2 )=I ( d x' 2 +d x' 1 )

iii) To show that I ( dx' ) satisfies the inversion requirement to first order in d x '
For an inversion requirement,

I (−dx ' ) =I −1 (dx ' )

I (−dx ' ) =1+iK x d x '

1+iK x d x ' =I −1 (dx ' )

Therefore,

I (−dx ' ) =I −1 (dx ' )

iv) To show that I ( dx' ) satisfies the identity requirement to first order in d x '

For an identity requirement,

lim I ( dx ' )=1

'
dx → 0

lim I ( dx ' )=1−iK x (0)

'
dx → 0

lim I ( dx ' )=1

'
dx → 0

QUESTION 3

B ( d p' )| p' ⟩ =¿ p' + d p' ⟩

where B ( dp' ⟩ ) is an infinitesimal boost operator which chnages the

momentum eigenstate| p' ⟩ ¿∨ p' +dp' ⟩

To show that B ( dp' ⟩ ) has the form 1+iW dp' whereW is an Hermitian,

B ( d p' ⟩ )=1+i W d p'

i) Unitary property
'
' +¿ B ( d p ⟩) ¿

B ( d p' ⟩ ) B( d p' ⟩)+¿=1=B (d p ⟩) ¿

' '

B ( d p' ⟩ ) B( d p' ⟩)+¿=(1+i W d p )(1−iW d p )¿

' ' 2 ' 2

B ( d p' ⟩ ) B( d p' ⟩)+¿=1−iW d p +i W d p +W (d p ) ¿

W 2 ( d p' )2 ≈ 0

B ( d p' ⟩ ) B( d p' ⟩)+¿=1¿

' ' '

B(d p ' ⟩)+¿B ( d p ⟩ )=(1−i W d p )=(1+ iW d p )¿

' ' ' 2 ' 2

B(d p ' ⟩)+¿B ( d p ⟩ )=1+i W d p ±i W d p +W (d p ) ¿

'

B(d p ' ⟩)+¿B ( d p ⟩ )=1¿

Therefore Therefore ; B ( d p' ⟩ )=1+iW d p' satisfy the Unitary property

ii) Associative property

B ( d p' ⟩ ) B ( d p' ' ⟩ ) =B ( d p' + d p' ' )

B ( d p' ⟩ ) B ( d p' ' ⟩ ) =(1+iW d p' )(1+i W d p' ' )

B ( d p' ⟩ ) B ( d p' ' ⟩ ) =1+ i W d p ' +i W d p' ' −W 2 d p ' d p ' '

W 2 d p ' d p '' ≈ 0

B ( d p' ⟩ ) B ( d p' ' ⟩ ) =1+ iW d p ' +i W d p' '

B ( d p' ⟩ ) B ( d p' ' ⟩ ) =1+ iW ( d p ' + d p' ' )

B ( d p' +d p' ' ) =1+ iW ( d p' + d p' ' )

Therefore ; B ( d p' ⟩ )=1+iW d p' satisfy the Associative property

iii) Inverse property,

B (−d p ' ⟩ )=B−1 ( d p' ⟩ )

B (−d p ' ⟩ )=1−iW d p'

B−1 ( d p' ⟩ )=1−i W d p'

Therefore ; B ( d p' ⟩ )=1+iW d p' satisfy the Inverse property

QUESTION 4

A Gaussian wave packet is specified by

x '2
⟨ x '|α ⟩ =(π d 2 )−1/ 4 exp ( ik x' −
2 d2 )
∞
⟨ x ⟩= ∫ dx ' ⟨ ∝∨x ' ⟩ x ' ⟨ ∝∨x' ⟩
−∞

∞
'
⟨ x ⟩= ∫ dx ' ¿ ⟨ ∝| x' ⟩ ∨¿ 2 x ¿
−∞

1 −x' 2
¿ ⟨ ∝|x ' ⟩ ∨¿2 =
√πd
exp
d2
¿
[ ]
 ∞ '2
⟨ x ⟩= 1 ∫ dx ' x ' exp −x2 =0
√ π d −∞ d [ ]

Now solving for⟨ x 2 ⟩,

∞
⟨ x 2 ⟩= ∫ dx ' ⟨ ∝∨x ' ⟩ x ' 2 ⟨ ∝∨x ' ⟩
−∞

∞
⟨ x 2 ⟩= ∫ dx ' ∨ ⟨ α|x ⟩∨¿2 x '2 ¿
−∞

1 −x' 2
¿ ⟨ ∝|x ' ⟩ ∨¿2 =
√πd
exp
d2[ ]¿

∞ '2
⟨ x ⟩= 1 ∫ dx' x' 2 exp −x2
2
[ ]
√ π d −∞ d

To solve for the integration above,

∞
'2

let I ( a)=∫ e−ax dx' (1)

−∞

We differentiate both sides withrespect ¿ a

'2
∞
dI d( e−ax ) '
=∫ dx
da −∞ da
∞
dI '2

=− ∫ x '2 e−ax dx ' (2)

da −∞

Applying Gaussian integrals,

∞
π
√
'2

∫ e−ax dx ' = a
−∞

Therefore equation 1 can be rewritten as:

1 π
I ( a )=
2 a √
(3)

Differentiate both sides with respect to a in equation 3

d(I ) d
da
=√ π
da ( √1a )
d ( I ) −√ π 1 − π
= = √ 3 (4 )
da 2 3
2 a2 2 a2
Equating 4 and 2 gives;
∞
'2 −ax
'2
' −√ π
−∫ x e dx = 3
(5)
−∞ 2
2a
∞
'2
√ π (6)
∫ x '2 e−ax dx =
'
3
−∞
2 a2
When we compare equation below to equation 6,
∞
1 −x '2
⟨ x 2 ⟩= ' '2
∫ dx x exp d 2
√ π d −∞ [ ]
a=1/d 2
∞ '2
⟨ x ⟩= 1 ∫ dx' x' 2 exp −x2 = 1 ×
2
[ ] √π
3
√ π d −∞ d √π d
2d2
∞
1 −x '2 d 2
⟨ x 2 ⟩= ∫
√ π d −∞
dx' '2
x exp
d2
=
2 [ ]
⟨ ( ∆ x )2 ⟩ = ⟨ x 2 ⟩ −⟨ x ⟩2
2
⟨ ( ∆ x )2 ⟩ = d2

⟨ p ⟩= ⟨ α |p|α ⟩ (1)
d
p=iℏ
dx
∞ '2 −1
⟨ p ⟩=⟨ α |p|α ⟩=∫ ( π d ) exp ik x' − x 2 iℏ d ¿
∞
2 4
( 2d ) dx
∞
x '2 d x'2
⟨ p ⟩=∫ ( π d 2)−1 /4 ×( π d 2)−1 /4 exp ik x ' −
∞
( 2 d2
iℏ)dx
exp (
ik x
'
− )
2 d2
(3)

1
( π d 2)−1 / 4 ×( π d 2)−1 / 4=
√π d
Therefore;
 ∞
1 x'2 d x '2
⟨ p ⟩= ∫
√π d ∞
'
( '
)
exp ik x − 2 −iℏ exp ik x − 2 ( 4)
2d dx 2d ( )
'2 '2
∞ −x −x

⟨ p ⟩= 1 ∫ eikx e 2 d −iℏ d e ikx e 2 d (5)

√π d ∞ dx
2
( 2
)
'2
−x
2 2
1
e 2d
=G ( x )=e−a x where a=
2 d2
G ( x ) is a Guassian function
∞
⟨ p ⟩= 1 ∫ eikx G ( x ) (−iℏ dxd ( eikx G ( x ) ) )(6)
√π d ∞

d ikx
Solvingthe term ( e G( x ))=ik eikx G ( x ) +e ikx G' ( x) ¿
dx
∞
⟨ p ⟩= 1 ∫ ikx ikx ikx '
e G ( x ) ( −iℏik e G ( x )+ ℏke G ( x ) ) (7)
√π d ∞

∞
⟨ p ⟩= 1 ∫ eikx G( x)ℏk (e ¿¿ ikx G ( x ) +ℏke ikx G' (x))(8)¿
√π d ∞
∞
⟨ p ⟩= 1 ∫ eikx G( x)(ℏke ¿¿ ikx G ( x ) +ℏk e ikx G' ( x))(9)¿
√π d ∞
∞
⟨ p ⟩= 1 ∫ ℏk eikx eikx G2(x )+e ikx e ikx ℏkG( x )G' (x)¿(10)
√π d ∞
we cancel e ikx e ikx out

G ( x ) G ' ( x ) vanishes when integrated becausethe product isan odd function .

The second term is zero

∞
ℏk
⟨ p ⟩= ∫ G 2( x )
√π d ∞
∞
π
G is normalised ∫ G 2 ( x )=
2

∞ √ a

1 π
⟨ p ⟩=
√π d
ℏk ×
a √
1 π
⟨ p ⟩=
√π d
ℏk ×
√
1/d 2
 1
⟨ p ⟩= ℏk × √ π d
√π d
⟨ p ⟩=ℏk (11)

2 d2 2
p =i ℏ (12)
d x2

From equation 6 above,

∞ 2
1 2 d
⟨ p2 ⟩ = ∫
√π d ∞
ikx
e G ( x ) −iℏ (dx 2 )
( e ikx G ( x )) (13)

∞
⟨ p ⟩ = 1 ∫ e ikx G ( x ) ( ℏ2 k 2 e ikx G ( x ) +ℏ2 e ikx G' ' ( x ) ) (14)
2

√π d ∞
∞
1
⟨ p2 ⟩ = ∫ ℏ2 k 2 eikx e ikx G2 ( x)+e ikx e ikx G(x) G' ' ( x )¿ (15)
√π d ∞
we cancel e ikx e ikx out
∞
1
⟨ p2 ⟩ = ∫ ℏ2 k 2 G2 (x)+ℏ2 G( x)G' ' (x )¿(16)
π
√ ∞d
∞ ∞
⟨ p ⟩ = 1 ∫ ℏ2 k 2 G2 ( x)+ 1 ∫ ℏ2 G( x)G'' (x )¿ ¿(17)
2

√π d ∞ √π d ∞
Solving the first term in equation 17 gives
∞
1
∫ ℏ 2 k 2 G2 ( x )=ℏ2 k 2 (G2 is normalised .)
√π d ∞
Solving the second term in equation 17 gives,
∞
1 1 ℏ2 π ℏ 2
∫ ℏ 2 G( x) G' ' (x )¿ ¿= × √ = 2
√π d ∞ √π d 2 d 2 d
G ( x ) G ' ' ( x ) won' t vanishwhen integrated because the product isan odd function
Therefore

ℏ2
⟨ p2 ⟩ =ℏ2 k 2 +
2d 2

⟨ ( ∆ p )2 ⟩ = ⟨ p2 ⟩ −⟨ p ⟩2
ℏ2
⟨ ( ∆ p )2 ⟩ =ℏ2 k 2+ 2
2 2
−ℏ k
2d
 ℏ2
⟨ ( ∆ p )2 ⟩ =
2 d2