CHAP.

31 THE SCHRÓDINGER EQUATION ANO ITS APPLICATIONS 49

3.28. Consider a particle ofmass m confined in a one-dimensional infinite potemial well:

O<x<L
V(x) = {� (3.28.1)
otherwise

/2 (mLu)
Suppose that the particle is in the stationary state, 4> n (x) = fi, sin of energy En = --
rt 2 fi 2 11 2
1 • Calculate (a)
2ml �
(x) and (p); (h) (x2) and (p2); (e) !J.x !J.p.
L l I rc 2 '1/ 11 1 l
(a) (x) = - , (p) = O; (b) (x2) = L (_- - -- J
3 2rc 2 ,i 2 , (p ) = -2L
1
1
Ans. (e) !J.x!J.p = ]?_
2
111th
2rt 2 n 2
;

3.29. Consider a particle of mass m held in the potential

\l(x) = -V0 [o(x)+o(x-/)J (3.29.1)
where lis a constant. Find the bound states of the particles. Show that the energies are given by the relation

(
2p)
e -pi = ±_1--
, (X
(3.29.2)
74 THE FOUNDATIONS OF QUANTUM MECHANICS [CHAP. 4

Now we can find the eigenvectors of A corresponding to each of the eigenvalues obtained in part (a). This can
be accomplished directly by solving the equation

(4.3/.5)

for each j. For example, for a I we have

l 5a = ex
2� + iy = �
-i�+2y = y
(4.31.6)

Therefore, a = O. Choosing arbitrarily � = 1 we obtain y = i, so after nonnalization we get

(4.3 l .7)

In the same manner we obtain the eigenvectors of A corresponding to a 2 and a 3 :

(4.31.8)

Finally, the probability P(a) of a measurement yielding a1 is P(a} = 1 ( �d'l'}¡ 2 . Thus,

2
1 1['] 1 1
P(a1) = ,/2 (O I -i) ,/2 - 1 = 41-11 =
2
(4.31.9)
4
0
Similarly, we obtain

l)[J
I
P(a 2 ) = ¡ (O - (4.31.10)

J
and

1
P(a 3 ) = 2 (1 o 0)[ -
2
(4.31.11)

4.32. A particle of mass mis confined within an infinite one-dimensional well, between x = O and x = L.
The stationary states le!> n> of the particle correspond to the energies
i1-ri2 n2
En = 1 n = 1, 2,... (4.32.JJ
2mL�

and to the wave functíons <l> n (x) = Ji. x

sin( 7t� ). Consider the case in which at time t = O the particle

is in the state 1 'lf ( 0)) = [ l<I> 1) + 1<1> 2)] /,./2 . (a) Pind the time-dependent l'I' ( t) ). (b) Calculate the wave
function 'lf(x, t).
(a) Since E 1 = rc h l2rnl and E2 = 21t h /ml , we have,
2 2 2 2 2 2

, ,
l'l'(t)) = 1 [e-,E1 11f,lq,i} + e-,t:2 11h ¡cp )] = 1 [e-1101112m1.· lll>i} + e-2t1r. firlnrl." ¡cp }]
2 ,

,Ji 2 (4.32.2)
,Ji
2
178 SOLUTION METHODS IN QUANTUM MECHANICS-PART A [CHAP. 10

Consider now the case of transition between a state l<l>) and a state 14>¡) of energy E1 belonging to a con­
2
tinuous part of the spectrum of H O• In this case the probability of transition at time t, 1 ( <1>1¡ 'l' ( t) )1 is actually
a probability density. That is, we must integrate the probability density over a range of final states in arder to
give a physical prediction.
The time-dependen! perturbation theory can be applied to this situation. One very important result is
Fermi' s golden rule. This formula relates to the case of a constant perturbation. It can be demonstrated that in
this case, transitions can occur only between states of equal energies. The probability density P1, of transition
from l<l>;) to 1$? increases linearly with time, and
dP1¡(t)
21t , 2 .
W1,= dt = Tl('l')l-v(t)l'l')I p(Ef) (10.15)
where p(E1) is the density of the final states.

Solved Problems

10.1. Derive the formulas for the first- and second-order energy corrections far a time-independent perturba­
tion. Also, derive the first-order corrections to the eigenstates. Assume that there is no degeneracy.
We write the Hamiltonian in the form H = H 0+ AW, where H 0 is the Hamiltonian ofthe unperturbed system
and W is the perturbation (A« 1 ). We assume that the eigenstates l'lf(A)) and the eigenenergies E(A) of the per­
turbed system can be expanded in a power series of A:
(10.1.1)
and
E(Al = e 0 + Af 1 + ·· · +
q
A f
q
(10.1.2)
Substituting into the Schrodinger equation we obtain

(10.13)

Then, hy equating the coefficients ofsuccessive powers of A we obtain

H 0 10) = 1: 0 10) (10.1.4)

(10.1.5)
and
(10.1.6)
For the nth order we ob1ain
(10.1.7)
Note that we are free to choose the nonn and the phase of l'lf(A)), so we require that l'l'(A)) is nonnalized and that
its phase is such that the inner product ( O 1 'lf(A)) is a real number.This implies lhat
l
<010> = 1 <011> = 010> = o <012> = <210> = -2<111> (10.1.8)
For the nth order we oblain
I
(0ln) = (nl0) = -2((n-lll)+(n - 212)+· ..+(21n-2)+(lln-l)) (10.1.9)
Note that when A➔ O, we have r 0 = E� º> . Using (/0.1.4), we conclude that l<l>n) is proportional lo 10); therefore,
we choose l<l>n ) = 10). Multiplying (10.J .5) on the left by (<l>"I ,
{<1> n l(Ho-E 0)jl )+<<1> n l(W-E 1 )IO) = O (10.1.10)
CHAP. 14] ADDITION OF ANGULAR MOMENTA 239

for which m 1 and m,., both assume either maximal or minimal values. Show that the states l'V)
2
and l'V_ ) are eigenst;tes of J (as well as offO) and find the corresponding eigenvalues.

satisfy
1
lm1m2) = lí�j 1 U1 + 1)lm,m2)
{< ( 1 4.2.2)
2
j;lm 1 m 2) = lí hU1 + l)lm,m 2)
where j I and j2 are fixed quantum numbers and
1 1 zlm,m) = lím 1lm 1m2) m, = -J i, -) 1 + 1, ... , j 1
{ (14.2.3)
12 zlm 1 mi ) = lím2 lm 1 m) m2 = -.i2, -) 2 + 1, · · · , Í2
where m I and m 2 are either integers or half-integers. Using ( 1 4. 2.2), we immediately find
1,lm 1 m 2) = (1 1 , + J2 =)lm 1m2 ) = lí(m 1 +mJlm 1 m)=líMlm 1 m2) (14.2.4)
Consequently, the eigenvalues of J: are líM, where thc quantum number M = m 1 + m2 takes the valucs
M = -U, + j2),-(j 1 + .iz) + 1, ... ,j 1 +j2 (/4.2.5)
The dcgree of degeneracy, g(M), of thesc values has thc following propertics:
l. The value M = Mma, = () 1 + j 2 ) is not degenerate:
g V i+ .i 2) = 1 ( 1 4.2.6)
2. Thc degree of degeneracy is increased by I as M decreascs by 1, until a maximum degeneracy is reachcd
for thc value M = j 1 - j2 • The dcgeneracy remains constant as long as IMI sj 1 - j2 and is equal to
g(M) = 2j2 + 1 -()1 -j2) sMsj, -j2 ( 1 4.2.7)
3. For M < - U 1 - j2), g(M) decrcases by I as M decrcases by 1. The value M = M min = -()1 +j2) is not
degenerate.Gencrally, g(M) is an even function of M:
g(-M) = g(M) (14.2.8)
(b) From(14.2.7) and ( 1 4.2.8), the states l 'V±) are eJgenvectors of 1,, with respective nondegenerate eigenvalues
A±= ±hU, + ) 2). Since the operators J, and r
commute. we have
., ., .,
1,nw± ) = ru,1w± >) = A± Cfl'I'± >) ( 1 4.2.9)
1
Consequently, the vectors l '11± ) = r1 'lf± ) are also cigenvectors of .T, with the same eigenvalues 'A.,,_ . How-
cvcr, due to-
the nondegeneracy of A+ (or 'A._) thc1 eigcnvectors l 'VJ must be proportional to l 'lf...) (and
similarly, l'V.) is proportional to l'lf) ). Thcrefore, fl'lft ) oc I'!',,_ ), so that l'l'J and l'V.) are eigenvcctors of
2
J as well as of J,. Indeed, since l 'V±) both correspond to the extreme possible values of m I and m1,
U,J 2 _ +l,J 2 J lm,=j i , mz=J i)= U 1J 2 _+ .! 1_.!2.)lm 1 = -J i , m2 = -j2 ) =Ü (14.2 . 10)
and
U 1/2,)lm 1 =.i, m2=j2)=j,J l 1 1=j,, m2=j2}
{ : . �� (14.2 .11)
U 1/2 z)lm, = -J ¡ , m2= -h) = J i 1 zlm 1 = -} ¡ , m2 = -h)
Therefore,
2
J i'I'± ) = (J� + J; + 2J1J2, +l ,J 2 . + l 1)2Jl'I/,,_ )
= 1/u,U 1+ I) + J2U2 + 1) +2J 1 i 2 llV±) (14.2.12)

= 1/cu 1+ h) + U1 + i2+ l)IIV±)

2 2
Thus IV > and V_)I both correspond to the same eigenvalue of J given by h 1(1 + 1)
2 +
= h Ui +h) U1 +.i2 + 1) ·

14,3. Consider two angular momenta, both of magnitude J. Let J = J 1 + J 2 be the total angular momentum
,. " "
and P the interchange operator defined by P lm 1 m 2) = lm 2 m 1 ). (a) Find the eigenvalues of P. (b)
Show that P commutes" with J;
2
i.e., [P , J] = O (and [P , J ] = 0). (e) Obtain the simultaneous
2
eigenvalues of J and P.

(a) Let us denote by V

I ) an eigenvector of P with an eigenvalue A.; namely, P IV) = "-IV}- Therefore,
(14.3.1)
240 ADDITION OF ANGULAR MOMENTA [CHAP. 14

Expanding l'I') in thc (complete) lm 1 m2) basis, we have

l'I') = L (m 1 m 2 1'1') lm 1 m 2 ) (14.3.2)

However, by the definition of P, (P rlm 1 m 2 ) = lm 1 m 2 ), and then

A 1

(14.3.3)

1 A
Comparing (14.3.1) and (14.3.3) we find that -;.,_- = 1 and, as a result, the eigenvalues of P must be A = ±l.
(b) The action of the operator J = J 1 + J 2 on the basis states
lm 1 m 2 ) = U 1 m 1 , j 2 m 2 )=U 1 m 1 )®lj 2 m 2 ) (14.3.4)
can be written as
(J1+J2)lm 1 m 2 ) = (J 1 U 1 m 1 )) ®lj2mz)+lj 1 m 1 )®(J2jj2m2) (14.3.5)
Thcrcforc,

PJlm 1 m 2 ) = U 2m 2 )® CJ2IJ 1 m 1 )l + (J 1 U2m 2 )l ®li1m 1 ) (14.3.6)

Similarly íusing (14.3 .5) with thc intcrchangc m 1 � m 2 ],

JPlm 1 m) = Jlm 2m 1 ) = ( J 1 lj 2m 2 )l ®IJ1m 1 ) +li 2m 2)® (J 2li1m 1 )) (14.3.7)
Clearly, the last two expressions. (14.3.7) and (/4.3.6), coincide. Hcncc,
2
¡fi,J1 =o ➔ ¡fa,J 1 =o (14.3.8)
(e) The results of part (b) imply that the 11M) basis vector can be taken as simultaneous eigenvectors of the set
{J�, J�, J , 1,:P }. Equivalently, this means that IJM) states have definite parity ±1 under the operator inter­
2

change fo. Indeed, using ( /4.3.2) togethcr with the symmetry property of thc Clcbsch-Gordan coefficicnts,
(14.3.9)
we find

(14.3.10)

where in thc last linc we intcrchanged the order of thc summation indcx. Thcrcforc,

(14.3.11)

In particular, for j 1 = Ji = j, the number J as sumes the values J = O, 1, ... , 2j, and then
2
f, IJM) = (-1) j-J IJM) (14.3.12)

14.4. A system of two independent spin 1/2 particles whose orbital motion can be neglected is described by
. 1 l . 2 2
the bas1s IS 1 = , m1) ® IS2 = , m2) = lm1m2), where lm1m2) are common e1genstates of S I ' S2 ,
2 2
S1z,S 2 z.Consider the total spin operator S = S1'+S2, with components S = (Sx,Sy,S)and magni­
2
tude S = ¡s 1 + si. (a) Apply the operators S ±
= S ± iS and S on states lm m 2) and calculate the
x z 1
Y
results. (b) As in part (a), apply S
2
= s: + s; + 2S1=S2z + S1+S2_ + S1_S2+ on lm 1 m2) and calculate the
2
results. (e) Construct the states ISm ), which are eigenstates of S�, S�, S , and S , as linear combina­
.,
r/s (S + l} ISm) and
z
2
tions of lm1m 2). Find the corresponding eigenvalues and verify that S 1Sms) =
 '
242 ADDITION OF ANGULAR MOMENTA [CHAP. 14

1'
Moreover.

+ 1-+)) = 21í.� (I+-) + 1-+))

\ (I+-) (14.4.9)
S (l+-)- I-+)) = o

and
(14.4.10)
s= (I+-) + 1-+)) = s= (I+-) 1-+)) = o
Therefore, up to the unimportant global phase we obtain

1
IS= I,m_, = I) = I ++)

IS= I, m.,=O) = � (I+-) + 1-+)) S = 1

triplet
IS = l,m, = -1) = 1--) (14.4.11)

IS=ü,m,=O) = �(l+-)-1-+))}
s= o
singlet

where the states { ¡Sm,)} are orthononnal and they ali satisfy
2
S IS m,) = tz 2S ( S + 1) IS m,) S = 1,0
(14,4,/ 2)
S:ISm,) = lí.m,ISm) m, = 1,0,-1
(d) The symmetry properties of applying the interchange m I H m2 to the ISm) states follow from the expressions
in (14.4 .1 ). By direct observation of these equations we can see that the S = 1 (triple!) states are not affected
by the interchange operation, whereas the S=O (single!) state changes its sign. That is,

{
P ( tripiel) = tri piet
P ( single!) = -singlet
(14·4-13)

P
where lm I m) = lm2 m 1) is the interchange operator.
Note: The expressions of (14.4.13) are in accordance with the result (14.3.12), where one only needs to replace
2j-+ 1 and .! -+ s = O, 1.

14.5. Let S = S 1 + S 2 be the total angular momentum of two spin 1/2 particles (S 1 = S 2 = 1/2). Calculate
the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients (m1 m2¡Sm) by successive applications of S± = Sx ± iS on the vec­
tors ISm). Work separately in the two subspaces S = I and S = O. Y

In order to find the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients for the addition of spin S 1 = S 2 = I /2, we shall use the
following relations [see Eqs. (14.12) in the Summary ofThcory]:

¡
I S ± ISm,} = lí.)S (S + 1) - ms (m,±l )IS,m,±1)

11 S I.L lm I m2)
�
tí. Js 1 (S1 + I)- m 1 ( m 1 ± I) lm 1 ±1 , m2 ) (14.5.1)
111 S2 ± lm 1 m 2 ) - 1í.JS 2 (S 2 + 1) -m 2 (m 2±1) lm 1 , m2±1)

We shall also use the phase condition

IS= s, + S 2 , m,=±(S I + S2)) = lm, = ± s i ' m2 = ± S 2) (14.52)
2
Note: The states IS= S 1 + S 2 , m,= ± (S 1 + S2)) are eigenstates of S and Sz , with nondegenerate eigenvalues
A ± = ±lí (S 1 + S 2 ), respectively (see Problem 14.2). Therefore,
IS=S 1 + S 2,m_,=±(S 1 + S2 )) = e lm 1
... =
±S 1 ,m2 =
± S 2)
and the phase cj> may be chosen as cj> = O.
i. Subspace S = I: From (14.52) we immediately have
1 I
1 1, 1) = 12. 2) = 1++) (14.53)
CHAP. 14) ADDITION OF ANGULAR MOMENT A 243

Then, uperating with S = S 1 + S 2 un buth side s uf (14 5.3) and using (14.5.1). we obtain

1S_II,1) = hJI(1+1) -1(1 -1)11,0) == h,/211,0)

1 1 1 1 1 1 (/4.5.4)
Sil. 1) = (S, +S2 Jl2,2) = ti.Jil-2.2) +fi.Jil2,-2)
Thus,

(14.5.5)

Similarly, operating with S_ once again on the state 11, O). we find

(14.5.6)

Therefore, in accordance with condition (14.5 .2 ),

1 1
11. 1) = l-2· 2> = H ( 14.5.7)

ii. Subspace S = O: Sínce m, = m 1 + 111 2 (in this case m,

= O). we have
1 1 1 1
10, O) = a¡2, -2 ) + �1-2, 2) (14.5.8)

Ncxt. duc to the orthononnalíty of 1S111) basis we gct

1
(1,010,0)=0 --t (a+�) = O
)2
2 c 2
(0,0¡0,0)=1 ➔ lal +l�l =I ➔ 2lal =1 ➔ a=l/,/2
Therefore, we find

(14.5.9)

14.6. Let S = S 1 + S 2 be the total angular momentum of two spin 1 particles. (a) Represent the vectors ISm)
as linear combinations of IS I m 1) ® IS2m2) = lm 1)lm2) in the subspace S = 2. (h) Repeat part (a), working
in the subspace S = 1. (e) Repeat part (a), working in the subspace S = O.

(a) For S = 2, m, = 2 (m,=

. 111 + m 1 2 ), wc immcdiatcly havc
12. 2) = 11)11) (!4.6.!)

¡
Applying S = S 1 _+ S2 _ to both sidcs of (14.6.1) wc find

S.12,2) = hJ2(2+ 1)-2(2 -1)12, I}

(/4.6.2)
S11)11) = hJl (1 + I)(IO)ll}+ll)IO))
Thus,
1
12, 1) = ,/2 (10)11}+11}10)) (14.6.3)

¡
Apply ing S_ = S1 _+ S2 _ once more to both sides of (14.6.3) we obtaín

S.12,1) = hJ2(2+1 )12,0)

1 h
./is_(IO}II} + ll}IO)) = .fi. l.fi.(1-1)11}+ 10}10}+ 10}10)+11)1-1)) 1
(14.6.4)