PHYS 234 Assignment 4

Solutions (W22)
February 11, 2022

Question 1.

a) [A, B] = AB − BA
     
a1 0 0 b1 0 0 b1 0 0 a1 0 0
=  0 a 2 0   0 0 b2  −  0 0 b2   0 a2 0
0 0 a3 0 b2 0 0 b2 0 0 0 a3
   
a1 b1 0 0 a1 b1 0 0
= 0 0 a2 b2  −  0 0 a3 b2 
0 a 3 b2 0 0 a 2 b2 0
 
0 0 0
= 0 0 b2 (a2 − a3 ) ̸= 0
0 −b2 (a2 − a3 ) 0
Hence A and B do not commute.
b) A is diagonal, so it’s eigenvectors are |a1 ⟩ = |1⟩, |a2 ⟩ = |2⟩ and |a3 ⟩ = |3⟩ with the eigenvalues a1 , a2
and a3 .
To diagonalize B, we observe that:  
b 0
B= 1
0 b2 σx
! !
√1 √1
b2 σx has the eigenvalues b2 and −b2 , and eigenvectors 2 and 2 . Then, we have:
√1 − √12
2

1 1
|b1 ⟩ = |1⟩ |b2 ⟩ = √ (|2⟩ + |3⟩) |−b2 ⟩ = √ (|2⟩ − |3⟩)
2 2
2 2 2
c) If |ψ⟩ = |2⟩, then |⟨b1 |ψ⟩| = 0. Also |⟨b2 |ψ⟩| = |⟨−b2 |ψ⟩| = 12 .
So, the possible outcomes b2 and −b2 with probability 12 when measuring B. Now we measure A. Two
possibilities
1. Outcome b2 was obtained, then:
2
|⟨a1 |b2 ⟩| = 0
2 2 1
|⟨a2 |b2 ⟩| = |⟨a3 |b2 ⟩| =
2
2. Outcome −b2 was obtained. Then:
2
|⟨a1 |−b2 ⟩| = 0
2 2 1
|⟨a2 |−b2 ⟩| = |⟨a3 |−b2 ⟩| =
2
d) If [A, B] ̸= 0, then A and B have at least one different eigenvector. This means that there is still
uncertainty in the measurement of A after the measurement of B. If they commuted, the result of A
could be completely determined by measuring B, because all eigenvectors coincide.

1
PHYS 234 Solutions (W22) Assignment 4

Question 2.
 
1 −1
To start, we normalize ψ to get ψ = √ . We also use the matrix representation of Sz , Sx and Sy in
2 i
the z-basis.      
ℏ 1 0 ℏ 0 1 ℏ 0 −i
Sz = Sx = Sx =
2 0 −1 2 1 0 2 i 0

a) First calculate ⟨Sz ⟩ = ⟨ψ| Sz |ψ⟩

  
ℏ
1 0 −1
⟨Sz ⟩ = −1 −i =0
4 0 −1 i
Now, calculating ⟨Sz2 ⟩ = ⟨ψ| Sz2 |ψ⟩
ℏ2 ℏ2
   

1 0 1 0 −1
⟨Sz2 ⟩ = −1 −i =
8 0 −1 0 −1 i 4
p ℏ
By definition ∆Sz = ⟨Sz2 ⟩ − ⟨Sz ⟩2 =
2
b) First, we calculate ⟨Sx ⟩ = ⟨ψ| Sx |ψ⟩
  
ℏ
0 1 −1
⟨Sx ⟩ = −1 −i =0
4 1 0 i
Now, calculating ⟨Sx2 ⟩ = ⟨ψ| Sx2 |ψ⟩
ℏ2 ℏ2
   

0 1 0 1 −1
⟨Sx2 ⟩ = −1 −i =
8 1 0 1 0 i 4
p ℏ
By definition ∆Sx = ⟨Sx2 ⟩ − ⟨Sx ⟩2 =
2
c) First, we calculate ⟨Sy ⟩ = ⟨ψ| Sy |ψ⟩
  
ℏ
0 −i −1 ℏ
⟨Sy ⟩ = −1 −i =−
4 i 0 i 2
Now, calculating ⟨Sy2 ⟩ = ⟨ψ| Sy2 |ψ⟩

ℏ2 ℏ2
   

0 −i 0 −i −1
⟨Sy2 ⟩ = −1 −i =
8 i 0 i 0 i 4
q
By definition ∆Sy = ⟨Sy2 ⟩ − ⟨Sy ⟩2 = 0

d) In general, the product of the uncertainties for two operators A and B is bounded from below as follows
1
∆A∆B ≥ |⟨[A, B]⟩| where [A, B] is the commutator of A and B. Replacing A by Sz and B by Sx we
2
obtain:
1
∆Sz ∆Sx ≥ |⟨[Sz , Sx ]⟩|
2
We have [Sz , Sx ] = iℏSy . As a result:
ℏ  ℏ  h2
 
1
∆Sz ∆Sx ≥ |iℏ⟨Sy ⟩| = −  =
2 2 2 4
Which means ∆Sz ̸= 0 and ∆Sx ̸= 0 which is in accordance with the uncertainties for Sx and Sz .