Department of Physics Departmental Exam Fall 2001 Exam & SolutionsSovution | Parabolic, ID Number PARTI Score PHYSICS DEPARTMENTAL EXAM ~ FALL 2001 SECTION 1: Problem 1 [Classical Mechanics} A comet, barely unbound by the sun (its total energy vanishes), executes a parabolic orbit about it. At a certain time the comet is known to have a speed v and impact parameter b with respect to the sun. You may neglect the comet’s mass m with respect to the sun’s mass M, Find the perigee (distance of closest approach to the sun) of the comet, orbit ANGuLAL MemENT Un ConSERVATOU * Terihuy Ls (eh = mur(senel= turk A PERIGEE OL = mu, b> kK = Ale ‘i i ENERGY ConSevaTion : Ke + Clin & 0 7 Laure Gln * — ° 2 SUBSTITUTE Fok Ope vo = Oh 2 ee Hence: Bo we oh GM.1D Number PARTI Score PHYSICS DEPARTMENTAL EXAM -- FALL 2001 SECTION 1: Problem 2. [Classical Mechanics] Given a Hamiltonian H = 4,p,—4,P; +93 — aq} , show that R= PHAh and F; = 9192 Cry are constants of the motion. Are there any additional constants generated by Jacobi’s identity? Sotto ad a THE] = Sf ow OF 7 21 Soy a on “Fh apne. - 68) a: e a salpyo- Cpa heet)f Cul = = 4% le) : (romper = # ih AS o- egopr4 _— _ 36, OF Cee (ae 3m) spon gts fee ott Ee | ny No Ribs ee ComsTAnID Number PARTI Score PHYSICS DEPARTMENTAL EXAM — FALL 2001 SECTION 2: Problem 3. [Electromagnetism] The metal bottom and piston of an airtight cylinder with insulating walls form the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor. If the separation and pressure are initially dy and po respectively, when the capacitor is uncharged, show that the fractional decrease in the plate separation f, when a potential difference V is applied, is given in SI units by fa- n-@{t (5) ) fueehe . a Ait : 4 ty TAU ee E Ferd BaraAwcwe Fokce [area fot fat WHERE : Se Ge ae Ae fou *Pe* SE" SY) And pV = hel = $.No — . aID Number PARTI Score PHYSICS DEPARTMENTAL EXAM ~- FALL 2001 SECTION 2: PROBLEM 4. [Electomagnetism] A dipole p is situated a distance d above an infinite grounded conducting plane. The dipole makes an angle 0 with the perpendicular to the plane. Using the ‘method of images find the potential that satisfies the stated boundary conditions. Derive an expression for the torque on p. If the dipole is free to rotate, in what orientation will it come to rest? z Solow C 2A z = Pess@ Ss tPpsnO J Pace imaee 47 (0,0,-A), 0 (TH BRIEVTATIOW * ‘ aa = peocOe ~Ps-Og THEN * vos Le aye +t re “git = (z-d) C050, pecegtes] Beare wary vas etd | Cdeee SotuTioal AT 2-0 * ‘ sy Very. eeo)o bree — dp un6 - ayeie bende) =o Gs REQuaed - Tonouk Ws: ae Pre! wien El = WAee Fréud pA) bi cgereere ne 3&, Gee ay) Dy oe pS se . Lasico.s(asd| 5a atta? sige pecelare, aa? AT bo, ai el = -mM,Pees. y Solel Cog een BeBe pS tme nat £ Cpsroderdieg)s ouah te eI Coot!) Oe Te eet = Ob tn0- ‘ tr (0,45 &Eed\ t= ples + sited \elscoe +2062) f° Ce + 256) 8 “ & tt Grefh Ge (Ay — 2 . wm t= $ lobsue * * ,&. p Turns Towssd 27G4* BHO A STARE COUR. wee # >oID Number PARTI Score PHYSICS DEPARTMENTAL EXAM -- FALL 2001 SECTION 3: PROBLEM 5: [Thermodynamics] Four moles of methane gas (chemical formula CH.) are driven along the reversible cycle depicted below. Process AB is an isotherm at temperature 7 300K; BC is an adiabat; CD an isobar; and DA an isochore. The volumes at A, B, and C are Va = 1.00 L, Vp = 5.00 L, and Mc = 7.00 L. Compute the pressure pa at B, the pressure pc at C, and the total work W” done per cycle.ie Dre Ue 2 ALOVAS * Solution To compute pg, use the ideal gas law: nRTy ave (4mol) - (8.314 J/mol -K) - (300K) 5.00 x 1 = 2.00 x 10° Pa . To find po, use the adiabatic equation of state d(pV) For a polyatomic gas, y Po = Pu (Ve/Ve) = (2.00 x 10° Pa) «(8 = 1.27 x 10°Pa To find the work done per cycle, we add the contributions from the individual legs: W = Wan + Woe + Wen + Won Compute each of these in turn: i ja vs Wan = [av = ner, [5 = akin (#) A i‘ Wao = Ea — Bo = Bea Pee 8 eet > Woo = fi = @ Woa =0 Note that we used the First Law in computing Wyo. Thus, we find aRTy {i @ re @ eT (4 mol) - (8.314 J/mol - K) - (300K) {os ae = D y-1 = 116k).1D Number PARTI Score PHYSICS DEPARTMENTAL EXAM -- FALL 2001 PROBLEM 6: [Statistical Mechanics/Quantum Mechanics] A large number of N identical spin 1/2 particles, each of mass m, are bound in a spherical region with volume V. Assume that these particles are mutually non-interacting, except for the “collective” potential which binds them in V. Approximate the single particle wave functions as plane waves, and assume that the particles are non-relativistic. What is the mean squared speed of the particles when this system is in its ground state?Prosien WM SonTion - Ceonse hue Ne Yn Rm % 3 2 ae 2 aeRY Nee Me Nv : = . 2 = ype merz4n 1 A 3BID Number PARTI Score PHYSICS DEPARTMENTAL EXAM — FALL 2001 SECTION 4: Problem 7, [Quantum Mechanics] A one-dimensional system is described by a wave function v(x) = f dk A(k)e™ , where k is an integration variable and A(&) are scalars. In terms of A(k): ) Calculate the expectation value for the system's momentum p; b) Calculate the variance of p. Remember o? = (p*)—(p)"; ©) Calculate the probability distribution for the position x. ‘A measurement of the position x is made and a value x= a results. 4) Calculate the expectation value for the system's momentum p; ©) Calculate the variance of p; 80 Explain the results from a) ~¢) in terms of compatible operators, uncertainty relations, collapse TO) ‘of the wave function and all that. y >

= [4 Him $Aon = [oy Pk [aed = [te Alok [Atos eee “Ath G Leghaises ef (ato tay AGH AM « atkins 6 b <> fica? Aeleownae with 3% S%-Gs? © c) Pass (Mn? = Jule RUS Mey hts 4) Ak Yb Seraoe ee eps =LYdekh = © oT e) “p% ~ [AA vw a. OID Number PARTI Score PHYSICS DEPARTMENTAL EXAM ~ FALL 2001 SECTION. Problem 8: [Quantum Mechanics] A positronium atom is in the 1S state with an extemal ‘magnetic field B along the z-axis. Assume that its Hamiltonian is H=AS,-S, +A-(S, -S,)=Hy+AH, with B me A ‘The subscripts 1 and 2 label the electron and positron respectively, 4 is a constant, and m is the reduced mass. The term 2// is small relative to the term Ho. a) What are the eigenvalues and eigenstates of Ho? Is there degeneracy? ) Use first order perturbation theory to calculate the eigenvalues and eigenstates of H.PeroBicm #¢ ay HU, = ARS, -A (SSS) 2 Ekenvalices are AAC steer) -4(8)-4(8)) = A (rs Gl-3 pesre stabs [ss 5, s> lirik es f a ejenshales with €= My liehhy a Le) leet gp ee eineee . thon Geo: ct eek coil =~ shh 7 Hie eB (e_ey . dH, ae GS) = 28s, -s,) Oo meet Based Ge be ce-evprered as: eyo = ta'ey (2 ISaS,>\ tt fley = 4 ( b> «lh b>) “a N-vy = Bibby looy = Me (I My-hy —- hr) Wt fe ttemnh Hae! + He tesh = BB cy leoy=o BB uit ~thagorat lene | wal My -€ dle ) i AE, 3M n, ete (s4-4yre e if : (ey (ea - er Me deh ai Edenstales an E wl BOS (Wty ond [HS rem at E = MY) do: [Ak AL so Euiseshhes ae setters ( ee oe Ne wi dredpel. (eas apes atl nm te (Br ay Cera) wid ecerslakes Llioyr td,loo> .ID Number PARTI Score PHYSICS DEPARTMENTAL EXAM -- FALL 2001 SECTION Problem 9: [Experiment] A length of wire appears to be made of steel and you are asked to confirm this by measuring the density. You do this by hanging weights from it until it vibrates in its fundamental mode at 440 Hz (you have perfect pitch so that you do not need a frequency counter). You are given a micrometer and find that the wire is 0.5 mm in diameter. Estimate the mass of the weight that will be required if you use a piece of the wire that is 30 ¢m long.Auttor Gordkwo ae Soc Now 2) A length of wire appears to be made of steel and you are asked to confinn this by measuring You do this by hanging weights from it until it vibrates in ite fundamental mode at 440 Hz (vou have perfect pitch so tha counter). You are given a micrometer and find that the wire is 0.3 mm in diameter. Estimate the mass of the weight that will be required if you use a piece of the wire that is you do not need a Frequeney 30 cm long r stretched string is ¢= / where 7'is the tension , string, (If not remembered this should take no ndamental mode is when the length of the string Answer: The velocity of a wave on and p is the mass per unit length of th more than 5 minutes to work out.) The is 12 wavelength so that the frequency XA The density of steal is 7.8 gem (most common metals are about & per unit length is 1,5x10" gem and 7= 6.5%105 dynes or a mass of about 7ke. 1c) so that the mass {ormeonps 305 EY-9O1A,ID Number PARTI Score PHYSICS DEPARTMENTAL EXAM -- FALL 2001 SECTION 5: Problem 10: [Experiment] A photodiode has a characteristic output current versus voltage drop (LV) relation given by J = /,(e” ~1)~J,y,, where the first term is the usual diode relation (Jo denoting the reverse bias current, e the electronic charge, and kT the thermal energy) and the second term corresponds to the light induced current. a) Suppose we connect the diode to a resistor, as shown below, and measure the voltage drop V with an ideal voltmeter. Assume that the internal resistance of the photodiode is infinite. What is the constraint on R in order to insure an approximately linear measure of the light, i, to insure that V = IR * IyyR? FT Light VY Rey ON I Vv 'b) Suppose that, instead of connecting the diode directly to a resistor, we use a current to voltage converter as shown for the op-amp configuration below. Assume that the response for the op-amp can be taken as V, = 4(V,-V_) and that the impedance of the inputs V; and ¥. are infinite. What is the relation between Yo and the input current? What happens as A—> 20? R I], inva Vv c) What, if any, is the constraint on R in the op-amp/photodiode circuit in order to insure an approximately linear measure of the light, ie., to insure Vc /jy, (Hint: think of what resistance the input sees)? What happens as 4 —> 00? SoruTiows: a,c coeeeswad 70 42,3 (4-4 wer uses)Rother: KewweUd py red -_. pur Bey gro So} This is a problem in electronics that is concerned with the measurement of light with a photodiode. The I-V (output current versus voltage drop) relation for this device is: lo (Y= 1) Taga where the first term is the usual diode relation (I, denoted the reverse bias current, € denotes the electronic charge and kT corresponds to the thermal energy) and the second term corresponds to the light induced current. 1. Suppose we connect the diode to a resistor, as shown below, and measure the voltage drop, V, with an ideal voltmeter. Assume that the internal resistance of the photodiode is infinite. J oa Rov Ligh: my) i ‘What is the constraint on R in order to insure an approximately linear measure of the light, ice, to insure that V = 1 R = Rlyyy, 2. Suppose that, instead of connecting the diode directly to a resistor, you use a current to voltage converter as shown for the op-amp configuration below: Note that the equation for the op-amp may be taken as V, = A (V, - V) and that the impedance of the inputs V, and V— may be taken as infinite. R fp ‘Whaat is the relation between V, and the input current? What happens asf —> 2° ? Vo 3, What, if any, is the constraint on R in the op-amp/photodiode circuit in order to insure ‘an approximately linear measure of the light, i.e., to insure that Ve Jj, (Hint: think of what resistance the input sees)? Whe? hegpeas 2s 472? 4. Suppose that the photocurrents that you wish to measure only have a frequency content up toa value f,, How might you add a capacitor to the circuit in parts 2 and 3 so that the ‘op-amp/photodiode circuit has a similar frequency response (sketch the circuit)? 5. What would be the value of the capacitor, denoted C, that you would use with your scheme?6. The resistor in the circuit of parts 2 and 3 adds a Johnson noise whose variance, 51°, has the form 513 = 4 kT Av /R, where Av is the frequency bandwidth. Further, the photocurrent has a variance due to the shot effect of the form 813 = 2 € Ij, AV. These variances may be modeled as additional current sources, as shown below (we assume here that the op-amp per se generates no noise). Derive an expression for the measured variance in the output voltage, i.e., 5V,? (hint: variances add). Assume that A —> o» for simplicity. 7, What is the constraint on the value of R to insure that only the shot-effect contributes to the noise? Assume that A —> efor simplicity. 8. What is the ratio of signal current to noise current when only the shot effect dominates (hint: the answer to this part does not depend on that for part 7)? 9. Assuming that you answered parts 4 and 5 correctly, what is the approximate relation between Av and R and CPLo Ve -58 1 ve -TeR (ESA) + Tay R © oe oes Wart Hf 207? so the Velie Ph To lays Toe (eben) ee Teh Ov et key ea KT nm Ree Zz, 5 Me t= Yeu ant Vga -AV Vy FR (tele sp pee ete) +A As Ae Vo —> TR. 3 Went iat vecstene to cotsty re oA cos pet 2, nes kr _ efi Laugh vesistence 15 Bye -M yt ves (s Pye Me, MB Me Ww =e 7 ACD ar Bet, ecing ctrelt Prom (>, Ry = ER. b= Fe TA AX lth A 7 & Constant is See stant és — Ze kT gin pectin Sh, As A>@, Rec AB, g Reon be ay uleLULULrUrr——C—r—C——C—=—S % Prete combrantion is perrstive ot low Py, copecitwe at hiyh pg, 50 thet Vol) = T 2) wh 2)= Rhwfe [+ Rr Vantec ga is Te anf RC < [BM ZF 2 2k ae Viaiaefecl = V T+ (an fec) “ C= 1 ane Vecng The peselt oP part 2, the total noise Vortenre 1S gvr= GU r+ Fu =(RET) + (eer) Ge R “Abt ay +P? 2eL av ” = 4kTRAV + 2eT RsvWa at DeLe*AY >> 4ETEAV @ booted £ Noes het shen Caen ner ee GF pets C)atd) Menply thet Riis co stantel Friw.a bove avd be law, neg kT ext AL Ze (246 A eat 8 Signl = = LR SL ————————_— Sint Nose V 2eav 1 ave = ihe a Vonention sw The Tu words the The bovcludlh. feedback setsID Number PART IL Score PHYSICS DEPARTMENTAL EXAM -- FALL 2001 SECTION 1: Problem 11: [Mathematics] Using a suitable contour integral, show that JM are Zew Fea a Where a and 6 are real, positive numbers.( . TF PhThhi i | * a ei te BX 4 Sue Te fae yn 8 a 6 Cre conn der he contin iw Fegrad L = SS ei he 2+ 6% Glan & _ as Yam a le ety -R 0 R To hee, The mare f® = iha x is wh hb, as Rw, 246 VaR Tatar of hon Me Semi- terete Veriches . ie ee fe 28 denim He, Jordan's somms | ed nd de invoked Ee age * e fs | ke dak Roe, Tos if wee oO (Now, £0) hes te Bape eles of 22 16 € ie; Foy Be formar one combs —-the relevent verdesID Number PART II Score PHYSICS DEPARTMENTAL EXAM ~ FALL 2001 SECTION 1: Problem 12: [Mathematics] Using a suitable contour integral, show that 5 xax4+2 2x +102? + Sa 12j RAT PATRIA « cottews e4 for Lam pty = 22 Ete +1) 4) Once tens os Row, ip Sever Re Semi~civele Veescher amd Il—- the dened iy A Nort, Ihave 4 Simfhe fortes oh Ft R t3t. de ones Hh Cw Grey . ztese BSH, WH vende ae 22(249) Jai Tt & zati Ratsi, WUE resMe a (x41) 22 : 2-431 2 e422 —Y4si "The dened itp Dis, hee fore yr # = ft YY il UcID Number PART IL Score PHYSICS DEPARTMENTAL EXAM ~ FALL 2001 SECTION 2: Problem 13: [Classical Mechanics] A particle of charge e and mass m moves in a constant, uniform magnetic field B. Write down the Lagrangian, and find the conserved quantity corresponding to translation by a. (Note that a need not be parallel to B.) If you cannot do the more general problem, assume B = Bz, pick a gauge, and find the generator for x, y, and z translation.| | Aware mawoude A purticle of charye @ and ard mM Mme ih 0 cache, nn masretic fun B. Wit Lom the lasranryinn, avel fod the coset guantitgy — comerpndivry be tavcalrhin 9B, (Note @ peek tot be punlth 6 BD. Mf ym enrol do tee, waste Be BP. pick a_garge, al fk ty groha fr 2 Faullehoue Fe 3 soln : Lr é zo Ree she - gk [AEF eR)~ AB] z = -£ RW eg; e aK ~~ (WA + Ww) C4 © ax, 8K; Ox; 2A We = Coe B OK Ay; an SL = «[s Cijk Xia; Be - € X28 a; ] 3 ata ~ ce d [Cie xB - Aa) = ae S call MGB Aa] = BE sInce _ ax rae consened qrondty.: €Q- oe -*F ‘ Q. way - fe (ej X85 By = &A,) + nlite Asai > ho mie ‘Zip + © (KKB) ensemedID Number PART II Score PHYSICS DEPARTMENTAL EXAM ~ FALL 2001 SECTION 2: PROBLEM 14: [Classical Mechanics] A particle moves along the curve (29 +sin 29) and y = 1(1 - cos 24) in a uniform gravitational field in the negative y direction. Find the oscillation period using action angle variables. (Assume that the maximum value of $< #/2.)“ sf A particle = eling We Hue X= L (2g4sin2g) Ys LC {-cos 2A) im a anthem grvihtioval fil in te ~me gy Urchin. Fied the ohelalicn povind uring elim avgle vansbler, [Assuue tet the voximum ale op gc< ") ANGE MANOHAR Te Em(+y>) 2 ¢ mee [ee t2008246 YF bn24y'] = Dml? 8” Py Rees 2p a ete sep) 2 om P acd Vie = mgy 2 — mgl (!-cos 29) _ Le ml cos'g g* + 2mgl sin” p Phe & = Ubnd® cosh gf He Peel ny bame? Coed Pg = y 3am” costs (H ~ 2mg! ain) = £ Varmg® Cog LHR Bagh stp Te Pp § Tat. « aie Bim cord Wn amg l sipTe + Vaxm(? f aang Woe oe 2 4 eS RTE + z "lag KH sitfangl « angi f - «it eee 2 Vogl 2 T.- m [F 4 Ss tT. BF a i ergID Number PART II Score PHYSICS DEPARTMENTAL EXAM — FALL 2001 SECTION 3: PROBLEM 15: [Electrodynamics] The region of space with z < 0 is vacuum, while that with 2 > 0 is filled with a conductor of conductivity o (which is large but finite) and permeability 4. The surface at z = 0 - ¢ (ie.,just outside the conductor) is subjected to the magnetic field H =H, cos(wt)x. The electric field at 2 = 0 - £ is, of course, approximately normal to the conductor. The frequency @is sufficiently small so that you can neglect the displacement current term (0D/ dr =0) in Maxwell’s equations. Also, because of the finite conductivity, the currents in the conductor do not lie only on the surface. a) Find the electric and magnetic fields for z > 0; and b) Find the time averaged power per unit area flowing through the surface z = zp for arbitrary constant zp > 0.Om VSKH=as &- -2B Ta CE hh wade oe ‘e Me Oe _ Wx (ver) = TCH) - TH = = ee levee We & Re (ble e7”*) Be. > bleed = Kh ~E& + ipo) hide o = hie-= be CAS = ee we Cienek aS sy. i He De ars A o> Time ove. pow Joree Nagy t= % = 2s >}. = 2 \ -2z\ 2 He ~té/5 7 Zee Re ( Be (-") e ) 20 ~ bes WT e aoeID Number PART IL Score PHYSICS DEPARTMENTAL EXAM — FALL 2001 SECTION PROBLEM 16: [Electrodynamics] Consider scattering of an electromagnetic wave, of low frequency @ and electric field Eig off of a small dielectric sphere of radius a; the sphere has “= 1 and permitivity e, and the rest of space is vacuum. a) Find the induced dipole moment of the sphere; b) Find the scattered Exca and Hyca in the far (radiation) zone; and ©) Find the time-averaged power radiated per unit solid angle dP/dQ.= Que (a) BP = 1% ies E nee a 4 ore Gaee) ore Teo yv Baur = (-&r + PLY Rleose) Zan = Be PGs Bc Gar B= be , e(-& -t8)-&B => A-(%-! 3 -~ 3& e mee 72) 6) B Goa => €,>-V75,, E- 32-é hal Yt Elnc Cb) Beye ~ afte (ae) Ae 8 (+ a) = 7 Sun Weer ae PE, es sox? xoxo SOE ee iG > > Ysa = ure = 2 oes Ayn Eset = wie Gx ~ CO d@ = ct D Re (Eset x Hse ) Ast Zz Bzrtec? - wo" A\? oc, ~ fame lel" site bee e Le Cae ER 321 €oi = oy Batgqe P= tad e si P 4 aro tare (€- 8) Eine wreuekae Ear = (Bors A) Blows) —_— rm Clr Bc. oe B= Ba , 2(-& -t)-&B => A-%-! = -3 eee : Gok , B 12 => &.>-Vz,, > = b= B— Ein Lyre (o) AFH x Aw BU) The = 1% xe , Ese doe FOF ance ume grct 5 zie => =W. e o _> = * H sect qarre P a ke Aa n 2 Enns = Le XO KO UMC Cc? = ~ q a Ale CO dl = ct h Re (Eret Hset ) = lat ___ | x7) «4 | an SE Bat e6C 2. n - Pa \Fl® suto che Le Ge ck" = ek [Ae er 6 eeID Number PART IL Score PHYSICS DEPARTMENTAL EXAM - FALL 2001 SECTION. [Quantum Mechanics] A spherically symmetric scattering potential is given by W>0 ifry a) For low-energy scattering events, find the leading-order approximation to the s-wave phase shift; and ) Find the Ieading-order approximation to the total scattering cross section in the low energy limit. (You may need to know that where L denotes the angular momentum operator.)Pebeem £17 4) (yeah eee Yin= Ten vlto + BR eEVu=s Ohne Ee & wHgy , EEvy Lu SHAM, woot, we mlker 6.) 4 ae JRE Fe = Ee Ceeace flame se A Nee See TO es (he ka 3. Se de tan (aed) ae db donb kes: Yo tenh hee, = Tet _ ~ Re he age a ey eeID Number PART II Score PHYSICS DEPARTMENTAL EXAM ~ FALL 2001 SECTION 4: Problem {Quantum Mechanics] Consider two nucleons in a nucleus. Regard the strong interaction as allowing the nucleons to be treated as nearly independent particles that can be characterized, among other things, as having “isospin”, where isolated neutrons have isospin +1/2 and protons have -1/2. Assume that the residual Hamiltonian (left over after we ignore the strong interaction and consider a pure isospin piece) is spherically symmetric in the joint isospin space, a) Write down an expression for the residual Hamiltonian and solve for all the energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions; b) The three nuclei He, °Li, and “Be have approximately equal energy levels. “Li has another level about 2 MeV below the other nearly equal levels. Show how the Hamiltonian in part (a) can be used to explain the energy level structure of the three nuclei and to determine the parameter(s) in the Hamiltonian.Bho ye 4 kee [sp = Sle | c=} fas, Spe in Jo = = [ro ---9 Saal Ep, = — EX (= (44> {{o> =i +-9| (oe la wo fe Se te ma PS ® mY Fas he Sheth woth, we foke Re chen . (He) Wan § © be Tnerk. The properties L lin Co Water Certs Gre dUtintiad Oy be uke. uth 2 hrcleme The otere. Count ocr Men ytelde Me rrp ooh fore te bephan. Geared Of fete sks 7 dents (RD = prob state A272 mautre He 3 staker je Noe te Bele Sh The WILE Shake Groped (yr “a Se) OMeID Number PART II Score PHYSICS DEPARTMENTAL EXAM — FALL 2001 SECTION 5: Problem 19: [Relativistic Dynamics] Two infinite plates are at x = 0 and x = d. The plate at x = d has voltage V relative to that at x = 0. There is also a constant magnetic field B = Byz. An electron (of mass m) is emitted at zero initial velocity from the plate at x = 0, and the sign of V’is such that the electron is attracted to the plate at x = d. Find the minimum voltage such that the electron makes it to the plate at x = d (rather than just cyclotron rotating between the plates). Treat this problem fully relativistically!ns eee he tbo P-xRn> es INTRILIG AOL za d PREBLE M a £1 ew 5 oe “Beit AW Bx we oo b H = const | ite ao OE XV = me ye sine vnc Bein Co P= Wy ~ 2 Bx =o! aA ee ee eo Or Ty Co = >t @x-d : =o @ xed os > y= ar @ x - Veo Vx 7 Whe YweeBd » OY= ch — 711 -(284 ate (2be) H a => 2 Ving = met N= So con Vine = cml - (esl -') 2ID Number PART II Score PHYSICS DEPARTMENTAL EXAM — FALL 2001 SECTION Problem 20: [Statistical Mechanics] A gas of nonrelativistic spin-1/2 fermions is confined by a parabolic trap described by the potential V(r) fro? Analyze this system at 7’= 0 using Thomas-Fermi theory. a) Show that the system forms a droplet of finite radius a, ie., show that the fermion density n(r) vanishes for r >a. Find the density n(r) in terms of the fermion mass m, the trap frequency @, the droplet size a, and physical constants; 'b) Find the total number of particles in the trap in terms of m, a, a, and physical constants. If you get stuck with an integral you don’t know how to do, make sure you at least dimensionalize it; ©) Holding the number of fermions constant, the trap frequency is doubled while 7 is maintained at zero. What happens to the drop radius?Solution (a) We set. > with = }mu%a?, Next find the density, a ro Pur) n(r) =2 Olpe(r) - p) ants aa ("i") (1-2) (b) Now we integrate to get N: on DAN khovAs ‘The dimensionless integral (with « = r/a) is easily performed using the trigonometric substitution r= sind: [eeu-2yr h [29(c0st 0 cos® 8) 5 [=(2)-#(3)] Hence, the equation of state is (c) Keeping dT = dN = 0 we use the above equation of state and find d(wa”) doubled, the droplet size must decrease by a factor of ¥/2. ‘Thus if w is