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BACHELOR IN PHYSICS

Quantum Physics II
Final exam – February 12th, 2021
(Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes)

1 [1.5 points]. Fill in the boxes below (calculations will not be collected, neither marked).
A Hydrogen atom (ignore spin) is initially in the state
1 1
|ψ(0)� = √ |2, 0, 0� + √ |2, 1, −1� + c |2, 1, 0� ,
2 3
where {|n, �, m� �} denote the Hydrogen atom eigenstates and c is a parameter.
(a) Find the most general c.

eiθ
c= √ , θ ∈ R arbitrary
6 √
0.25 for 1/ 6, 0.25 for phase.

(b) The third component Lz of the orbital angular momentum is measured. What results
can be obtained and with what probabilities?
(add columns if needed)
Result for measurement of Lz 0 −�

1 2 1 0.5 if both are

Probability + |c|2 = correct,
2 3 3
otherwise 0.

(c) If a measurement of Lz gives result 0, what is the state just after the measurement?

√1
√
2
|2, 0, 0� + c |2, 1, 0� 3 eiθ
|ψ(t)�after = �
� √1
� =
� |2, 0, 0� + |2, 1, 0�
� 2 |2, 0, 0� + c |2, 1, 0�� 2 2

0.25 for numerator, 0.25 for normalization (denominator).

 2 (0.5 points). Fill in the box below (calculations will not be collected, neither marked).
A quantum system has Hilbert Hilbert space H, and Hamiltonian H with basis {|φ n �}, so
that H|φn � = En |φn � and �φn |φm � = δnm . The system is in a state
1 � �
|ψ� = √ |φ1 � − |φ2 � − |φ3 � .
3
Write |ψ� as a density matrix.
|φ1 � |φ2 � |φ3 �

 
|φ1 � 1 −1 −1
 
 
 
1  
�(0) = |φ2 �  −1 1 1 
3  
 
 
 
|φ3 � −1 1 1

3 [3 points]. The Hamiltonian of a particle of spin 3/2 is

ω
H= L · S,
�
where ω is an angular frequency, L is the orbital angular momentum opeartor and S is the spin
operator.
(a) Find its energy levels.
(b) Find |ψ(t)� if the system is initially in a state
3 1
|ψ(0)� = |� = 2, s = , m� = 2, ms = � .
2 2
(c) If the spin’s third component Sz is measured at time t = 2π/ω, what values can be
obtained and with what probabilities?
(a) In terms of L, S and the total angular momentum J = L + S, the Hamiltonian reads
ω� 2 �
H= J − L2 − S2 .
�
The observables {L2 , S2 , J2 , Jz } are compatible, with simultaneous eigenstates |�, s, j, mj �. For
s = 3/2, the eigenvalues of H are (0.5)
� �
1 15
E�,j = �ω j(j + 1) − �(� + 1) − .
2 4

2
The quantum number j is the result of composing � with s = 3/2. It may take the following
values (0.5):
3
�=0 → j=
2
5 3 1
�=1 → j= , ,
2 2 2
3 1 1 3
�≥2 → j =�+ , �+ , �− , �− .
2 2 2 2
(b) The initial state is given in the angular momentum basis {L 2 , S2 , Lz , Sz }. Using the
3
Clebsch-Gordan table for 2 ⊗ , it is written in the basis {L2 , S2 , J2 , Jz } as
2
� � �3 � � �4 � �
� � �
|ψ(0)� = � m� = 2, ms = 12 = � j = 72 , mj = 52 + � j = 52 , mj = 52 ,
7 7
where as usual we have not written the quantum numbers � = 2 and s = 32 . Since
� �
�
� j = 7
2
, m j = 5
2
is stationary with energy E�=2,j=7/2 = 3�ω ,
� � 1
�
� j = 52 , mj = 52 is stationary with energy E�=2,j=5/2 = − �ω ,
2
the state at time t is (0.5 for change of basis, 0.5 for time evolution)
� � �4
3 −3iωt �� 7 5 iωt/2 �
�
5 5
�
|ψ(t)� = e � j = 2
, m j = 2
+ e � j = 2
, m j = 2
.
7 7
(c) In particular, at time t = 2π/ω,
� � � �4 � �
� � 3 � �
� ψ(t = 2π/ω) = � j = 72 , mj = 52 − � j = 52 , mj = 52 .
7 7
We are asked about probabilities if Sz is measured, so we must go back to the basis
3
{L2 , S2 , Lz , Sz }. From the 2 ⊗ Clebsch-Gordan table it follows that
2
� � �3 � � �4 � �
� 7 5 � 1 �
� j = 2 , mj = 2 = � m� = 2 , ms = 2 + � m� = 1 , ms = 32 ,
7 7
� � �
�
� 4 �� � 3 �� �
� j = 52 , mj = 52 = � m� = 2 , ms = 12 − � m� = 1 , ms = 32 .
7 7
� �
Upon substitution in the expression of � ψ(t = 2π/ω) , this yields (0.5 for change backwards)
� � √ � �
� �
� ψ(t = 2π/ω) = − 1 �� m� = 2 , ms = 1 + 4 3 �� m� = 1 , ms = 3 .
2 2
7 7
If Sz is measured, it is only possible to obtain �/2 and 3�/2 with probabilities (0.5)
� 1 2π � 1 � 3 2π � 48
Prob ms = , t = = , Prob ms = , t = = .
2 ω 49 2 ω 49

3
Full name

4 [2 points]. The energy levels of a particle of spin s = 3/2 are En = −�/n2 , where � is a
constant with dimensions of energy and n = 1, 2, . . . It is known that En does not depend on spin
and that degeneracy is only due to spin. Consider a system formed by five non-interacting
identical particles of this type.
(a) What is the energy and degeneracy of the system’s ground state?
(b) A constant magnetic field B = (0, 0, B), with B > 0, is introduced. The particle’s spin
couples to it through an interaction Hamiltonian term −γBS z , where as usual γ > 0 denotes
the particle’s gyromagnetic ratio. Assuming that γB� � �, find the new ground state energy of
the system and its degeneracy.

(a) The one-particle states and energies are


|n, ms � 
3 1 1 3
�  n = 1, 2, . . . , ms = 2 , 2 , − 2 , − 2 , degeneracy(En ) = 4 .
En = − 2
n
The system’s ground state energy is the lowest energy compatible with Pauli’s exclusion principle
(there cannot be two fermions wth the same quantum numbers). This is obtained by accomo-
dating four fermions with energy E1 , each one with a different ms , and a fith one with energy
E2 and arbitrary ms . We then conlude that (0.5 for energy, 0.5 for degeneracy)
� 17�
system’s ground energy = 4E1 + E2 = −4� − =− , degeneracy = 4 .
4 4

(b) The one-particle states and energies are now


|n, ms �  3 1 1 3
� n = 1, 2, . . . , ms = , , − , − , degeneracy(En,ms ) = 1 .
En,ms = − 2 − γB�ms  2 2 2 2
n
The ground state will have four fermions with n = 1, each with a different m s , and a fifth
fermion with n = 2 and ms = 3/2, which correponds to the lowest energy among those with
n = 2. Hence (0.5 for energy, 0.5 for degeneracy)
17� 3
system’s ground energy = E1,3/2 + E1,1/2 + E1,−1/2 + E1,−3/2 + E2,3/2 = − − γ�B ,
4 2
= non-degenerate .

The hypothesis γB� � � ensures that the energy of the one-particle state |2, 32 � is well above
over the energy of |1, − 32 �.

4
Full name

5 [3 points]. Consider an infinite square well in two dimensions of side a centered at the
origin, whose potential energy is given by
 a a
 0 if − ≤ x, y ≤ ,
V (x, y) = 2 2

∞ otherwise .
Find the ground state energy and its degeneracy. Find the energy of the first excited state and
its degeneracy. The Hamiltonian is modified by adding to it the term
� (x + y)2 � a a
HI = V 0 1 − 2
, ≤ x, y ≤ .
a 2 2
Find the first-order corrections in perturbation theory to the energies of the ground state and
the first excited state.
Hint. The stationary states of a one-dimensional infinite square well of width a centered at
the origin are given by
� � nπx � 
2 
φn (x) = cos , n = 1, 3, 5, . . . 

a a �2 � nπ �2
� � nπx � En = .
2 
 2m a
φn (x) = sin , n = 2, 4, 6, . . . 
a a
The following integrals are known:
� a/2
n2 π 2 − 6 2
dx x2 φ2n (x) = a , n = 1, 2, 3, . . .
−a/2 12 n2 π 2
� a/2
8nk (−1)(n+k−1)/2
dx x φn (x) φk (x) = a, n = odd, k = even.
−a/2 (k 2 − n2 )2 π 2

The lowest energy (ground state) corresponds to taking n1 = 1 and n2 = 1 in the one-
dimensional wells along x and y (0.25),

(0) �2 π 2
E 2 = E 1 + E1 = , non-degenerate ,
maa
eigenstate = |φ1 (x) φ1 (y)� := |1x 1y � .

The next higher energy corresponds to taking either n1 = 1 and n2 = 2, or n1 = 2 and n2 = 1,

so the first excited state is (0.25)

(0) 5�2 π 2
E 3 = E 1 + E2 = , degeneracy = 2 ,
2maa
eigenstates = { |φ1 (x) φ2 (y)�, |φ2 (x) φ1 (y)� } := {|1x 2y � , |2x 1y �} .

5
 The first-order correction to the ground state energy due to the perturbation is (0.5)
� a/2 � a/2 � �
(1) x2 y 2 2xy
E2 = �1x 1y | HI |1x 1y � = V0 dx dy φ21 (x) φ22 (x) 1− 2 − 2 − 2 .
−a/2 −a/2 a a a

The integral of the first term in the parenthesis is 1, since {φn } are orthonormalized. Using the
hint, the integrals of second and third terms are each (π 2 − 6)/12π 2 . Finally, the fourth term
gives an odd function in x and y, whose integral vanishes. All in all (0.5 for calculations),
� � � �
(1) π2 − 6 5 1
E2 = V 0 1 − 2 = V0 + .
12π 2 6 π2
(1)
The first-order corrections E3 to the fisrt excited state energy are the eigenvalues of the matrix
(0.5)  
�1x 2y | HI |1x 2y � �1x 2y | HI |2x 1y �
H̃I =  .
�2x 1y | HI |1x 2y � �2x 1y | HI |2x 1y �
Since HI is symmetric under x ↔ y, we have

�1x 2y | HI (x, y) |1x 2y � = �2x 1y | HI (x, y) |2x 1y � , �1x 2y | HI (x, y) |2x 1y � = �2x 1y | HI (x, y) |1x 2y � .

To compute these two matrix elements we use the hint and that the integral of an odd function
over a symmetric interval vanishes, thus obtaining (0.25)
� a/2 � a/2 � �
x2 y 2 2xy
�1x 2y | HI (x, y) |1x 2y � = V0 dx dy φ21 (x) φ22 (y) 1− 2 − 2 − 2
−a/2 −a/2 a a a
� � � �
π 2 − 6 4π 2 − 6 5 5
= V0 1− − −0 = V0 + 2 := A
12π 2 48π 2 6 8π

and (0.25)
� a/2 � a/2 � �
x2 y 2 2xy
�1x 2y | HI (x, y) |2x 1y � = V0 dx dy φ1 (x) φ2 (x) φ1 (y) φ2 (y) 1 − 2 − 2 − 2
−a/2 −a/2 a a a
� � �
16 �2 512
= V0 0+0+0−2 − 2 = − V0 =B.
9π 81π 4
(1)
The first-order corrections E3 are then the solutions to the equation (0.5)
� (1)
� � �
A − E3 B (1) 5 5 512
det = 0 ⇒ E3,± = A ± B = V0 + ± .
B
(1)
A − E3 6 8π 2 81π 4