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Nanyang Technological University Library

NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

SEMESTER II EXAMINATION 2021-2022

PH3101 – Quantum Mechanics II

April 2022 Time Allowed: 2 Hours

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

1. This examination paper contains FOUR (4) questions and comprises FIVE (5)
pages.

2. Answer ALL questions.

3. Answer each question beginning on a FRESH page of the answer book.

4. This is a CLOSED BOOK examination.

5. A formula list for the exam is provided separately.

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PH3101
1. Eigen-Analysis and Unitary Transformation

Consider the matrices

7 0 0
𝐴 =   (0 1 −𝑖 ),
0 𝑖 −1

and

1 0 3
𝐵 =   (0 2𝑖 0 ).
𝑖 0 −5𝑖

(a) Are A and B Hermitian? Calculate AB and BA, and then evaluate [A, B].

(b) Find the eigenvalues and normalized eigenvectors of A.

(c) Deduce the diagonal matrix 𝑈 † 𝐴𝑈 from (b), where 𝑈 is the matrix formed by

the normalized eigenvectors of A.

(25 marks)

2
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PH3101
2. Commutator Algebra

(a) Using the commutator [𝑥̂, 𝑝̂ ] = 𝑖ℏ, show that [𝑝̂ , 𝑥̂ 𝑚 ] = −𝑖𝑚ℏ𝑥̂ 𝑚−1 .

(b) Use the result of (a) to show the general relation

𝜕𝐺
[𝑝̂ , 𝐺(𝑥̂)] = −𝑖ℏ  ,
𝜕𝑥̂

where 𝐺(𝑥̂) is a differentiable operator function of 𝑥̂.

(25 marks)

3
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PH3101
3. Angular Momentum Operators

Consider a particle in the normalized eigenstate of 𝐿̂2 and 𝐿̂𝑧 , i.e., |𝑙, 𝑚⟩.

(a) With

𝐿̂+ = 𝐿̂𝑥 + 𝑖𝐿̂𝑦  ,

𝐿̂− = 𝐿̂𝑥 − 𝑖𝐿̂𝑦

being the ladder-up and ladder-down operators respectively, find 〈𝐿̂+ 〉, 〈𝐿̂− 〉, 〈𝐿̂2+ 〉,

〈𝐿̂2− 〉, 〈𝐿̂+ 𝐿̂− 〉 and 〈𝐿̂− 𝐿̂+ 〉. Hint: the following expression will be useful for the

evaluation:

𝐿̂+ |𝑙, 𝑚⟩ = ℏ√(𝑙 − 𝑚)(𝑙 + 𝑚 + 1)|𝑙, 𝑚 + 1⟩ ,

𝐿̂− |𝑙, 𝑚⟩ = ℏ√(𝑙 + 𝑚)(𝑙 − 𝑚 + 1)|𝑙, 𝑚 − 1⟩ .

(b) Find 〈𝐿̂𝑥 〉 and 〈𝐿̂𝑦 〉.

(c) Derive the expression for 〈𝐿̂2𝑥 〉 and 〈𝐿̂2𝑦 〉 in terms of ℏ, l and m.

(25 marks)

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PH3101

4. Time-Independent Cubic Perturbation

Consider a quantum simple harmonic oscillator perturbed by a cubic potential given

by 𝑏𝑥̂ 3 . The Hamiltonian of the resulting oscillator thus takes the following form:
2
̂ = 𝑝̂ + 1 𝑚𝜔2 𝑥̂ 2 + 𝑏𝑥̂ 3 ,
𝐻 2𝑚 2

where m and ω are the mass and frequency respectively, while b is a small

parameter. Given that

𝑚𝜔 𝑖𝑝̂
𝑎̂ = √ (𝑥̂ + ),
2ℏ 𝑚𝜔

𝑎̂|𝑛⟩ = √𝑛|𝑛 − 1⟩,

𝑎̂† |𝑛⟩ = √𝑛 + 1|𝑛 + 1⟩.

Note that the ground-state is |0⟩ and the unperturbed energy eigenvalue is given by

(0) 1
𝐸𝑛 = (𝑛 + 2) ℏ𝜔.

̂ with respect to 𝑎̂
(a) State 𝑎̂† in terms of 𝑥̂ and 𝑝̂ . Then, express the Hamiltonian 𝐻

and 𝑎̂† . (Hint: express your answer unexpanded as (… )𝑛 with 𝑛 = 2,3.)

(1)
(b) Determine the first-order correction to the ground-state energy 𝐸0 .

(2)
(c) Determine the second-order correction to the ground-state energy 𝐸0 .

(25 marks)

- End of Paper -