PHYS3332 Quantum Mechanics / PHYS4351 Advanced Quantum Mechanics

Tutorial 3

1. Consider a particle of mass m in the Yukawa potential of

a
V (r) = −V0 e−r/a , V0 , a > 0.
r
(a) Obtain the lowest upper bound for the ground state energy using the trail wave function ψ ∼ e−λr/2a .
(b) Estimate the critical V0 for having bound states by the uncertainty principle and the variational principle.

2. (a) Prove the following corollary to the variational principle: If ⟨ψ|ψgs ⟩ = 0, then ⟨H⟩ ≥ Ef e , where Ef e
is the energy of the first excited state.
Thus, if we can find a trial function that is orthogonal to the exact ground state, we can get an upper bound
on the first excited state. In general, it’s difficult to be sure that ψ is orthogonal to ψgs , since (presumably)
we don’t know the latter. However, if the potential V (x) is an even function of x, then the ground state is
likewise even, and hence any odd trial function will automatically meet the condition for the corollary.
(b) Find the best bound on the first excited state of the one-dimensional harmonic oscillator using the trial
function
ψ(x) = Axe−bx
2

3. Apply the techniques of Section 7.2 to the H− and Li+ ions (each has two electrons, like helium, but
nuclear charges Z = 1 and Z = 3, respectively). Find the effective (partia1ly shielded) nuclear charge, and
determine the best upper bound on Egs , for each case.