Quantum Theory for Mathematicians

Chapter 3 Exercises
Algebraists Anonymous
November 4, 2023

1. (Hall Chapter 3, Exercise 1) Suppose that ϕ(t) and ψ(t) are differentiable functions with values
in a Hilbert Space H, meaning that the limit

dϕ ϕ(t + h) − ϕ(t)
:= lim
dt h→0 h
exists in the norm topology of H for each t, and similarly for ψ(t). Show that

d D dϕ E D dψ E
⟨ϕ(t), ψ(t)⟩ = , ψ(t) + ϕ(t),
dt dt dt

Proof.

d ⟨ϕ(t + h), ψ(t + h)⟩ − ⟨ϕ(t), ψ(t)⟩

⟨ϕ(t), ψ(t)⟩ = lim
dt h→0 h
⟨ϕ(t + h), ψ(t + h)⟩ + (⟨ϕ(t + h), ψ(t)⟩ − ⟨ϕ(t + h), ψ(t)⟩) − ⟨ϕ(t), ψ(t)⟩
= lim
h→0 h
⟨ϕ(t + h), ψ(t + h) − ψ(t)⟩ + ⟨ϕ(t + h) − ϕ(t), ψ(t)⟩
= lim
h→0 h
D dψ E D dϕ E
= ϕ(t), + , ψ(t)
dt dt
Q.E.D.

2. (Hall Chapter 3, Exercise 2) Suppose A and B are operators on a finite-dimensional Hilbert

space and suppose that AB − BA = cI for some constant c. Show that c = 0.

Proof. By hypothesis, AB − BA = cI, so

tr(AB − BA) = tr(cI)

It immediately follows that

tr(AB) − tr(BA) = cn
By symmetry, tr(AB) = tr(BA), so it must be the case that c = 0. Q.E.D.

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3. (Hall Chapter 3, Exercise 3) If A is a bounded operator on a Hilbert Space H, then there exists
a unique bounded operator A∗ on H satisfying ⟨ϕ, Aψ⟩ = ⟨A∗ ϕ, ψ⟩ for all ϕ and ψ in H. The
operator A∗ is called that adjoint of A, and A is called self-adjoint if A∗ = A.

(a) Show that for any bounded operator A and constant c ∈ C, we have (cA)∗ = cA∗ , where
c is the complex conjugate of c.

Proof. Given that

⟨ϕ, cAψ⟩ = c⟨ϕ, Aψ⟩ = ⟨(cA)∗ ϕ, ψ⟩
and that ⟨·, ·⟩ is conjugate-linear in the first argument, it must be the case that (cA)∗ =
cA∗ . Q.E.D.

(b) Show that if A and B are self-adjoint, then the operator

1
[A, B]
iℏ
is also self-adjoint.

Proof. Let ϕ, ψ ∈ H. Then

1 1
⟨ϕ, [A, B]ψ⟩ = ⟨ϕ, (ABψ − BAψ)⟩
iℏ iℏ
1 1
= ⟨ϕ, ABψ⟩ − ⟨ϕ, BAψ)⟩
iℏ iℏ
i i
= ⟨ BAϕ, ψ⟩ − ⟨ ABϕ, ψ)⟩
ℏ ℏ
1 1
= −⟨ BAϕ, ψ⟩ + ⟨ ABϕ, ψ)⟩
iℏ iℏ
1
= ⟨ [A, B]ϕ, ψ⟩
iℏ
Q.E.D.

4. (Hall Chapter 3, Exercise 5) Suppose that ψ is a unit vector in L2 (R) such that the functions
xψ(x) and x2 ψ(x) also belong to L2 (R). Show that

⟨X 2 ⟩ψ > (⟨X⟩ψ )2 .

Solution.
Z ∞ Z ∞
2 2
(x − a) |ψ(x)| dx = (x2 − 2ax + a2 )|ψ(x)|2 dx
−∞
Z−∞
∞ Z ∞ Z ∞
2 2 2 2
= x |ψ(x)| dx − 2a x|ψ(x)| dx + a |ψ(x)|2 dx
−∞ −∞ −∞
= ⟨X 2 ⟩ψ − 2⟨X⟩2ψ + ⟨X⟩2ψ
= ⟨X 2 ⟩ψ − ⟨X⟩2ψ

Since the expression above is nonnegative, we have that ⟨X 2 ⟩ψ > (⟨X⟩ψ )2 .

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5. (Hall Chapter 3, Exercise 6) Consider the Hamiltonian Ĥ for a quantum harmonic oscillator,
given by
ℏ2 d2 k
Ĥ = − 2
+ x2
2m dx 2
where k is the spring constant of the oscillator. Show that the function
( √ )
km 2
ψ0 (x) = exp − x
2ℏ
p
is an eigenvector for Ĥ with eigenvalue ℏω/2, where ω := k/m is the classical frequency of
the oscillator.

Solution.
ℏ2 d2 ψ0 k 2
Ĥψ0 = − + x ψ0
2m dx2 2
ℏ2 h √ √ i k
=− −2( km/2ℏ)ψ0 + 4( km/2ℏ)2 x2 ψ0 ) + x2 ψ0
√2m 2
ℏ km k k
= ψ0 − x2 ψ0 + x2 ψ0
2 2 2
= (ℏω/2)ψ0