Quantum Mechanics - Seminar

February 24, 2018

2
Table of Contents

1 Background Mathematical Concepts 5

1.1 Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

3
4 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1

Background Mathematical
Concepts

1.1 Exercises
1. The conjugate of a complex number z = a + ib, a, b ∈ R is denoted by z ∗
and is defined as z ∗ = a − ib. Show that:
(a) zz ∗ = |z|2
(b) z + z ∗ ∈ R
(c) (z1 + z2 )∗ = z1∗ + z2∗
(d) (z1 z2 )∗ = z1∗ z2∗
(e) |z1 z2 | = |z1 ||z2 |
2. Calculate:
 5
1+i
1−i

3. Let V be the space of infinitely differentiable functions in one variable.

Prove that differentiation is a linear operator.
4. Let V = Cn be the space of n-dimensional complex vectors a = (a1 , a2 , ...an )
where ai ∈ C, ∀i ∈ 1, n. Show that:

n
X
ha, bi = a∗i bi
i=1

is a scalar product for the space V .

5. If  si B̂ are operators, show that:

5
6 CHAPTER 1. BACKGROUND MATHEMATICAL CONCEPTS

(a) († )† = Â
(b) (ÂB̂)† = B̂ † †
(c)  + † , i( − † ) and † are self-adjoint (Hermitian) operators.
6. Show that the eigenvalues of a Hermitian operator are real.

7. Show that the eigenvectors corresponding to different eigenvalues of the

same Hermitian operator T̂ are orthogonal.
8. Let V be the space of nonzero square integrable continuous complex func-
tions in one variable. For every pair of functions, f, g, define:
Z ∞
hf, gi = f ∗ (x)g(x)dx .
−∞

Show that with this definition V is an inner product space.

9. Find the eigenvectors and eigenvalues of the matrix:
 
0 1
A=
1 0
================================================
10. Let V be a vector space.

(a) Show that if hv, ui = hv, wi, ∀v ∈ V , then u = w.

(b) Show that if hT̂ v, ui = hŜv, ui, ∀u, v ∈ V where T̂ , Ŝ are 2 linear
operators, then Ŝ = T̂ .

11. Let A and B be two Hermitian matrices. Show that they may be simul-
taneously diagonalized (by the same matrix U ) if and only if AB = BA.

12. Show that the absolute value of the eigenvalues of a unitary operator is 1.
13. Show that the sum and the product of two linear operators are also linear
operators.