Tutorial: 3, based on Potential barrier, 1d and 3D Harmonic

oscillator and Angular momentum operators

Quantum Physics PH21212 & PH21206
March, 2024,
IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal

1. An electron is moving in a 1D box with potential;

(
0, if 0 ≤ x ≤ ∞
V (x) =
−5, −∞ < x ≤ 0

Draw a rough sketch of the potential, Assuming the plane wave solution is incident from left
to right. Find the reflection and transmission coefficient. For −5 < E < 0, and for E > 0.
2. The wave function for a particle of mass M in a one-dimensional potential V (x) is given by
the expression

(
α.x. exp{−βx}. exp{iγt}, x>0
ψ(x, t) =
0, x<0

Where α, β and γ are all positive constants.

(a) Is the particle bound? Explain.
(b) Find the value of V (x).
3. For the one-dimensional harmonic oscillator, of force constant k and mass m, calculate the
following
(a) Calculate the the uncertainties ∆x and ∆p for the ground state and 1st excited state.
(b) Find the matrix representation of Hamiltonian Ĥ, number operator n̂ = ↠â, the raising
operator ↠and lowering operator â, in terms of the energy eigenbasis |ψn ⟩, upto n = 7.
(c) If ⟨(x − ⟨x⟩)2 ⟩ = 10−10 m for the ground state. Find the energy required to excite it to
p

its first excited state.

(d) Find ψn |x̂3 ψn and ψn |x̂4 ψn , for arbitrary n.
(e) The wave function for the ground state is given by

ψ0 (x) = (α/π)1/4 exp −αx2 /2 , α = mω/ℏ, ω 2 = k/m



Obtain an expression for the probability of finding the particle outside the classical region.
4. An particle of mass m is moving in a 3D infinite square well potential;

(
0, if 0 ≤ x, y, z ≤ L
V (x, y, z) =
∞, otherwise
 Use separation of variables in cartesian coordinates and
(a) Find the stationary states and the corresponding energies.
(b) Call the distinct energies En , in order of increasing energy. where n2 = n2x + n2y + n2z , and
determine their degeneracies (that is, the number of different states that share the same
energy) up to n2 < 28.

5. Consider a particle of mass m moves freely on a circle of radius R.

(a) Calculate the stationary states and energy eigenvalues.
(b) Calculate ⟨p̂⟩ and p̂2 .
(c) If at t = t1 the particle is in the first excited state, what is the wave function at t = t2 (t2 >
t1 )?

6. For an isotropic 3D harmonic oscillator, of force constant k is uniform in all direction and mass
m, calculate the energy eigenstates and degeneracy up to n ≤ 4, where n = nx + ny + nz .

7. If |l, m⟩ is the common eigenbasis of L̂2 and L̂z , such that

L̂2 |l, m⟩ = l(l + 1)ℏ2 |l, m⟩

L̂z |l, m⟩ = mℏ |l, m⟩

then prove that
(a) ⟨l, m| L̂x |l, m⟩ = 0 = ⟨l, m| L̂y |l, m⟩ and ⟨l, m| L̂2x |l, m⟩ = ⟨l, m| L̂2y |l, m⟩
ℏ2
(b) Using the above relation prove that ∆L̂x ∆L̂y = 2 [l(l + 1) − m2 ]
3
(c) for l = 23 , find the matrix representation of Lˆx and L̂y , in the eigenbasis { 32 , m }m=−
2
3.
2

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