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Lista1 Resolvida

This document contains a problem set in quantum mechanics with 6 problems covering various concepts: 1) Calculating properties of operators defined in terms of eigenstates of a Hermitian operator. 2) Analyzing Hermitian operators and their eigenvectors and eigenvalues in 2D and 3D vector spaces. 3) Finding eigenvectors of commuting operators and their eigenvalues. 4) Representing operators as matrices in different bases and determining if they commute. 5) Proving a relation involving the Pauli spin matrix σx. 6) Analyzing properties of an operator defined in terms of bra and ket vectors.

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172 views

Lista1 Resolvida

This document contains a problem set in quantum mechanics with 6 problems covering various concepts: 1) Calculating properties of operators defined in terms of eigenstates of a Hermitian operator. 2) Analyzing Hermitian operators and their eigenvectors and eigenvalues in 2D and 3D vector spaces. 3) Finding eigenvectors of commuting operators and their eigenvalues. 4) Representing operators as matrices in different bases and determining if they commute. 5) Proving a relation involving the Pauli spin matrix σx. 6) Analyzing properties of an operator defined in terms of bra and ket vectors.

Uploaded by

Jackson Backup
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Quantum Mechanics - Problem set 1

Due Tuesday, 16 February 2021, 8:00pm

1. |ϕn i are the eigenstates of a Hermitian operator H (H is, for example, the Hamiltonian
of an arbitrary physical system). Assume that the states |ϕn i form a discrete orthonormal
basis. The operator U (m, n) is defined by:

U (m, n) = |ϕm ihϕn |.

a) Calculate the adjoint U † (m, n) of U (m, n).


b) Calculate the comutator [H, U (m, n)].
c) Prove the relation U (m, n)U † (p, q) = δnq U (m, p).
d) Calculate Tr(U ), the trace of the operator U (m, n).
e) Let A be an operator, with matrix elements Amn = hϕm |A|ϕn i. Prove the relation
X
A= Amn U (m, n).
m,n

f) Show that Apq = Tr(AU † (p, q)).

2. In a two-dimensional vector space, consider the operator whose matrix, in an orthonormal


basis {|1i, |2i}, is written:  
0 −i
σy =  
i 0
a) Is σy Hermitian? Calculate its eigenvalues and eigenvectors (giving their normalized
expansion in terms of the {|1i, |2i} basis).
b) Calculate the matrices which represent the projectors onto these eigenvectors. Then
verify that they satisfy the orthogonality and closure relations.
c) Same questions for the matrices:
 √ 
2 i 2
M = √ 
−i 2 3

and, in a three-dimensional space


 √ 
0 2 0
~  √ √ 
Ly =  − 2 0 2 .

2i  √ 
0 − 2 0

1
3. Consider a three-dimensional ket space. If a certain set of orthonormal kets − say,
{|1i, |2i, |3i} − are used as the base kets, the operators A and B are represented by
   
a 0 0 b 0 0
   
A =  0 −a 0  , B =  0 0 −ib  ,
   
   
0 0 −a 0 ib 0

with a and b both real.


a) Obviouly A exhibits a degenerate spectrum. Does B also exhibit a degenerate spectrum?
b) Show that A and B commute.
c) Find a new set of orthonormal kets which are simultaneous eigenkets of both A and B.
Specify the eigenvalues of A and B for each of the three eigenkets. Does your specification
of eigenvalues completely characterize each eigenket?

4. Consider a physical system whose three-dimensional state space is spanned by the or-
thonormal basis formed by the three kets |u1 i, |u2 i e |u3 i. In this state space consider two
operators Lz and S defined by:

Lz |u1 i = |u1 i, Lz |u2 i = 0, Lz |u3 i = −|u3 i,


S |u1 i = |u3 i, S |u2 i = |u2 i, S |u3 i = |u1 i.

a) Write the matrices which represent, in the {|u1 i, |u2 i, |u3 i} basis, the operators Lz , L2z ,
S, S 2 . Are these operators observables?
b) Give the form of the most general matrix which represents an operator which commutes
with Lz . Same question for L2z and S 2 .
c) Do L2z and S form a complete set (maximal set) of commuting observables? Give a basis
of common eigenvectors.

5. The σx matrix is defined by:  


0 1
σx =  .
1 0

Prove the relation:

eiασx = 1 cos α + iσx sin α

where 1 is the 2 × 2 unit matrix.

2
6. Let K be the operator defined by K = |ϕihψ|, where |ϕi and hψ| are two vectors of the
state space.
a) Under what condition is K Hermitian?
b) Calculate K 2 . Under what condition is K a projector?
c) Show that K can always be written in the form K = λP1 P2 where λ is a constant to be
calculated and P1 and P2 are projectors.

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