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09-25 Problem Set

1. The document provides trial wavefunctions and integrals to use for calculating the ground state energy of a particle in a harmonic oscillator potential using the variational method. 2. It asks the reader to identify the appropriate unperturbed Hamiltonian, trial wavefunction, and ground state energy for different physical systems being analyzed with time-independent perturbation theory. 3. It asks the reader to derive the first-order correction to the ground state energy for one of the perturbation theory examples and provides an integral to use in the calculation.

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sonjabottlelaw
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60 views

09-25 Problem Set

1. The document provides trial wavefunctions and integrals to use for calculating the ground state energy of a particle in a harmonic oscillator potential using the variational method. 2. It asks the reader to identify the appropriate unperturbed Hamiltonian, trial wavefunction, and ground state energy for different physical systems being analyzed with time-independent perturbation theory. 3. It asks the reader to derive the first-order correction to the ground state energy for one of the perturbation theory examples and provides an integral to use in the calculation.

Uploaded by

sonjabottlelaw
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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EL2008
Problem Set 7
1. Use the trial wavefunction 𝜙(𝑥) below to calculate the ground-state energy of a particle
in the harmonic oscillator potential using the Variational Method. The necessary integrals
are provided. How well does the function reproduce our exact solution?
𝜙(𝑥) = (1 + 𝛽𝑥 2 )−2
∞ (2𝑛 − 3)(2𝑛 − 5)(2𝑛 − 7) … (1) 𝜋
∫ (1 + 𝛽𝑥 2 )−𝑛 d𝑥 =
−∞ (2𝑛 − 2)(2𝑛 − 4)(2𝑛 − 6) … (2) 𝛽 1⁄2
∞ (2𝑛 − 5)(2𝑛 − 7) … (1) 𝜋
∫ 𝑥 2 (1 + 𝛽𝑥 2 )−𝑛 d𝑥 =
−∞ (2𝑛 − 2)(2𝑛 − 4) … (2) 𝛽 3⁄2

2. Now let’s use the trial wavefunction below to calculate the ground-state energy of the
harmonic oscillator, what would the value of the c variational parameter be?

2 /2 𝑘𝜇
𝜙(𝑥) = (1 + 𝑐𝛼𝑥 2 )e−𝛼𝑥 where 𝛼 = √ ℏ2 .

You do not need to work on math for this problem, you can solve it by inspection. Make
sure to demonstrate how you arrive at your conclusion and including any pertinent
equations or formulae for comparison.
̂ (0) , 𝐻
3. For each of the following situations, identify the appropriate 𝐻 ̂ (1) , 𝜓 (0) , and 𝐸 (0) for
a time-independent perturbation theory analysis.
(a) An oscillator governed by the potential given as:
𝑘 2 𝛾 3 𝑏
𝑉(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 𝑥 + 𝑥4
2 6 24
(b) A particle constrained to exist in the region 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑎 with the potential:
𝑎
𝑉(𝑥) = 0 0<𝑥<
2
𝑎
=𝑏 <𝑥<𝑎
2
(c) A helium atom
(d) A hydrogen atom in an electric field of strength 𝜀. The Hamiltonian for this
system is:
ℏ2 2 𝑒2
̂=−
𝐻 ∇ − + 𝑒𝜀𝑟 cos 𝜃
2𝑚𝑒 4𝜋𝜖0 𝑟
(e) A rigid rotor with a dipole moment 𝜇 in an electric field of strength 𝜀. The
Hamiltonian for this system is:

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ℏ2 2
̂=−
𝐻 ∇ + 𝜇𝜀 cos 𝜃
2𝐼
4. Using your solution for 3b, determine the first-order correction to the ground-state energy
for this system.
𝑎
𝜋𝑥 𝑎
𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐥: ∫ sin2 d𝑥 =
𝑎/2 𝑎 4

5. (+2) There are many resources online proving the variational principle. Search online for
the proof of the variational principle (i.e. 𝐸0 ≤ 𝐸𝜙 ) and be ready to teach the class.

6. Let’s derive the first order correction of the perturbation theory. From the lecture we
derive that:

̂ (0) 𝜓𝑛(0) + 𝜆(𝐻


𝐻 ̂ (0) 𝜓𝑛(1) + 𝐻
̂ ′ 𝜓𝑛(0) ) + 𝜆2 (𝐻
̂ (0) 𝜓𝑛(2) + 𝐻
̂ ′ 𝜓𝑛(1) ) + ⋯
(0) (0) (0) (1) (1) (0) (0) (2) (1) (1) (2) (0)
= 𝐸𝑛 𝜓𝑛 + 𝜆(𝐸𝑛 𝜓𝑛 + 𝐸𝑛 𝜓𝑛 ) + 𝜆2 (𝐸𝑛 𝜓𝑛 + 𝐸𝑛 𝜓𝑛 + 𝐸𝑛 𝜓𝑛 )
+⋯
Let’s gather the term in 𝜆 = 1, the first order correction:
̂ (0) 𝜓𝑛(1) + 𝐻
𝐻 ̂ ′ 𝜓𝑛(0) = 𝐸𝑛(0) 𝜓𝑛(1) + 𝐸𝑛(1) 𝜓𝑛(0)

From here, derive the first order energy correction:


(1) (0) ̂ ′ (0)
𝐸𝑛 = ⟨𝜓𝑛 |𝐻 |𝜓𝑛 ⟩

(0)
Hint1: Begin by multiplying with 𝜓𝑛 and put the integral.
∗
Hint2: ⟨𝜙|𝐴̂|𝜓⟩ = (⟨𝜓|𝐴̂|𝜙⟩)

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