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Assignment-07|Perturbation Theory|Quanta Institute .

1. Let 𝐸𝑛′ (n = 0, 1, 2, ….) be the energy eigenvalues for a particle of mass m placed in an anharmonic
1 1
potential V(x) = 2 𝑚𝜔2 𝑥 2 + 𝑎𝑥 4 (𝑎 > 0). Let 𝐸𝑛 ≡ (𝑛 + 2) ℏ𝜔. Then according to the first
order perturbation theory: [GATE 1996]
(a) 𝐸0′ = 𝐸0 (b) 𝐸0′ > 𝐸0 (c) 𝐸0′ < 𝐸0 (d) 𝐸0′ < 𝐸0 for all n

2. Let 𝐸1 , 𝐸2 , 𝐸3 be the respective ground state energies of the following potentials: Which one of
the following is correct? [GATE 2000]

(a) 𝐸1 < 𝐸2 ¸𝐸3 (b) 𝐸3 < 𝐸1 ¸𝐸2 (c) 𝐸2 < 𝐸3 ¸𝐸1 (d) 𝐸2 < 𝐸1 ¸𝐸3

3. A quantum harmonic oscillator is in the energy eigenstate |𝑛⟩. A time independent perturbation
𝜆(𝑎† 𝑎)2 acts on the particle, where 𝜆 is a constant of suitable dimensions and a and 𝑎† are
lowering and raising operators respectively. Then the first order energy shift is given by
(a) 𝜆𝑛 (b) 𝜆2 𝑛 (c) 𝜆𝑛2 (d) (𝜆𝑛)2 [GATE 2001]

−𝛼 2 𝑥 2
4. The wave function of a one-dimensional harmonic oscillator is Ψ0 = 𝐴𝑒𝑥𝑝 ( 2
) for the
4
ground state 𝐸0 (𝛼𝑥/10) , the first order change in the ground state energy is: [GATE 2004]
∞
[Given:[Γ(𝑥 + 1) = ∫0 𝑡 𝑥 𝑒𝑥𝑝 (−𝑡)𝑑𝑡]
1 3
(a) (2 𝐸0 ) 10−4 (b) (3𝐸0 )10−4 (c) (4 𝐸0 ) 10−4 (d) (𝐸0 )10−4

Common data for Q.5, Q.6 and Q.7

1
An unperturbed two-level system has energy eigenvalues E1 and E2, and eigen function ( ) and
0
0 𝐸1 𝐴
( ). When perturbed, its Hamiltonian is represented by ( ) [GATE 2006]
1 𝐴 𝐸2

5. The first-order correction to E1 is:

(a) 4A (b) 2A (c) A (d) 0

6. The second-order correction to E1 is

𝐴2 |𝐴|2
(a) 0 (b) A (c) (d)
𝐸2 − 𝐸1 𝐸2 − 𝐸1

1
7. The first-order correction to the eigenfunction ( ) is:
0
0 0 𝐴/(𝐸1 − 𝐸2 ) 1
(a) ( ) (b) ( ) (c) ( ) (d) ( )
𝐴/(𝐸1 − 𝐸2 ) 1 0 1

0 𝑖𝑓 0 < 𝑥 < 𝐿,
8. A particle of mass m is confined in an infinite potential well V(x) = { It is
∞ 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
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2πx
subjected to a perturbing potential Vp(x) = V0sin( 𝐿
) within the well. Let 𝐸 (1) and 𝐸 (2) be the
corrections to the ground state energy in the first and second order in V0, respectively. Which of
the following are true? [GATE 2010]
(1) (2) (1) (2)
(a) 𝐸 = 0; 𝐸 < 0 (b) 𝐸 > 0; 𝐸 = 0
(1)
(c) 𝐸 = 0; 𝐸 depends on the sign of V0 (d) 𝐸 (1) < 0; 𝐸 (2) < 0
(2)

9. The normalized eigenstates of a particle in a one-dimensional potential well [GATE 2011]

0 𝑖𝑓 0 < 𝑥 < 𝑎,
V(x) = {
∞ 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
are given by
2 𝑛𝜋𝑥
Ψ𝑛 (𝑥) = √𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( 𝑎
)
The particle is subjected to a perturbation
𝜋𝑥 𝑎
V’(x) = V0cos( 𝑎 ) for 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2
=0 otherwise
The shift in the ground state energy due to the perturbation, in the first order perturbation
theory,
2𝑉0 𝑉0 𝑉0 2𝑉0
(a) (b) (c) - (d) −
3𝜋 3𝜋 3𝜋 3𝜋

1 0
10. Consider a system in the unperturbed state described by the Hamiltonian, H0 = ( ). The
0 1
𝛿 𝛿
system is subjected to a perturbation of the form H’ = ( ), where 𝛿<<1. The energy
𝛿 𝛿
eigenvalues of the perturbed system using the first order perturbation approximation are
(a) 1 and (1 + 2𝛿) (b) (1 + 𝛿) and (1 – 𝛿) [GATE 2012]
(c) (1 + 2𝛿) and (1 - 2𝛿) (d) (1 + 𝛿) and (1 – 2𝛿)

Common data for Q.11 and Q.12:

5 2 0
To the given unperturbed Hamiltonian [2 5 0] [GATE 2013]
0 0 2
1 1 1
we add a small perturbation given by 𝜀 [1 1 −1]
1 −1 1
where 𝜀 is a small quantity.

11. The ground state eigen vector of the unperturbed Hamiltonian is

(a) (1/√2, 1/√2, 0) (b) (1/√2, -1/√2,0)
(c) (0, 0, 1) (d) (1, 0, 0)

12. A pair of eigen values of the perturbed Hamiltonian, using first order perturbation theory, is
(a) 3 + 2𝜀, 7 + 2𝜀 (b) 3 + 2𝜀, 2 + 𝜀
(c) 3, 7 + 2𝜀 (d) 3, 2 + 2𝜀

13. A particle is confined in a one-dimensional potential box with the potential [GATE 2014]

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0 𝑖𝑓 0 < 𝑥 < 𝑎
V(x) = {
∞ 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
If the particle is subjected to a perturbation, within the box, W = 𝛽x, where 𝛽 is a small constant,
the first order correction to the ground state energy is
𝑎𝛽 𝑎𝛽
(a) 0 (b) 4
(c) 2
(d) 𝑎𝛽

14. A particle is confined in a box of length L as shown below. [GATE 2015]

In the potential V0 is treated as a perturbation, including the first order correction, the ground
state energy is
ℏ2 𝜋2 ℏ2 𝜋2 𝑉0
(a) E = 2𝑚𝐿2 + 𝑉0 (b) E = 2𝑚𝐿2 − 2
ℏ2 𝜋2 𝑉0 ℏ2 𝜋2 𝑉0
(c) E = 2𝑚𝐿2 + 4
(d) E = 2𝑚𝐿2 + 2

15. A hydrogen atom is in its ground state. In the presence of a uniform electric field 𝐸⃗ = 𝐸0 𝑧̂ , the
leading order change in its energy is proportional to 〈𝐸0 〉𝑛 . The value of the exponent n is
_______. [GATE 2016]

𝑝2 1
16. A one dimensional simple harmonic oscillator with Hamiltonian H0 = 2𝑚 + 2
𝑘𝑥 2 is subjected to
a small perturbation, 𝐻1 = 𝛼𝑥 + 𝛽𝑥 3 + 𝛾𝑥 4. The first order correction to the ground state
energy is dependent on [GATE 2017]
(a) only 𝛽 (b) 𝛼 and 𝛾 (c) 𝛼 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝛽 (d) only 𝛾

17. If the perturbation H’ = ax, where a is a constant; is added to the infinite square well potential
0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝜋
V(x) = { [CSIR June 2011]
∞ 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
The first order correction to ground state energy is:
𝑎𝜋 𝑎𝜋 𝑎𝜋
(a) 2 (b) 𝑎𝜋 (c) 4 (d) 2
√

18. The perturbation H’ = bx4, where ‘b’ is a constant, is added to the one-dimensional harmonic
1
oscillator potential V(x) = 2 𝑚𝜔2 𝑥 2 . Which of the following denotes the correction to the ground
state energy to first order in b?
[Hint: The normalized ground state wave function of the one-dimensional harmonic oscillator
𝑚𝜔 1/4 2
potential is Ψ0 = ( ℏ𝜋 ) 𝑒 −𝑚𝜔𝑥 . You may use the following integral [CSIR Dec. 2011]
1
𝑥 2 −𝑛 − 1
∫𝑛 𝑥 2𝑛 𝑒 −𝑎𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑎 2 Γ (𝑛 + )
2
3𝑏ℏ2 3𝑏ℏ2 3𝑏ℏ2 𝑏ℏ
(a) 4𝑚2 𝜔2 (b) 2𝑚2 𝜔2 (c) 2𝜋𝑚2 𝜔2 (d) 4𝑚𝜔

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19. A constant perturbation as shown in the figure below acts on a particle of mass m confined in a
infinite potential well between 0 and L. The first-order correction to the ground state energy of
the particle is [CSIR Dec 2011]
𝑉0
(a) 2
3𝑉
(b) 0
4
𝑉
(c) 0
4
3𝑉
(d) 20

20. Consider an electron in a box of length L with periodic boundary condition Ψ(𝑥) = Ψ(𝑥 + 𝐿).
1 𝑗𝑘𝑥 ℏ2 𝑘 2
If the electron is in the Ψ𝑘 (𝑥) = 𝑒 with energy 𝜀𝑘 = , what is the correction to its
√𝐿 2𝑚
energy, to second order of perturbation theory, when it is subjected to weak periodic potential
V(x) = 𝑉0 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑔𝑥, where g is an integral multiple of the 2𝜋/𝐿? [CSIR June 2012]
2 2
(a) 𝑉0 𝜀𝑔 /𝜀𝑘
𝑚𝑉02 1 1
(b) - (
2ℏ2 𝑔2 + 2𝑘𝑔
+ 𝑔2 − 2𝑘𝑔)
(c) 𝑉02 (𝜀𝑘 − 𝜀𝑔 )/𝜀𝑔2
(d) 𝑉02 /(𝜀𝑘 − 𝜀𝑔 )

1
21. The energy eigenvalues of a particle in the potential V(x) = 2 𝑚𝜔2 𝑥 2 – 𝑎𝑥 are
[CSIR Dec. 2012]
1 𝑎2
(a) 𝐸𝑛 = (𝑛 + ) ℏ𝜔 −
2 2𝑚𝜔2
1 𝑎2
(b) 𝐸𝑛 = (𝑛 + ) ℏ𝜔 +
2 2𝑚𝜔2
1 𝑎2
(c) 𝐸𝑛 = (𝑛 + 2
) ℏ𝜔 − 𝑚𝜔2
1
(d) 𝐸𝑛 = (𝑛 + 2
) ℏ𝜔

𝑏(𝑎 − 𝑥) −𝑎 < 𝑥 <𝑎

22. The perturbation H’ = { [CSIR Dec. 2012]
0 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
Acts on a particle of mass ‘m’ confined in an infinite square well potential
0 −𝑎 < 𝑥 < 𝑎
V(x) = {
∞ 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
The first order correction to the ground state energy of the particle is
𝑏𝑎 𝑏𝑎
(a) 2
(b) (c) 2ba (d) ba
√2

0, 𝑖𝑓 0 < 𝑥 < 𝑎, 0 < 𝑦 < 𝑎

23. Consider a two-dimensional infinite square will V(x, y) = { .
∞ 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
2 𝑛 𝜋𝑥 𝑛 𝜋𝑦
Its normalized eigenfunctions are Ψ𝑛𝑥 ,𝑛𝑦 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( 𝑥𝑎 ) 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( 𝑥𝑎 ) where 𝑛𝑥 , 𝑛𝑦 = 1, 2, 3,
….
𝑎 𝑎
′ 𝑉0 , 𝑖𝑓 0 < 𝑥 < 2 , 0 < 𝑦 <
If a perturbation 𝐻 = { 2 is applied, then the correction to the
0, 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
energy of the first excited state to order V0 is [CSIR June 2013]
𝑉0 𝑉0 64 𝑉0 16 𝑉0 32
(a) 4
(b) 4
[1 ± 9𝜋2 ] (c) 4
[1 ± 9𝜋2 ] (d) 4
[1 ± 9𝜋2 ]
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1
24. Two identical bosons of mass m are placed in a one-dimensional potential V(x) = 2 𝑚𝜔2 𝑥 2. The
bosons interact via a weak potential, V12 = V0 exp[-mΩ(𝑥1 − 𝑥2 )2 /4ℏ] where 𝑥1 and 𝑥2 denote
coordinates of the particles. Given that the ground state wavefunction of the harmonic oscillator is
1 2
𝑚𝜔𝑥
𝑚𝜔 4
Ψ0 (𝑥) = ( 𝜋ℏ ) 𝑒 − 2ℏ . The ground state energy of the two-boson system, to the first order
in V0,
is: [CSIR June 2013]
𝑉0 Ω
(a) ℏ𝜔 + 2𝑉0 (b) ℏ𝜔 + 𝜔
Ω −1/2 𝜔
(c) ℏ𝜔 + 𝑉0 (1 + 2𝜔) (d) ℏ𝜔 + 𝑉0 (1 + Ω )

25. The motion of a particle of mass m in one dimension is described by the Hamiltonian
𝑝2 1
H = 2𝑚 + 2
𝑚𝜔2 𝑥 2 + 𝜆𝑥 . What is the difference between the (quantized) energies of the first two
levels? (In the following 〈𝑥〉 is the expectation value of x in the ground state) [CSIR Dec. 2013]
𝜆2
(a) ℏ𝜔 − 𝜆〈𝑥〉 (b) ℏ𝜔 + 𝜆〈𝑥〉 (c) ℏ𝜔 + 2𝑚𝜔2
(d) ℏ𝜔

26. The ground state eigenfunction for the potential V(x) = -𝛿(x), where 𝛿(x) is the delta function, is
given by Ψ(x) = A𝑒 −𝑎|𝑥| , where A and a > 0 are constants. If a perturbation H’ = bx2 is applied, the
first order correction to the energy of the ground state will be [CSIR June 2014]
𝑏 𝑏
(a) (b) 𝑎2
√2𝑎2
2𝑏 𝑏
(c) 𝑎2
(d) 2𝑎2

1 0 0
27. The Hamiltonian H0 for a three-state quantum system is given by the matrix 𝐻0 = (0 2 0).
0 0 2
0 1 0
When perturbed by H’ = 𝜖 (1 0 1) where 𝜖 <<1, the resulting shift in the energy eigenvalue
0 1 0
E0 = 2 is [CSIR Dec. 2014]
(a) 𝜖, -2𝜖 (b) - 𝜖, 2𝜖 (c) ±𝜖 (d) ±2𝜖

28. A hydrogen atom is subjected to the perturbation Vpert(r) = 𝜖cos2r/a0 where a0 is the Bohr radius.
The change in the ground state energy to first order in 𝜖 is [CSIR Dec. 2015]
(a) 𝜖/4 (b) 𝜖/2 (c) - 𝜖/2 (d) - 𝜖/4

1
29. Consider a particle of mass m in a potential V(x) = 2 𝑚𝜔2 𝑥 2 + 𝑔𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑘𝑥. The change in the
1
ground state energy, compared to the simple harmonic potential 2 𝑚𝜔2 𝑥 2 , to first order in g is
𝑘2ℏ 𝑘2ℏ
(a) g exp(− 2𝑚𝜔) (b) g exp(2𝑚𝜔) [CSIR June 2016]
2𝑘 2 ℏ 𝑘2ℏ
(c) g exp(− 𝑚𝜔
) (d) g exp(− 4𝑚𝜔)
30. A particle of charge q in one-dimension is in a simple harmonic potential with angular frequency
2
𝜔. It is subjected to a time dependent electric field E(t) = A𝑒 −(𝑡/𝜏) , where A and 𝜏 are positive
constants and 𝜔𝜏 >> 1. If in the distant past t → − ∞ the particle was in its ground state, the
probability that it will be in the first excited state as t → + ∞ is proportional to
1 1
(𝜔𝑡)2 (𝜔𝑡)2
(a) 𝑒 −2 (b) 𝑒 2 [CSIR Dec. 2016]
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1
(c) 0 (d) (𝜔𝑡)2

31. A constant perturbation H’ is applied to a system for time ∆𝑡 (where H’ ∆𝑡 <<h) leading to a
transition from a state with energy Ei to another with energy Ef. If the time of application is
doubled, the probability of transition will be [CSIR June 2017]
(a) unchanged (b) doubled (c) quadrupled (d) halved

32. The Coulomb potential V(r) = -e2/r of a hydrogen atom is perturbed by adding H’ = bx2 (where b
is a constant) to the Hamiltonian. The first order correction to the ground state energy is (The
1
ground state wavefunction is Ψ0 = 𝑒 −𝑟/𝑎0 ). [CSIR June 2017]
√𝜋𝑎03

(a) 2b𝑎02 (b) b𝑎02 (c) b𝑎02 /2 (d) √2b𝑎02

33. In the usual notation |𝑛𝑙𝑚⟩ for the states of a hydrogen like atom, consider the spontaneous
transitions |210⟩ → |100⟩ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 |310⟩ → |100⟩. If t1 and t2 are the lifetimes of the first and the
second decaying states respectively, then the ratio t1/t2 is proportional to [CSIR June 2017]
32 3 27 3 2 3 3 3
(a) (27) (b) (32) (c) (3) (d) (2)

1
34. Consider a spin - 2 particle characterized by the Hamiltonian H = 𝜔𝑆𝑧 . Under a perturbation
H’ = g𝑆𝑥 , the second order correction to the ground state energy is given by, [JEST 2015]
𝑔2 𝑔2 𝑔2 𝑔2
(a) - 4𝜔 (b) 4𝜔
(c) - 2𝜔 (d) 2𝜔

35. A particle of mass m is confined in a potential well given by V(x) = 0 for -L/2 < x < L/2 and V(x) = ∞
elsewhere. A perturbing potential H’(x) = ax has been applied to the system. Let the first and
(1) (2)
second order corrections to the ground state be 𝐸0 and 𝐸0 , respectively. Which one of the
following statements is correct? [JEST 2015]
(1) (2) (1) (2)
(a) 𝐸0 < 0 and 𝐸0 > 0 (b) 𝐸0 = 0 and 𝐸0 > 0
(1) (2) (1) (2)
(c) 𝐸0 > 0 and 𝐸0 < 0 (d) 𝐸0 = 0 and 𝐸0 < 0

36. Consider a quantum particle of mass m in one dimension in an infinite potential well, i.e., V(x) = 0
for -a/2 < x < a/2, and V(x) = ∞ for |𝑥| ≥ 𝑎/2. A small perturbation, V’(x) = 2 ∈ |𝑥|/a, is added.
The change in the ground state energy to O(𝜀) is: [JEST 2016]
𝜀 2 𝜀 2
(a) 2𝜋2 (𝜋 − 4) (b) 2𝜋2 (𝜋 + 4)
𝜀𝜋2 𝜀𝜋2
(c) 2
(𝜋 2 + 4) (d) 2
(𝜋 2 − 4)
𝑝̂2 1
̂ =
37. A particle is described by the following Hamiltonian 𝐻 + 𝑚𝜔2 𝑥̂ 2 + 𝜆𝑥̂ 4 , where the
2𝑚 2
quartic term can be treated perturbatively. If Δ𝐸0 and Δ𝐸1 denote the energy correction of O(𝜆)
to the ground state and the first excited state respectively, what is the fraction Δ𝐸1 / Δ𝐸0 ?
[JEST 2017]
38. A charged particle is in the ground state of a one-dimensional harmonic oscillator potential,
generated by electrical means. If the power is suddenly switched off, so that the potential
disappears, then, according to quantum mechanics, [TIFR 2010]
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(a) the particle will shoot out of the well and move out towards infinity in one of the two possible
direction as
(b) the particle will stop oscillating and as time increases it may be found farther and farther way
from the center of the well
(c) the particle will keep oscillating about the same mean position but with increasing amplitude as
time increases
(d) the particle will undergo a transition to one of the higher excited states of the harmonic
oscillator.

39. A particle of mass ‘m’ and charge ‘e’ is in the ground state of a one-dimensional harmonic
oscillator potential in the presence of a uniform external electric field E. The total potential felt by
the particle is [TIFR 2014]
1
V(x) = kx2 - eEx
2
If the electric field is suddenly switched off, then the particle will
(a) Make a transition to any harmonic oscillator state with x = -eE/k as origin without emitting any
photon.
(b) Make a transition to any harmonic oscillator state with x = 0 as origin and absorb a photon.
(c) Settle into the harmonic oscillator ground state with x – 0 as origin after absorbing a photon.
(d) Oscillate back and forth with initial amplitude eE/k, emitting multiple photons as it does so.

40. A quantum mechanical system which has stationary states |1⟩, |2⟩, |3⟩ corresponding to energy
levels 0 eV, 1 eV and 2 eV respectively, is perturbed by a potential of the form [TIFR 2017]
𝑉̂ = 𝜀|1⟩⟨3| + 𝜀|3⟩⟨1|, where, in eV, 0 < 𝜀 <<1.

The new ground state, correct to order 𝜀, is approximately.

𝜀 𝜀 𝜀
(a) (1 − ) |1⟩ + |3⟩ (b) |1⟩ + |2⟩ − 𝜀|3⟩
2 2 2
𝜀 𝜀
(c) |1⟩ + |3⟩ (d) |1⟩ − |3⟩
2 2

41. The validity of Fermi’s golden rule which connects two states with energy difference ΔE, implies
that it is true for
ℏ ℏ
(a) All times t (b) t ≥ (c) t ≤ (d) ∆E =0
∆𝐸 ∆𝐸

1 1
42. A one-dimensional harmonic oscillator whose Hamiltonian is 𝐻0 = 2𝑚 𝑝̂ 2 + 2𝑚 𝜔2 𝑥 2 is perturbed
such that the total Hamiltonian is H = H0 + 𝜀𝑥̂. The first order correction to the ground state is
(a) 2 𝜀ℏ𝜔 (b) 𝜀ℏ𝜔⁄2 (c) 𝜀ℏ𝜔 (d) 0

𝑝̂2 1
̂0 =
43. The first-order correction to the eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian 𝐻 + 𝑘𝑥̂ 2 due to a
2𝑚 2
perturbation 𝐻 ̂1 = 𝑎𝑥̂ are
(a) 0 (b) a/k (c) 2a/k (d) -2a/k

44. The ground state energy of a particle of mass 𝑚 in an infinite potential well is 𝐸0 . It
𝜋 2 ℏ2
changes to 𝐸0 (1 + 𝛼 × 10−3 ), when there is small potential bump of height 𝑉0 = 50𝑚𝐿2 and
width 𝑎 = 𝐿 ∕ 100, as shown in the figure. The value of 𝛼 is___________(up to two decimal
places). [GATE 2018]
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45. An electric field 𝐸⃗ = 𝐸0 𝑧̂ is applied to a hydrogen atom in 𝑛 = 2 excited state. Ignoring

spin, the 𝑛 = 2 state is fourfold degenerate, which in the |ℓ, 𝑚⟩ basis are given by |0,0⟩,
|1,1⟩, |1,0⟩ and |1, −1⟩. The 𝐻 ′ is the interaction Hamiltonian corresponding to the applied
electric field, which of the following matrix elements is non-zero? [GATE 2019]
(a) 〈0,0|𝐻 ′ |0,0〉 (b) 〈0,0|𝐻 ′ |1,1〉 (c) 〈0,0|𝐻 ′ |1,0〉 (d) 〈0,0|𝐻 ′ |1, −1〉
1 𝜀
46. The Hamiltonian of a system is 𝐻 = ( ) with 𝜀 << 1. The fourth order
𝜀 −1
contribution to the ground state energy of 𝐻 is 𝛾𝜀 4. The value of 𝛾 (rounded off to three
decimal places) is ___________. [GATE 2019]
47. A particle of mass 𝑚 is constrained to move in a circular ring to radius 𝑅. When a
perturbation
𝑎
𝑉′ = cos 2 𝜙
𝑅2
(where 𝑎 is a real constant) is added, the shift in energy of the ground state, to first order in
𝑎, is [CSIR June 2018]

(a) 𝑎 ∕ 𝑅 2 (b) 2𝑎 ∕ 𝑅 2 (c) 𝑎 ∕ (2𝑅 2 ) (d) 𝑎 ∕ (𝜋𝑅 2 )

48. The infinite square-well potential of a particle in a box of size 𝑎 is modified as shown in
the figure below (assume 𝛥 ≪ 𝑎)

The energy of the ground state, compared to the ground state energy before the
perturbation was added [CSIR June 2019]

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(a) increases by a term of order 𝜀 (b) decreases by a term of order 𝜀

(c) increases by a term of order 𝜀 2 (d) decreases by a term of order 𝜀 2
49. A charged, spin-less particle of mass 𝑚 is subjected to an attractive potential
1
𝑉(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 2 𝑘(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ) , where 𝑘 is a positive constant. Now a perturbation in the
form of a weak magnetic field 𝐵 = 𝐵0 𝑘̂ (where 𝐵0 us a constant) is switched on. Into how
many distinct levels will the second excited state of the unperturbed Hamiltonian split?
[CSIR June 2019]
(a) 5 (b) 4 (c) 2 (d) 1
50. A quantum particle in a one-dimensional box of length 𝐿 is perturbed by a barrier of
height 𝜀 and length 𝑎, as shown in the figure.

Assuming that 𝜀 is much smaller than the ground state energy of the particle in the
unperturbed box and 𝑎 << 𝐿. The changes of the two lowest energy eigenvalues, to first
order in 𝜀 and first order in 𝑎, are, respectively. [CSIR Dec. 2019]
2𝜀𝑎 2𝜀𝑎 2𝜀𝑎 2𝜀𝑎 2𝜀𝑎
(a) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 − (b) 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (c) − 𝑎𝑛𝑑 0 (d) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 0
𝐿 𝐿 𝐿 𝐿 𝐿

51. A harmonic oscillator has the following Hamiltonian

𝑝
̂ 1
𝐻0 = ̂2
+ 𝑚𝜔2 𝑥
2𝑚 2
It is perturbed with a potential 𝑉 = 𝜆𝑥̂ 4 . Some of the matrix elements of 𝑥̂ 2 in terms of its
expectation value in the ground state are given as follows:

〈0|𝑥̂ 2 |0〉 = 𝐶 ; 〈0|𝑥̂ 2 |2〉 = √2𝐶 ; 〈1|𝑥̂ 2 |1〉 = 3𝐶 ; 〈1|𝑥̂ 2 |3〉 = √6𝐶
Where|𝑛〉 is the normalized eigenstate of 𝐻0 corresponding to the eigenvalue
𝐸𝑛 = −ℏ𝜔(𝑛 + 1 ∕ 2). Suppose 𝛥𝐸0 and 𝛥𝐸1 denote the energy correction of 𝑂(𝜆) to the
ground state and the first excited state, respectively. What is the fraction 𝛥𝐸1 /𝛥𝐸0 ?
[JEST 2018]

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52. Consider a quantum particle of mass 𝑚 and charge 𝑒 moving in a two dimensional
potential given as:
𝑘
𝑉(𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑥 − 𝑦)2 + 𝑘(𝑥 + 𝑦)2
2
The particle is also subject to an external electric field 𝐸⃗ = 𝜆(𝑖̂ − 𝑗̂), where 𝜆 is a constant. 𝑖̂
and 𝑗̂ corresponds to unit vectors along 𝑥 and 𝑦 directions, respectively. Let 𝐸1 and 𝐸0 be
the first excited state and ground state, respectively. What is the value of 𝐸1 − 𝐸0 ?
[JEST 2019]

2𝑘 2𝑘 2𝑘 2𝑘
(a) ℏ√ 𝑚 (b) ℏ√ 𝑚 + 𝑒𝜆2 (c) 3ℏ√ 𝑚 (d) 3ℏ√ 𝑚 + 𝑒𝜆2

53. A particle of mass 𝑚 moves two-dimensional space (𝑥, 𝑦) under the influence of a
Hamiltonian
1 1
𝐻= (𝑝𝑥2 + 𝑝𝑦2 ) + 𝑚𝜔(5𝑥 2 + 5𝑦 2 + 6𝑥𝑦)
2𝑚 4
Find the ground slate energy of this particle in a quantum-mechanical treatment.
[TIFR 2018]

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ANSWER KEY .

1 B 21 A 41 D
2 C 22 D 42 D
3 C 23 B 43 A
4 C 24 C 44 0.78 to 0.82
5 D 25 D 45 C
6 D 26 D 46 0.125
7 A 27 C 47 C
8 A 28 D 48 D
9 A 29 D 49 A
10 A 30 A 50 D
11 C 31 * 51 (0005)
12 C 32 * 52 A
13 C 33 * 53 3
ℏ𝜔
2

14 D 34 A
15 2 35 D
16 D 36 A
17 A 37 0005
18 A 38 A
19 B 39 B
20 B 40 *

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