Quantum Physics Homework Analysis
Quantum Physics Homework Analysis
Homework II
Department of Physics
Middle East Technical University
[Modified December 27, 2024]
PHYS300 ■ Homework II 1/9
Question 1
Solution. (a) There are several conditions that the wave function Ψ must satisfy in order to be acceptable for the
infinite square well.
1) The wave function Ψ must be normalizable:
∫ ∞
|Ψ|2 𝑑𝑥 = 1
−∞
The wave function is given by 𝜋
2𝜋
Ψ = 𝑁 sin 𝑥 + 2 sin 𝑥
𝐿 𝐿
Its complex conjugate is
2𝜋 𝜋
∗
Ψ = 𝑁 sin 𝑥 + 2 sin 𝑥
𝐿 𝐿
The normalization condition is then
𝐿 𝜋 𝜋
2𝜋 2𝜋
∫
2 2
|𝑁| sin 𝑥 + 4 sin 𝑥 sin 𝑥 + 4 sin2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 1
0 𝐿 𝐿 𝐿 𝐿
Let’s break down the integral into three parts:
𝐿 𝜋 𝐿 𝜋 𝐿
2𝜋 2𝜋
∫ ∫ ∫
|𝑁|2 sin2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 4 sin 𝑥 sin 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 4 sin2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 1
0 𝐿 0 𝐿 𝐿 0 𝐿
Using the identites given in the problem, we have
( 𝐿 𝐿 𝐿 )
𝑥 𝐿 2𝜋 𝐿 𝜋 𝐿 3𝜋 𝑥 𝐿 4𝜋
2
|𝑁| − sin 𝑥 +4 sin 𝑥 − sin 𝑥 +4 − sin 𝑥 =1
2 4𝜋 𝐿 0 2𝜋 𝐿 6𝜋 𝐿 0 2 8𝜋 𝐿 0
3) The derivative of the wave function must be continuous everywhere except at points where the potential
is infinite. The derivative of the wave function is
𝑑Ψ 𝑁𝜋 𝜋 2𝜋
= cos 𝑥 + 4 cos 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝐿 𝐿 𝐿
• In the interval (−∞, 0), the derivative of the wave function is zero. Therefore, it is continuous in that
interval.
• In the interval (0, 𝐿), the derivative of the wave function is a linear combination of two cosine
functions, each of which is continuous in that interval. Therefore, the derivative of the wave function
is continuous in that interval.
• In the interval (𝐿, ∞), the derivative of the wave function is zero. Therefore, it is continuous in that
interval.
• The derivative of the wave function at the boundaries is
𝑑ΨII 𝑁𝜋 5𝑁𝜋 𝑑ΨI
= [cos(0) + 4 cos(0)] = ≠ =0
𝑑𝑥 (0,0) 𝐿 𝐿 𝑑𝑥 (0,0)
𝑑ΨII 𝑁𝜋 3𝑁𝜋 𝑑ΨI
= [cos(𝜋) + 4 cos(2𝜋)] = − ≠ =0
𝑑𝑥 (𝐿,0) 𝐿 𝐿 𝑑𝑥 (𝐿,0)
Since the potential is infinite at the boundaries, the derivative of the wave function is not required to
be continuous at the boundaries.
Therefore, the derivative of the wave function is continuous everywhere except at points where the
potential is infinite, and the third condition is satisfied.
4) The second derivative of the wave function must exist. The second derivative of the wave function is
𝑑2 Ψ 𝑁𝜋2 𝜋 2𝜋
= − sin 𝑥 + 8 sin 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 2 𝐿 2 𝐿 𝐿
Hence, the second derivative of the wave function exists, and the fourth condition is satisfied.
In conclusion, the given wave function Ψ is acceptable for the infinite square well.
ˆ
Therefore, the wave function Ψ is not an eigenfunction of the total energy operator 𝐻.
where 𝐻ˆ is the total energy operator. The the total energy operator inside the well is given by
ℏ2 𝑑 2
𝐻ˆ = −
2𝑚 𝑑𝑥 2
The expectation value is then
ℏ2 ∞
𝑑2 Ψ
∫
⟨𝐸⟩ = − Ψ∗ 𝑑𝑥
2𝑚 −∞ 𝑑𝑥 2
The complex conjugate of the wave function is
r
2 𝜋 2𝜋
∗
Ψ (𝑥, 0) = sin 𝑥 + 2 sin 𝑥
5𝐿 𝐿 𝐿
The second derivative of the wave function is
𝑑2 Ψ 𝜋2 𝜋 8𝜋2
r
2 2𝜋
= − 2 sin 𝑥 − 2 sin 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 2 5𝐿 𝐿 𝐿 𝐿 𝐿
2 𝜋2
r 𝜋 2𝜋
=− sin 𝑥 + 8 sin 𝑥
5𝐿 𝐿2 𝐿 𝐿
Substituting the wave function and its second derivative into the expectation value, we have
𝐿
𝜋 2 ℏ2 𝜋 2𝜋 𝜋 2𝜋
∫
⟨𝐸⟩ = sin 𝑥 + 2 sin 𝑥 sin 𝑥 + 8 sin 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
5𝑚𝐿3 0 𝐿 𝐿 𝐿 𝐿
𝐿 𝐿 𝐿
𝜋 2 ℏ2 𝜋 𝜋 2𝜋 2𝜋
∫ ∫ ∫
2 2
= sin 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 10 sin 𝑥 sin 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 16 sin 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
5𝑚𝐿3 0 𝐿 0 𝐿 𝐿 0 𝐿
𝜋 2 ℏ2 𝐿 16𝐿
= + 10 (0) +
5𝑚𝐿3 2 2
17𝜋2 ℏ2
=
10𝑚𝐿2
The ground state energy of the particle is given by
𝜋 2 ℏ2
𝐸1 =
2𝑚𝐿2
Therefore, the expectation value of the energy expressed in terms of the ground state energy is
Expectation value of 17
⟨𝐸⟩ = 𝐸1
total energy 5
■
Question 2
Solution. Recall that the expectation value of the position 𝑥 is given by
∫ ∞
⟨𝑥⟩ = Ψ∗ [𝑥] Ψ 𝑑𝑥
−∞
where Ψ(𝑥, 𝑡) is the state of the particle at time 𝑡.
(a) The first wave function is given by
r
2 𝜋 𝑖𝐸1 𝑡
Ψ1 = cos 𝑥 exp −
𝐿 𝐿 ℏ
r
2 𝜋 𝑖𝐸1 𝑡
Ψ∗1 = cos 𝑥 exp
𝐿 𝐿 ℏ
Hence, we have
𝐿/2
2 𝜋
∫
⟨𝑥⟩ = 𝑥 cos2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝐿 −𝐿/2 𝐿
Note that the integrand is an odd function:
𝜋 𝜋
𝑓 (−𝑥) = (−𝑥) cos2 (−𝑥) = −𝑥 cos2 𝑥 = − 𝑓 (𝑥)
𝐿 𝐿
Therefore, the integral is zero, and the expectation value is
Expectation value of
position for Ψ1
⟨𝑥⟩ = 0
r
2 2𝜋 𝑖𝐸2 𝑡
Ψ∗2 = sin 𝑥 exp
𝐿 𝐿 ℏ
Hence, we have
𝐿/2
2 2𝜋
∫
2
⟨𝑥⟩ = 𝑥 sin 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝐿 −𝐿/2 𝐿
Note that the integrand is an odd function:
2𝜋 2𝜋
2
𝑓 (−𝑥) = (−𝑥) sin (−𝑥) = −𝑥 sin2 𝑥 = − 𝑓 (𝑥)
𝐿 𝐿
Therefore, the integral is zero, and the expectation value is
Expectation value of
position for Ψ2
⟨𝑥⟩ = 0
1 𝜋 𝑖𝐸1 𝑡 2𝜋 𝑖𝐸2 𝑡
Ψ = √ cos 𝑥 exp − + sin 𝑥 exp −
𝐿 𝐿 ℏ 𝐿 ℏ
Its complex conjugate is
1 𝜋 𝑖𝐸1 𝑡 2𝜋 𝑖𝐸2 𝑡
∗
Ψ = √ cos 𝑥 exp + sin 𝑥 exp
𝐿 𝐿 ℏ 𝐿 ℏ
To simplify the calculation, let’s make the following substitutions:
𝜋 2𝜋 𝑖𝑡
= 𝛼, = 2𝛼, =𝛽
𝐿 𝐿 ℏ
Hence, we have
𝑥
Ψ∗ [𝑥] Ψ = cos(𝛼𝑥) exp −𝐸1 𝛽 + sin (2𝛼𝑥) exp −𝐸2 𝛽 cos(𝛼𝑥) exp 𝐸1 𝛽 + sin(2𝛼𝑥) exp 𝐸2 𝛽
𝐿
𝑥
cos2 (𝛼𝑥) + cos(𝛼𝑥) sin(2𝛼𝑥) exp −𝐸1 𝛽 + 𝐸2 𝛽 + exp −𝐸2 𝛽 + 𝐸1 𝛽 + sin2 (2𝛼𝑥)
=
𝐿
The first and last integrals are zero, as shown in the previous parts. The integrand of the second integral is an
even function:
𝑓 (−𝑥) = (−𝑥) cos[𝛼(−𝑥)] sin[2𝛼(−𝑥)] = 𝑥 cos(𝛼𝑥) sin(2𝛼𝑥) = 𝑓 (𝑥)
16𝐿 𝑡
Expectation value of
⟨𝑥⟩ = cos (𝐸2 − 𝐸1 )
position for Ψ 9𝜋2 ℏ
(b) The expectation value for the Ψ1 and Ψ2 does not depend on time, whereas the expectation value for Ψ
oscillates sinusoidally with time at an angular frequency 𝜔 = (𝐸2 − 𝐸1 ) /ℏ.
(c) Recall that the uncertainty in the position of the particle is given by
p
𝜎𝑥 = ⟨𝑥 2 ⟩ − ⟨𝑥⟩ 2
Question 3
Solution. (a) The commutator of 𝐻ˆ and 𝑝ˆ is
ˆ 𝑝ˆ = 𝐻ˆ 𝑝ˆ − 𝑝ˆ 𝐻ˆ
𝐻,
ℏ2 𝑑 2 𝑑
𝐻ˆ = − + 𝑉(𝑥), 𝑝ˆ = −𝑖ℏ
2𝑚 𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
and 𝑉(𝑥) = 𝑚𝜔2 𝑥 2 /2 is the potential energy. Let us find the commutator by applying it to a test function 𝑓 :
ˆ 𝑝ˆ 𝑓 = 𝐻ˆ 𝑝ˆ 𝑓 (𝑥) − 𝑝ˆ 𝐻ˆ 𝑓 (𝑥)
𝐻,
𝐻ˆ 𝑝ˆ 𝑓 = −𝑖ℏ𝐻ˆ 𝑓 (1)
ℏ2 (3)
= −𝑖ℏ − 𝑓 + 𝑉 𝑓 (1)
2𝑚
𝑖ℏ3 (3)
= 𝑓 − 𝑖ℏ𝑉 𝑓 (1)
2𝑚
The second term is
ℏ2 (2)
𝑝ˆ 𝐻ˆ 𝑓 = 𝑝ˆ − 𝑓 +𝑉𝑓
2𝑚
ℏ2 (3)
= −𝑖ℏ − 𝑓 + 𝑉 (1) 𝑓 + 𝑉(𝑥) 𝑓 (1)
2𝑚
𝑖ℏ3 (3)
= 𝑓 − 𝑖ℏ𝑉 (1) 𝑓 − 𝑖ℏ𝑉 𝑓 (1)
2𝑚
Substituting the results back into the commutator, we have
3 3
ˆ 𝑝ˆ 𝑓 = 𝑖ℏ𝑓
𝐻, (3)
𝑖ℏ𝑉
𝑖ℏ
(1)
𝑓 − 𝑓 (3) + 𝑖ℏ𝑉 (1) 𝑓 +
𝑖ℏ𝑉 (1)
𝑓
−
2𝑚
2𝑚
= 𝑖ℏ𝑉 (1) 𝑓
𝑑 1
= 𝑖ℏ 𝑓 𝑚𝜔2 𝑥 2
𝑑𝑥 2
= 𝑖ℏ𝑚𝜔2 𝑥 𝑓
ˆ and 𝑝ˆ 2 is
(b) The commutator of 𝐻
ˆ 𝑝ˆ 2 = 𝐻ˆ 𝑝ˆ 2 − 𝑝ˆ 2 𝐻ˆ
𝐻,
ˆ 𝑝ˆ 2 𝑓 = 𝐻ˆ 𝑝ˆ 2 𝑓 (𝑥) − 𝑝ˆ 2 𝐻ˆ 𝑓 (𝑥)
𝐻,
𝐻ˆ 𝑝ˆ 2 𝑓 = −ℏ2 𝐻ˆ 𝑓 (2)
ℏ2 (4)
= −ℏ2 − 𝑓 + 𝑉 𝑓 (2)
2𝑚
ℏ4 (4)
= 𝑓 − ℏ2 𝑉 𝑓 (2)
2𝑚
4 4
ˆ 𝑝ˆ 2 𝑓 = ℏ 𝑓
𝐻, (4)
ℏ2
𝑉 𝑓
ℏ
(2)
− 𝑓 (4) + ℏ2 𝑉 (2) 𝑓 + 2ℏ2𝑉 (1) 𝑓 (1) +
ℏ2 (2)
𝑉 𝑓
−
2𝑚
2𝑚
= ℏ2𝑉 (2) 𝑓 + 2ℏ2 𝑉 (1) 𝑓 (1)
𝑑2 1 𝑑 1
2
=ℏ 𝑓 2 𝑚𝜔2 𝑥 2 + 2ℏ2 𝑓 (1) 𝑚𝜔2 𝑥 2
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 2
𝑑𝑓
= 𝑚ℏ2 𝜔2 𝑓 + 2𝑚𝑥ℏ2 𝜔2
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑓
2
= 𝑖ℏ𝑚𝜔 −𝑖ℏ 𝑓 − 2𝑖ℏ𝑥
𝑑𝑥
= 𝑖ℏ𝑚𝜔2 2𝑥ˆ 𝑝ˆ 𝑓 − 𝑖ℏ 𝑓
ˆ 𝑝ˆ 2 = 𝑖ℏ𝑚𝜔2 2𝑥ˆ 𝑝ˆ − 𝑖ℏ
𝐻,
(c) Given an initial wave function at 𝑡 = 0, we can obtain the wave function at a time 𝑡 > 0 by multiplying each
𝑐 𝑛 𝜓 𝑛 (𝑥) by its respective time-dependent phase factor:
∞
Õ
Ψ(𝑥, 𝑡) = 𝑐 𝑛 𝜓 𝑛 (𝑥)𝑒 −𝑖𝐸𝑛 𝑡/ℏ
𝑛=1
where 𝐸𝑛 is given by
1
𝐸𝑛 = 𝑛 + ℏ𝜔
2
In our case, we obtain
1
Ψ(𝑥, 𝑡) = √ 𝜓0 𝑒 −𝑖𝐸0 𝑡/ℏ + 2𝑖𝜓1 𝑒 −𝑖𝐸1 𝑡/ℏ
5
which simplifies to
Wave function at 1 2𝑖
time 𝑡
Ψ(𝑥, 𝑡) = √ 𝜓0 𝑒 −𝑖𝜔𝑡/2 + √ 𝜓1 𝑒 −3𝑖𝜔𝑡/2
5 5
Therefore, if we measure the energy of the particle, we could get either 𝐸0 = ℏ𝜔/2 with probability |𝑐 0 |2 = 1/5
or 𝐸1 = 3ℏ𝜔/2 with probability |𝑐 1 |2 = 4/5. The expectation value of the total energy is given by
𝑛
|𝑐 𝑛 |2 𝐸𝑛
Õ
⟨𝐸⟩ =
𝑛=0
Expectation value of 13
⟨𝐸⟩ = 𝐸0
total energy 5
■