Fsica Cuntica II

Hoja 3

Approximation methods for time-dependent problems

1) Consider a one-dimensional harmonic oscillator with angular frequency and charge q . At time t = 0 the oscillator is in
its ground state. At that time, an electric eld is applied for time , so the perturbation is
W (t)

= qE X

W (t)

0t

otherwise

where E is the eld strength and X is the position operator. a) Using rst-order perturbation theory, calculate the probability
2
(1)
(qE)2
of transition to the state n = 1. (Solution: P01 ( ) = 2m sin( /2) .) b) Using rst-order perturbation theory, show that the
/2
transition to the state n = 2 is impossible.

2) Consider a one-dimensional harmonic oscillator embedded in a uniform time-dependent electric eld given by
A
E(t) = exp

where A and are constants. The eect of the eld can be assumed to be a perturbation. The oscillator is in its ground state
when the eld is connected. Compute to rst order the probability of eld-induced transition to any excited state. (The mass,
charge and frequency of the oscillator are, respectively, m, q , and .) (In order to obtain a simple analytical solution, consider
(qA)2
that the perturbation is connected at t .)(Solution: P01 (t ) = 2m exp 1 ( )2 ) (The integral
2

eixx dx =

2 /(4)
e

>0

can be needed.)
3) Consider a one-dimensional harmonic oscillator described by the Hamiltonian
H=

P2
1
+ m 2 (t)X 2 ,
2m 2

where (t) = 0 + cos t, with 0 , and being a constant. Assume that at t = 0, the system is in its ground state.
a) Taking into account that X 2 = 2m0 (a + a)2 , analyze, using time-dependent perturbation theory to rst order, which
transitions can be induced by the perturbation from the initial (ground) state. (Solution: the perturbation induces transitions
only to the number state with n = 2.)
b) Consider 20 and obtain the probability of transition from the ground state (n = 0) to the state with n = 2.
Specify the range of times where the application of rst-order time-dependent perturbation theory is valid. (Solution: P02 =

2
()2 sin(20 )t/2

. The restriction 0 t 22 must be fullled for the applied theory to be valid.)

8
(20 )/2
c) Consider = 0, i.e., a constant perturbation, and obtain the probability of transition from the ground state (n = 0) to
2
2
the state with n = 2. (Solution: P02 = () sin(20 )t/2 .)
2
(20 )/2
4) Consider a Hamiltonian H0 which has as eigenstates a discrete state | and a continuum of states |E, , where E
denotes the eigenvalue associated to H0 and denotes other quantum numbers necessary for completely characterizing the state.
Specically, assume:
H0 |

= E0 | ,

E0 > 0

H0 |E,

= E |E, ,

E [0, )

Consider a sinusoidal perturbation with the form

W (t) = A exp(E) cos(t) (| E, | + h.c.) .

Assume also that the density of states of the continuum is given by (E) = BE 1/2 . (A, , and B are positive real constants.)
a) Obtain for which values of there is a non-negligible probability of transition from the discrete state to the continuum.
(Solution: E0 / .)
b) Use Fermi' s golden rule to obtain the frequency op that optimizes the probability of transition per unit time and per
1
unity interval of . (Solution: op = E0 + 4 / .)
5) An arbitrary quantum system is initially in its ground state |0 . At t = 0, a perturbation of the form W (t) = W0 et/T
is applied. Show that, at large times (t ), the probability of transition to the state |1 is given by
2

P01 =

| 1 |W0 | 0 |
,
( /T )2 + (E)2

where E = E1 E2 . Discuss why, in the present case, there are no restrictions on the range of times where rst-order
perturbation theory is applicable.
6) A hydrogen atom, initially (i.e., t ) in its ground state |100 , is placed in a time dependent electric eld pointing
along the z -axis E(t) = E0 k/( 2 + t2 ), where is a constant with the dimension of time. Calculate the probability that the
atom will be found in the state |210 after a suciently long time (i.e., t ).
100 (r) = R10 (r)Y00 (, ) =

210 (r) = R21 (r)Y10 (, ) =

1
8a3
0

1
a3
0

er/a0

r r/(2a0 )
e
cos
2a0

The integrals

xn ex dx = n!n1

[Re > 0]

(1)

eiax

dx = eab
+ x2
b

(2)

b2

can be needed. (Optional exercise: show that the result of the integral (2) can be obtained applying the method of residues.)
2 2 2 2
(Solution: P|100 |210 = 0.55 e E0 a0 exp 3EI .)
2
2
7) Rabi oscillation: the case of non-zero detuning
Consider a two-level system described by the Hamiltonian H(t) = H0 + W (t), where
H0

Ei |i i | + Ef |f

f |

W (t)

cos(t) (Wif |i f | + h.c.)

At t = 0, the system is prepared as |(0) = |i . Obtain the probability of transition to the state |f as a function of time.
Work in a quasi-resonant regime, i.e., assume that = f i + , where f i = Ef Ei (f i > 0) is the Bohr frequency and .
(Consider that the secular approximation is applicable.) From the obtained expression, recover the known result corresponding
to zero detuning ( = 0.) (Solution:
Pif (t) =

|Wf i |
2

|Wf i | +

2
2 2

sin2

|Wf i |
2

t
+ 2
2

8) Rabi oscillation in a fully quantized system

Consider a two-level system coupled to a harmonic oscillator. The Hamiltonian of the complete system is H = HA +Hho +W ,
where

HA
Hho

Ei |i i | + Ef |f f |
1
(a+ a + )
2
a+ |i f | + a |f i |

( is a constant with a dimension of frequency.) Assume exact resonance, namely, = f i , (f i > 0.)
a) Show rst that the states dened as |i , n |i |n and |f , n 1 |f |n 1 are eigenstates of H0 = HA + Hho
(0)
(0)
with the same (degenerate) eigenvalue Ei,n = Ef,n1 .
b) Assume now that W is a (stationary) perturbation to H0 . Apply rst-order (stationary) perturbation theory to obtain
(0)
(0)
the splitting of Ei,n = Ef,n1 . Calculate also the corresponding eigenstates to zero order.
c) Consider that at t = 0, the system is prepared as |(0) = |i , n . Obtain the probability of transition to the state
|f , n 1 as a function of time. Discuss the analogy of the analyzed behavior with the Rabi oscillation, studied in the previous
problem.
9) Consider a hydrogen atom in its ground state at time t = 0. At that time, a uniform periodic electric eld E(t) = E0 cos(t)
is applied to the atom.
a) Find the minimum eld-frequency min needed to ionize the atom. (Solution: min = EI .)
b) Using perturbation theory, obtain the transition rate (probability per unit time) that the atom will be ionized. Solution:

2
| p |W | 100 | (E = Ei + )d
2

256 E0 a3
0

min

min

3/2

c) Use the expression derived in b) to nd the the optimum value of the eld frequency op that maximizes the transition
4
rate. (Solution: op = 3 min .)
(Hints: i) Assume that after the ionization the electron can be considered as a free particle, with a wave function given by
p (r) = (2 )3/2 exp(ipr/ ).
ii) Consider that the direction of E0 is given by the polar angles (, ), i.e.,
E0 = E0

sin cos i + sin sin j + cos k

Also, consider rst a particular direction of emission of the electron: specically, take p along the polar axis, i.e., pr = pz . The
obtained result must then be averaged over all the possible directions of emission. Note that this is mathematically equivalent
to still x the direction of p and average over (, ).
iii)
1

100 (r) = R10 (r)Y00 (, ) =

iv)

e(ip+q)x x3 dx =
0

a3
0

3!
(ip + q)4

er/a0

q>0

xdx
x
a
1
+ 2
=
4
(a + bx)
2b 6b (a + bx)3

10) A hydrogen atom in its ground state is placed at time t in a uniform electric eld in the ydirection, E(t) =
2
2
E0 et / j . Apply time-dependent perturbation theory to rst order to calculate the probability that the atom will be found in
any of the states n = 2 after a suciently long time (t .)
100 (r) = R10 (r)Y00 (, ) =

200 (r) = R20 (r)Y00 (, ) =

1
8a3
0

1
a3
0

er/a0

r
2a0

er/(2a0 )

211 (r) = R21 (r)Y11 (, ) =

1
8

210 (r) = R21 (r)Y10 (, ) =

211 (r) = R21 (r)Y11 (, ) =

a3
0

8a3
0
1
8

a3
0

r r/(2a0 )
e
sin ei
a0
r r/(2a0 )
e
cos
2a0
r r/(2a0 )
e
sin ei
a0

The integrals that can be needed have been given in previous problems.
11) A particle, initially, (i.e., when t < 0) in its ground state in an innite potential well with its walls at x = 0 and x = a, is
subject, starting at time t = 0, to a time dependent perturbation W (t) = W0 x(x 3a/4)et/ where W0 is a small parameter.
Calculate the probability that the particle will be found in its rst excited state at t .