Exam Questions

August 7, 2008
1. Question 1.
(a) Consider a one dimensional square well
V (x) =

0 L/2 < x < L/2

otherwise
(1)
E
1
is the ground state energy. We are given a normalized wavefunc-
tion

(x) =

C cos(x/a) a/2 < x < a/2

0 otherwise
(2)
where a < L, and C is the normalization. Find the probability of
measuring the energy equal to E
1
in the state |

.
(b) Consider the normalized superposition
| = C

(|

+ |
0
) (3)
where |
0
is the ground state. Determine the normalization factor
C

.
(c) Find the expectation value of x in the |.
2. Question 2.
(a) At t = 0, the state (0) is an eigenstate of L
2
and L
x
, with eigenval-
ues 2
2
, respectively. Write the state |(0) in the L
2
, L
z
eigenbasis.
(b) The Hamiltonian is
H = BL
z
(4)
Notice:|(0) is not an eigenstate of H !. Write the time depen-
dent (t) in the L
2
, L
z
basis.
1
(c) Derive the time dependence of L
x
.
3. Question 3.
(a) Dene a unitary operator in Hilbert space. Show that the operator
U is unitary where
U = e
ia p/
(5)
(where p is the one dimensional momentum operator).
(b) Show that U|x is an eigenstate to the position operator. What is
the eigenvalue? (Hint: Use the commutation relation [x, e
iap/
].
4. Question 4.
A double Stern-Gerlach experiment has the two analyzers. The rst po-
larizes elecrons in the
1
= /3,
1
= 0 direction. The current of polarized
electrons is which enters the second polarizer is I
1
. The second polarizer
selects particles positively polarized along the = /4, = /4 direction.
The current exiting the second polarizer is I
2
See gure. Find the ratio
I
2
/I
1
=?.
5. Question.
For a Harmonic oscillator with mass m and frequency , evaluate the
matrix element
n + 3|x
3
|n =? (6)
where |n are eigenstates of the number operator, with eigenvalue n.
2
Exam solution
I.
1.
1 = C
2
a/2

a/2
cos
2
(x/a)dx C =

2/a. (1)
2.
1| =
2

aL
a/2

a/2
cos(x/a) cos(x/L)dx,
cos(x/a) cos(x/L) =
1
2
(cos[x(/a +/L)] + cos[x(/a /L)]) ,
2

aL
a/2

a/2
cos(x/a) cos(x/L)dx
=
2
2

aL
a/2

a/2
(cos[x(/a +/L)] + cos[x(/a /L)]) dx
=
1

aL

sin[x(/a +/L)]
(/a +/L)
+
sin[x(/a /L)]
(/a /L)

a/2
a/2
=
1

aL
4aL
2
cos

a
2L

L
2
a
2

. (2)
P =
16

2
aL
3
(a
2
L
2
)
2
cos
2

a
2L

. (3)
3. From symmetry considerations
x = 0. (4)
II.
1.
| = 1/2(|1 +

2|2 + |3). (5)
2.
|(t) = 1/2(e
iBt
|1 +

2|2 +e
iBt
|3). (6)
3.
L
x
= (t)|L
x
|(t) = cos(Bt). (7)
2
III.
1. Using the hermiticity of the momentum operator
(e
ia p/
)

= e
ia p

/
= e
ia p/
, (8)
Therefore
UU

= e
ia p/
e
ia p/
= 1. (9)
2. U is translation operator (hw3) and therefore
U|x = |x a, x(U|x) = x|x a = (x a)|x a. (10)
IV.
From the lectures
I
2
I
1
=
1 +n
1
n
2
2
. (11)
Using
n
1
=

1/2 1/2 1/

, n
2
=

0

3/2 1/2

,
I
2
I
1
= 0.8932. (12)
V.
Using x =

/(2m)(a

+a)
n + 3|x
3
|n = (/(2m))
3/2

(n + 3)(n + 2)(n + 1). (13)