PSO201A: QUANTUM PHYSICS (2019-20, 2nd Semester)

Homework Questions
Q.01: A very commonly used unit in atomic physics is eV. Four ways by which the unit of energy arises are
𝑘 𝑇, ℎ/Δ𝑡, ℎ𝑐/Δ𝐿, and 𝑚𝑐 . Here 𝑇, 𝑉, Δ𝑡, Δ𝐿and 𝑚 are the temperature, voltage, time interval, length and
mass, respectively with other symbols representing the fundamental constants.
(a) Find 𝑇, 𝑉, Δ𝑡, Δ𝐿and 𝑚 for which the energy is 1 eV.
(b) How much energy (in eV) does room temperature (𝑇 = 300K) correspond to? What are the associated
length and time scales?
(c) What are the rest mass energies of electron and proton in eV?
(d) From the definition of Volt discuss how eV works out to be the most suitable unit in atomic physics.

Q.02: In class we derived the expression for density of em-modes in a 1-D and 3-D cavity. Use the same
arguments to analyze the density of em-modes in a rectangular shaped 2-D cavity with dimensions Lx and Ly.
Suppose Ly =Lx with , find the condition for a given at which 2-D to 1-D crossover will occur in the
radiation density.

Q.03: Stefan's Law: The Planck's law of radiation works out to be 𝜌(𝜈) = 8𝜋ℎ𝜈 /[𝑐 (exp − 1)] for
energy density inside a black-body cavity. Integrate the expression for radiance to find the temperature
dependence of the total radiated power per unit area by a black body. Find the value of Stefan’s (𝜎) constant
using this.

Q.04: The radiance due to a black body, 𝑅(𝜈),is defined as the power radiated by the blackbody per unit area
per unit frequency interval 𝑑𝜈. This 𝑅(𝜈) is proportional to the energy density 𝜌(𝜈) in a cavity discussed in
the class. Prove that 𝑅(𝜈) = 𝜌(𝜈) by finding the energy crossing an infinitesimal surface area, 𝑑𝐴 in one
direction in time 𝑑𝑡 inside the cavity.

Q.05:(a) Show that it is impossible for a photon to give up all its energy and momentum to a free electron.
Now explain how energy and momentum conservations are satisfied when the photoelectric effect takes place
with bound electrons.
(b) The minimum electromagnetic energy that a human eye can detect is 1 × 10 J. How many photons of
600 nm wavelength does that correspond to?

Q.06:(a) A photon whose energy is equal to the rest energy of an electron undergoes a Compton collision with
an electron. If the electron moves off at an angle of 40° with the original photon direction, what is the energy
of the scattered photon.
(b) Find the energy of an X-ray photon that can impart a maximum energy of 5 keV to a free electron.

Q.07:(a) Estimate the de Broglie wavelength of mosquito flying at a speed of 1 m/s.

(b) What minimum energy should a neutron have in order to probe the crystal structure of a typical solid?
(c) What should be the minimum energy of an electron if one wants to probe the structure of the nucleus of an
atom?

Q.08: Use the Einstein model of the heat capacity of solids to find the number of phonons N(T) present in one
mole of a solid at a temperature T. Plot this as function of temperature. Simplify the expression for very low
and very high temperatures.

Q.09: (a) In an electrical circuit a capacitor (C = 100 pF), inductor (L = 0.1 mH) are used such that the voltage
oscillates at an amplitude of 1 mV. Use dimensional analysis to find a quantity having dimensions of action
(Planck’s constant). Compute this quantity and compare it with ℎ to see if the quantum effects can be important
for this circuit.
(b) An oscillator with force constant, 𝑘 = 103 N/m and mass, 𝑚 = 10 gm is kept at a temperature 𝑇. Using
dimensional analysis or otherwise find a quantity of dimension of action using 𝑘, 𝑚, and 𝑘 𝑇. Estimate the
temperature in K below which the quantum effects become important?
Q.10: Bragg scattering: X-rays (with wavelength ) are used to X-rays
analyze the crystal structure of solids. The solid can be divided
into atomic planes, with a separation d, which scatter X-rays. It
turns out such scattered X-rays interfere constructively in certain 
directions given by 2d sin  = n. Here  is the angle between X- 
rays direction and the planes as shown in the figure. Derive this
relation by finding the path difference between X-rays scattered
by successive planes.

Q.11: (a) A particle is confined within two rigid walls at 𝑥 =

−𝑎 and 𝑥 = +𝑎. Use the uncertainty principle to estimate the
minimum kinetic energy that the particle can have.
(b) A nucleus has a diameter of ~10 m. Assuming that an
electron resides inside the nucleus, estimate its minimum
energy. Beta particles coming from the radioactive nucleus have
energy of the order of a few MeV. Compare this with your result to show that electrons do not reside inside
the nucleus.
(c) Given that in hydrogen atom the electron in the ground state is confined to an average radius of a0 (the
Bohr radius), estimate the minimum kinetic energy that the electron can have from the uncertainty relation.
Estimate the total energy of this electron.

Q.12: Show that in order to determine through which slit of a double slit system each photon passes without
ℏ
destroying the double slit interference pattern, the condition Δ𝑦. Δ𝑝 ≪ must be satisfied. Since this
condition violates the uncertainty principle, it cannot be met.

Q.13: The Fourier transform, g(k), of a complex one dimensional function 𝜓(𝑥) is defined by, g(k) =
√
∫ 𝜓(𝑥)exp(−𝑖k𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 while the inverse Fourier transform gives, 𝜓(𝑥) = √ ∫ g(k)exp(𝑖k𝑥) 𝑑k.
Find the Fourier transforms of the following functions:
𝐴 cos for |𝑥| < 1 for |𝑥| <
(a) 𝑓(𝑥) = (b) 𝑓(𝑥) =
0 for |𝑥| > 0 for |𝑥| >
𝐴(𝑎 − |𝑥|) for |𝑥| ≤ 𝑎
(c) 𝜓(𝑥) = (d) 𝜓(𝑥) = 𝐴 exp(−𝛼𝑥 )
0 for |𝑥| > 𝑎
(e) 𝜓(𝑥) = exp(−𝛼|𝑥|) (f) 𝜓(𝑥) = 𝐴 exp(−𝑐|𝑥| + 𝑖𝑘 𝑥)
(g) 𝜓(𝑥) = (h) 𝜓(𝑥) =

Q.14: 𝑓(𝑥) is a well behave analytical function with finite norm, i.e. ∫ |𝜓(𝑥)| 𝑑𝑥, and 𝑔(𝑘) is its Fourier
Transform. (a) What can you conclude about 𝑔(𝑘) if (i) 𝑓(𝑥) is a real function, (ii) 𝑓(𝑥) is imaginary
function, (iii) 𝑓(𝑥) is symmetric about x = 0, (iv) 𝑓(𝑥) is antisymmetric about x = 0. (b) What will be the FT
of the first and second derivatives of 𝑓(𝑥)?

Q.15: (a) Prove ∫ 𝜓 ∗ (𝑥) −𝑖 𝜓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = ∫ |𝑔(𝑘)| 𝑘𝑑𝑘 given 𝜓(𝑥) = ∫ g(k)exp(𝑖𝑘𝑥) 𝑑k
√
(b) Show that ∫ 𝑔∗ (𝑘) 𝑖 𝑔(𝑘)𝑑𝑘 = ∫ |𝜓(𝑥)| 𝑥𝑑𝑥.

Q.16: Which of the following wave functions cannot represent the solutions of the Schrödinger equation for
all values of 𝑥? If not, why so?
(a) 𝜓(𝑥) = A tan 𝑥 (b) 𝜓(𝑥) = 𝐴 exp(𝑥 ) (c) 𝜓(𝑥) = 𝐴 sec 𝑥 (d) 𝜓(𝑥) = 𝐴 exp (−𝑥 )
Q.17: The wave function of a certain particle is 𝐴 cos 𝑥/𝐿 for 𝑥 between − and + and zero outside.
(a) Find the value of 𝐴.
(b) Find the probability to find the particle between 𝑥 = 0 and .
(c) What are the possible results if the kinetic energy of the particle is measured?

Q.18: (a) Given that 𝜙 (𝑥) are solutions of the time independent Schroedinger equation (TISE) with energy
𝐸 show that 𝜓(𝑥, 𝑡) = ∑ 𝐴 𝜙 (𝑥) exp(−𝑖𝐸𝑡/ℏ) is a solution of time dependent Schroedinger equation
(TDSE) for any set of complex numbers 𝐴 . Thus if any function can be written as a sum in this given form
the above solution 𝜓(𝑥, 𝑡) is the most general solution of the TDSE.
(b) What is the probability of measuring the energy as E for the above state 𝜓(𝑥, 𝑡)?
(c) Given that 𝜙 (𝑥) are orthonormal, what is the expectation value of energy for 𝜓(𝑥, 𝑡)?

Q.19: (a) From above find the momentum operator in position space and vice versa.
(b) Using the momentum operator in position space find the eigen function of momentum in position space
with eigen value p0.
(c) Prove that 𝑥 and 𝑝 satisfy the commutation relation [𝑥, 𝑝 ] = 𝑖ℏ. Here the commutator, [𝑥, 𝑝 ] is
defined as, [𝑥, 𝑝 ]𝜓 = 𝑥(𝑝 𝜓) − 𝑝 (𝑥𝜓).

Q.20: (a) A position measurement for a free electron yields a result 𝑥 = 𝑥 . What is the wave function in
real space after this measurement? What is the wave function in momentum space?
(b) A momentum measurement for a particle gives a result 𝑝 = 𝑝 . What is the wave function in position
space? What is it in the momentum space?

𝐴exp 𝑝 𝑥 for |𝑥| ≤ 𝐿

Q.21: A particle is described by the wave-function 𝜓(𝑥) = ℏ .
0 for |𝑥| > 𝐿
(a) Find the normalization constant 𝐴.
(b) What is the probability, 𝑃(𝑝)𝑑𝑝, of finding the particle with momentum between 𝑝 and 𝑝 + 𝑑𝑝?
(c) Sketch the probability density 𝑃(𝑝) and discuss it in relation to the uncertainty principle.
(d) Let 𝑃 be the probability density of finding the particle at 𝑝 = 𝑝 + . Find the ratio ( ).

Q.22: Given the wave-function 𝜓(𝑥) = 𝐴 exp −𝑐|𝑥| + ℏ 𝑝 𝑥 ,

(a) Find 𝐴 to normalize 𝜓(𝑥).
(b) Sketch the real and imaginary parts of this wave-function.
(c) Find the wave-function in the momentum space.

𝐴(𝑎 − |𝑥|) for |𝑥| ≤ 𝑎

Q.23: The wave function for a free particle in 1-D is given by, 𝜓(𝑥) =
0 for |𝑥| > 𝑎
(a) Plot the wave-function and find the normalization constant 𝐴.
(b) Calculate the average momentum of the particle.
(c) Find the probability of finding the particle in momentum interval 𝑑𝑝 centered at 𝑝 = 0.

Q.24: (a) Find the size of the wave-packet associated with a free electron so that the kinetic energy due to
the associated momentum (uncertainty) is same as its rest mass energy.
(b) According to em-theory the self energy of a uniformly charged sphere with total charge𝑞 is 𝑊 = .
What would be the electron's radius assuming that all the rest mass energy is this self energy?
(c) The measured radius of a proton is about 10-15 m. Suppose the electron and proton have the same density
(as arising from their rest masses), what would be the expected radius of an electron?
(d) What would you conclude about the size of an electron from the above calculations?
Q.25: (a) For a wave-packet propagating in free space, prove that the uncertainty in kinetic energy (Δ𝐸) is
independent of time.
(b) Prove that the expectation value of momentum in 1-D is zero for any real wave function which is
confined, i.e. it goes to zero at infinity.

Q.26: Find the normalized eigen function for the operator 𝐴 = (𝑥 + ℏ 𝑝 ) with eigen value 𝜆in position
space. [Hint: Solve the equation 𝐴𝜙(𝑥) = 𝜆𝜙(𝑥)]

Q.27: (a) The probability current density for a time dependent wave function 𝜓(𝑥, 𝑡) in one-dimension is
ℏ ∗
given by, 𝑆(𝑥, 𝑡) = 𝜓∗ − 𝜓 . Using Schrödinger equation, prove that = − . Here 𝜌(𝑥, 𝑡) is
the probability density.
(b) Find 𝑆(𝑥) for a free particle wave-function 𝜓(𝑥) = 𝐴 exp ℏ .
(c) Find 𝑆(𝑥) for Gaussian wave-packet 𝜓(𝑥) = 𝐴 exp − + ℏ
at t = 0 and verify that 𝑆(𝑥) =
〈 〉
|𝜓(𝑥)| . Justify the last expression intuitively.

Q.28*: (a) Verify that the wave-function 𝜓 (𝑥, 𝑡) = 𝐴 exp −𝛼 (𝑥 − 𝜇) − 𝛼 (|𝜇| − 𝜇 ) − 𝑖𝜔𝑡 with a
time dependent 𝜇 = 𝜇 𝑒 satisfies the TDSE, i.e. 𝑖ℏ = 𝐻𝜓, for the simple harmonic oscillator, i.e
𝐻= + 𝑚𝜔 𝑥 . Here 𝛼 = 𝑚𝜔/2ℏ and 𝜔 is the SHO frequency and 𝑚 is the mass.
(b) Find the energy expectation value of this state.
(c) Find the time dependent expectation values of position and momentum associated with this wave-
function.
(d) Find the time dependent uncertainty in position and momentum.

Q.29: The expectation value 〈𝐴〉 of an operator 𝐴 for a particular state 𝜙 (𝑥, 𝑡) is defined as 〈𝐴〉 =
∫ 𝜙 ∗ (𝑥, 𝑡)(𝐴𝜙 (𝑥, 𝑡))𝑑𝑥. Given that 𝜙 (𝑥, 𝑡) is an eigen state of Hamiltonian (𝐻) with energy 𝐸 , show
that 〈[𝐴, 𝐻]〉 = 0.

Q.30: (a) In one dimension for 𝐻 = + 𝑉(𝑥) find [𝑥, 𝐻] and [𝑝, 𝐻].
(b) Use the Heisenberg equation of motion, to prove the following Ehrenfest theorems describing the semi-
〈 〉
classical motion of a particle: 〈𝑥〉 = and 〈𝑝〉 = − 〈 〉. Here, 〈𝐵〉 denotes expectation value of
operator 𝐵 over some given time dependent wave function.
(c) Prove that the expectation (or mean) value of momentum for an energy eigen state is zero in 1-D.

Q.31: The probability that a system having wave function  ( x , t ) can be found in a state given by wave



2
with A   ( x, t ) ( x, t )dx . Given that 1 ( x ) and  2 ( x ) are Eigen-

function  ( x , t ) is given by A


states of a system's Hamiltonian with energies E1 and E1 such that E1  E2  0 . Given also that 1 ( x )
1
and  2 ( x ) are orthonormal. (a) Find the probability that a system in state [1 ( x )   2 ( x )] , initially, will
2
be found in the same state after a time t. (b) Plot the above probability as a function of time and discuss the
outcome in terms of time-energy uncertainty relation.

Q.32: 𝜙 (𝑥) is the nth eigen-state of Hamiltonian, for an infinite square potential well (of width L), with
energy 𝐸 . Evaluate 〈𝑝〉 = ∫ 𝜙 ∗ (𝑥)𝑝𝜙 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥, 〈𝑝 〉 , 〈𝑥〉 and 〈𝑥 〉 . What is the uncertainty product
Δ𝑥. Δ𝑝 for the nth eigen-state.
Q.33: 𝜙 (𝑥) is the nth eigen-state of Hamiltonian, for an infinite square potential well (of width L), with
energy 𝐸 .
(a) Find the matrix element of momentum operator between mth and nth states: 𝑝 = ∫ 𝜙 ∗ (𝑥)𝑝𝜙 (𝑥)𝑑𝑥.
(b) The state of a particle in this well at 𝑡 = 0 is given by wave function, 𝜓(𝑥, 0) = [𝜙 (𝑥) + 𝜙 (𝑥)].
√
Find the time dependent expectation value of momentum, 〈𝑝〉, for this particle for large values of N. Plot 〈𝑝〉
as a function of time and compare with the classical expectation.

∞ for 𝑥 < 0
Q.34: Consider a particle of mass 𝑚 in an asymmetric potential well: 𝑉(𝑥) = 0 for 0 < 𝑥 < 𝑎
𝑉 for 𝑥 > 𝑎
(a) Draw V(x) and write the time independent Schrödinger equation and its possible solutions for all the
different 𝑥-ranges for the bound states (𝐸 < 𝑉 ).
(b) Use appropriate boundary conditions to derive the relation to find the bound state energies.
(c) Plot the Eigen functions for the two lowest energy bound states.
(d) Does this potential well have at least one bound state for arbitrary 𝑉 ? If not, what is the minimum 𝑉 to
have at least one bound state?
ℏ
(e) How many bound states are there for 𝑉 = ?

Q.35: Consider a -ve 𝛿-function potential, i.e., 𝑉(𝑥) = −𝜆𝛿(𝑥) at origin.

(a) Prove that the first derivative of the stationary state wave-function must have a discontinuity at 𝑥 = 0.
Find this discontinuity.
(b) Use this to find the bound state energy of a particle in this potential.

∞ for |𝑥| > 2𝑎

Q.36: Consider the following double well potential: 𝑉(𝑥) = 0 for 𝑎 < |𝑥| < 2𝑎
𝑉 for |𝑥| < 𝑎
(a) Draw 𝑉(𝑥) vs. 𝑥 and write TISE for various 𝑥-ranges.
(b) Write the possible solutions for the bound states which have 𝐸 < 𝑉 and 𝐸 > 𝑉 . Plot the ground state
wave function.
(c) Find the transcendental equation(s) to calculate the eigen-energies. Estimate the ground state energy in
large V0 limit, i.e. (2mV0 a 2 / 2 )  1 .
[Hint: I find math simpler if one writes the solutions in the form 𝐴 sin(𝑘𝑥 + 𝛿) and 𝐵 sinh 𝛼𝑥 + 𝐶 cosh 𝛼𝑥,
at least for 𝐸 < 𝑉 ].

0 for 𝑥 < 0 & 𝑥 > 𝑎 ( )

Q.37: Consider a potential: 𝑉(𝑥) = . A plane particle-wave 𝐴𝑒 strikes this
−𝑉 for 0 < 𝑥 < 𝑎
potential from 𝑥 < 0 side.
(a) Calculate the probability current densities for the reflected and transmitted waves.
(b) What are the reflection and transmission coefficients.
(c) At what energy of the particle will there be no reflection?

Q.38: Consider a positive 𝛿-function potential in 1-D, i.e., 𝑉(𝑥) = 𝛾𝛿(𝑥).

(a) Prove that the first derivative of the stationary state wave-function must have a discontinuity at 𝑥 = 0.
(b) A particle wave 𝐴𝑒 is incident from 𝑥 < 0 side. Write the possible solutions of the TISE for the
stationary states corresponding to this incident wave.
(c) Find the reflection and transmission coefficients.

Q.39: In metal to metal tunneling electrons strike the tunnel barrier of height 3 eV and width 0.5 nm from
one metal to the other. What is the approximate probability that the electron tunnels through the barrier?
What is this probability if the barrier width is increased to 0.6 nm?
Q.40: In 𝛼-decay from 94Pu236 nuclei the kinetic energy of emitted 𝛼-particles is found to be 5.75MeV while
its half-life is about 2.2 years. The respective energies of 𝛼-particles from 94Pu238, 94Pu240 and 94Pu242 are
found to be 5.5, 5.2 and 4.8 MeV. Find the half-lives of the later three plutonium isotopes using the
tunneling theory of 𝛼-decay.

Q.41: A plasma at 𝑇 = 10 K consists of carbon nuclei and protons which can fuse to form a nitrogen
nuclei. However they have to overcome the Coulomb barrier to reach a fusion separation of 2 fm.
(a) What is the height of the Coulomb barrier in eV?
(b) What is the probability of overcoming this barrier due to thermal energy?
(c) What is the probability of tunneling through the barrier for a particle with the average thermal energy for
fusion to occur?

Q.42: A plasma at temperature 𝑇 consists of carbon nuclei and protons which can fuse to form a nitrogen
nuclei. However they have to overcome the Coulomb barrier to reach a fusion separation of 2 fm. (i) What
is the height of the Coulomb barrier in eV? (ii) Use the WKB approximation to find the probability of fusion
for a proton with the average thermal energy by tunneling through the Coulomb barrier? (iii) Estimate the
temperature at which probability of overcoming this barrier due to thermal energy equals that of tunneling?

Q.43: Given that 𝐴 and 𝐵 are two Hermitian operators, find if the following operators are Hermitian or not.
(a) 𝐴𝐵 (b) 𝐴 (n is a positive integer) (c) 𝐴𝐵 + 𝐵𝐴 (d) −𝑖[𝐴, 𝐵]

Q.44: Suppose 𝐴 & 𝐵 are two commuting operators and |𝑢〉 is an Eigen state of 𝐴 with Eigen value c, i.e.
𝐴|𝑢〉 = 𝑐|𝑢〉. Prove that the state 𝐵|𝑢〉 is also an eigen state of 𝐴 with the same eigen value c.

Q.45: Let {|𝑢 〉} and {|𝑣 〉} be two different sets of orthonormal bases for the complex linear vector space 𝐸
and 𝐴 is a Hermitian operator. Use the bra-ket algebra to prove that the trace of 𝐴 (i.e. sum of diagonal
elements of 𝐴) is same in the two bases, i.e., the trace of a matrix operator is invariant under a change of
basis.

Q.46: Π is the parity operator, i.e., Π𝜓(𝑥) = ⟨𝑥|Π|𝜓⟩ = ⟨−𝑥|𝜓⟩ = 𝜓(−𝑥). Prove that
(a) Π is identity operator. (b) Π is Hermitian (c) Πis Unitary
1 0 0
Q.47: Consider a Hermitian matrix 𝐴 = 0 −1 1 .
0 1 −1
(a) Find its eigen values and eigen vectors.
(b) Find the unitary transformation matrix 𝑆 such that 𝑆𝐴𝑆 is diagonal and verify this explicitly.

Q.48: Given a Hermitian operator in a three dimensional state space with the basis |𝑢 〉, |𝑢 〉, and |𝑢 〉 as
−1 0 𝑖
𝐻 = ℏ𝜔 0 1 1 with 𝜔 as constant. Find the unitary matrix 𝑆 such that 𝑆𝐻𝑆 is diagonal and
−𝑖 1 1
verify this explicitly.

Q.49: Consider a three dimensional state space with the basis |𝑢 〉, |𝑢 〉, and |𝑢 〉. In this basis, two
1 0 0 1 0 0
operators 𝐻 and 𝐵 are given by 𝐻 = ℏ𝜔 0 −1 0 and 𝐵 = 𝑏 0 0 1 with b and 0 as
0 0 −1 0 1 0
constants.
(a) Verify that H and B are Hermitian. (b) Show that H and B commute. (c) Find a basis of eigen vectors
common to H and B.