Arnold Sommerfeld Center Ludwig–Maximilians–Universität München

Prof. Dr. Viatcheslav Mukhanov Winter term 2022/2023

Exercises on Quantum Mechanics II (TM2)

Problem set 1, discussed October 24 – October 28, 2022

Problem 1
(i) What is the functional derivative of the following functionals:
Z
q 3 + q dt


A[q] = and B[q] = cos[q(4)] (1)

with respect to q(t1 )?

(ii) Calculate the second functional derivative, defined by

δ2 S
 
δ δS
= , (2)
δq(t1 )δq(t2 ) δq(t2 ) δq(t1 )
for a particle in an arbitrary potential, whose action is given by
Z  
1 2
S = dt q̇ − V (q) (3)
2

Problem 2
Consider a system with a time-independent Hamiltonian.
(i) Write down the equation that determines the time-evolution of a wave function in the position repre-
sentation ψ(x, t) = ⟨x|ψ(t)⟩. Separate it into two, one having the dependence on time, and one known
as the time-independent Schrödinger equation.
(ii) What is the general solution of the one that involves time-dependence? How does the probability
density evolve in time for such a state?

Problem 3
2
Consider the wavefunction ψ(x, t) = Ae−αx eiωt , for some positve constants α and ω.
(i) Find the value of A by enforcing that the wavefunction is normalized.



 2
(ii) Find ⟨x⟩, x2 , and (x − ⟨x⟩)2 = x2 − ⟨x⟩ for this wavefunction.
(iii) Assume that this wavefunction is associated with the position of a particle. What is probability to find
this particle in a interval between x and x + dx?

Problem 4
Consider a beam of particles of unit mass with energy E that have been sent from x → −∞ to the the
following potential: (
V0 , 0 < x < a;
V (x) = (4)
0, else.
where V0 > 0.
 (i) Find the most general solution to the time-independent Schrödinger equation.
(ii) Determine the relations between the constants of integration by requiring that the wave function and
its derivative with respect to x are continuous at x = 0 and x = a.
1
(iii) What is the ratio of the amplitude of the wave function before and after the potential barrier for
E > V0 ? Under which conditions do we have total transition?

Problem 5
Consider a particle of unit mass inside of an infinitely deep potential well, given by
(
0, 0 < x < a;
V (x) = (5)
∞, else.

(i) Assuming that the wave function vanishes at the boundary x = 0 and x = a, find the energy spectrum.
(ii) Determine the wave functions corresponding to different energy levels.

General information
The lecture takes place on:
Monday at 10:00 – 12:00 c.t. in B 052 (Theresienstraße 39)
Friday at 10:00 – 12:00 c.t. in B 052 (Theresienstraße 39)
The central tutorial takes place on Monday at 12:00 – 14:00 c.t. in B 139 (Theresienstraße 39)
The webpage for the lecture and exercises can be found on Moodle:
https://moodle.lmu.de/course/view.php?id=24385

1 The case of tunnelling will be discussed in the next problem sheet, together with the WKB method.