PHYS852 Quantum Mechanics II, Fall 2008

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT 1:
Density Operator

P
1. [10pts] The trace of an operator is defined as T r{A} = m hm|A|mi, where {|mi} is an
arbitrary basis set. Introduce a second arbitrary basis set, and use it to prove that the trace
is independent of the choice of basis.
2. [10pts] Prove the linearity of the trace operation by proving T r{aA+bB} = aT r{A}+bT r{B}.
3. [10pts] Prove the cyclic property of the trace by proving T r{ABC} = T r{BCA} = T r{CAB}.
4. [10pts] Which of the following density matrices correspond to a pure state?
 2  √ !  
1 3
0 i 0 0
ρ1 = 7 ρ2 = 4 4 ρ3 =
0 57
√
−i 43 43 0 1
 1 2 2

9 9 9
√ !  
1 2  2 
4 4
ρ4 = √5
2
5
4
ρ5 = 
 9 9

9 
5 5  
2 4 4
9 9 9

5. [10 pts] Derive the equation of motion, dtd ρ(t) = − ~i [H,

P ρ(t)], using Schrödinger’s equation and
the most general form of the density operator, ρ = j Pj |ψj ihψj |.