PHYS2041 - Quantum Mechanics I Lachlan Morton – 47078237

Assignment 6
October 2023
Lachlan Morton – 47078237

Problem 11.3

(a) The action of the Ŝ 2 operator on the ket |s, ms ⟩ is Ŝ 2 |s, ms ⟩ = ℏ2 s(s + 1)|s, ms ⟩. Construct the operator
Ŝ 2 in Dirac notation (i.e., in terms of |s, ms ⟩), using the spectral decomposition, for an electron. Construct
it also as a matrix.

For an electron, the spin quantum number is s = 12 , hence m ± 12 .

The eigenvalue equation for the operator Ŝ 2 is,

Ŝ 2 |s, ms ⟩ = s(s + 1)ℏ2 |s, ms ⟩

for an electron we have,   

2 1 1 3
s(s + 1)ℏ = + 1 ℏ2 = ℏ2
2 2 4
So the sum over relevant projection operators and its eigenvalues gives us,
3 2 1 3
Ŝ 2 = ℏ +2 + 21 + ℏ2 − 12 − 21
4 4

The matrix representation of Ŝ 2 is described by the 2 × 2 identity matrix from the basis states, |↑⟩ and
|↓⟩ for each eigenstate and its eigenvalues given by 34 ℏ2 , thus,
 
3 1 0
Ŝ 2 = ℏ2
4 0 1

(b) The action of the Ŝz operator on the ket |s, ms ⟩ is Ŝz |s, ms ⟩ = ℏms |s, ms ⟩. Construct the Ŝz operator for
an electron as a matrix.

We can utilise the basis states, |↑⟩ and |↓⟩ to determine a matrix form using the eigenvalues of the Ŝz
operators in each state:
Ŝz |↑⟩ = ℏ + 21 |↑⟩ , Ŝz |↓⟩ = ℏ − 12 |↓⟩

and so the matrix form is written as,  

ℏ 1 0
Ŝz =
2 0 −1

(c) The action of the operators Ŝ± on |s, ms ⟩ is

p
Ŝ± |s, ms ⟩ = ℏ s(s + 1) − ms (ms ± 1)|s, ms ± 1⟩ (1)

Express the operator Ŝy in terms of Ŝ+ and Ŝ− , and construct it for an electron as a matrix.
Eq. (1) gives Sˆ+ |↑z ⟩ = 0 and Sˆ+ |↓z ⟩ = ℏ |↑z ⟩ and so by othonormality,
 
ˆ 0 1
S+ = ℏ
0 0

Then by the same process, Sˆ− |↑z ⟩ = ℏ |↓z ⟩ and Sˆ− |↓z ⟩ = 0 gives,
 
0 0
Sˆ− = ℏ
1 0

Now from,
Sˆ+ = Sˆx + iSˆy , Sˆ− = Sˆx − iSˆy

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PHYS2041 - Quantum Mechanics I Lachlan Morton – 47078237

we have,
   
Sˆ+ − Sˆ− = Sˆx + iSˆy − Sˆx − iSˆy
= 2iSˆy
iˆ 
∴ Sˆy = − S+ − Sˆ−
2    
iℏ 0 1 0 0
=− −
2 0 0 1 0
 
ℏ 0 −i
=
2 i 0

(d) Consider an electron in the spin state

r
1 5
|Ψ⟩ = √ |s = 12 , ms = 12 ⟩ + |s = 12 , ms = − 12 ⟩. (2)
6 6
q
What is the uncertainty of the electron’s spin, i.e., σS 2 = ⟨Ŝ 4 ⟩ − ⟨Ŝ 2 ⟩2 ? What is the uncertainty of the
z-component of the electron’s spin? What is the expectation value of the electron’s spin in the y-direction.

From Eq. (2), define: √ 

 √ √ √ 

√1/ √6
|Ψ⟩ = , ⟨Ψ| = 1/ 6 5/ 6
5/ 6

3 9 4
Sˆ2 = ℏ2 I, Sˆ4 = ℏ
4 16

⟨Sˆ2 ⟩ = ⟨Ψ|Sˆ2 |Ψ⟩ ⟨Sˆ4 ⟩ = ⟨Ψ|Sˆ4 |Ψ⟩

3ℏ2 9ℏ4 2
= ⟨Ψ| I|Ψ⟩ = ⟨Ψ| I |Ψ⟩
4 16
3ℏ2 9ℏ4
= ⟨Ψ | Ψ⟩ = ⟨Ψ | Ψ⟩
4 16
2 4
3ℏ 9ℏ
= =
4 16
q
∴ σS 2 = ⟨Sˆ4 ⟩ − ⟨Sˆ2 ⟩2
s  2 2
9ℏ4 3ℏ
= −
16 4
=0

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PHYS2041 - Quantum Mechanics I Lachlan Morton – 47078237

Uncertainty of the z-component of the electron’s spin:

⟨Sˆz ⟩ = ⟨Ψ|Sˆz |Ψ⟩ ⟨Sˆz2 ⟩ = ⟨Ψ|Sˆz2 |Ψ⟩

ℏ2 1 0
    
ℏ 1 0 1 0
= ⟨Ψ| |Ψ⟩ = ⟨Ψ| |Ψ⟩
2 0 −1 4 0 −1 0 −1
 √ 
ℏ √ √ √  1 0 ℏ2

= 1/ 6 5/ 6 √1/ √6 = ⟨Ψ|I|Ψ⟩
2 0 −1 5/ 6 4
√ √ !
ℏ 1 1 − 5 5 ℏ2
= √ √ + √ √ = ⟨Ψ | Ψ⟩
2 6 6 6 6 4
ℏ2
 
ℏ 1 5
= − =
2 6 6 4
ℏ
=−
3
q
∴ σSz = ⟨Sˆz2 ⟩ − ⟨Sˆz ⟩2
s 2
ℏ2

−ℏ
= −
4 3
r
ℏ2 ℏ2
= −
4 9
r
5ℏ 2
=
36
√
5ℏ
=
6

Expectation value of the electron’s spin in the y-direction:

⟨Sˆy ⟩ = ⟨Ψ|Sˆy |Ψ⟩

 
ℏ 0 −i
= ⟨Ψ| |Ψ⟩
2 i 0
 √ 
ℏ √ √ √  0 −i

= 1/ 6 5/ 6 √1/ √6
2 i 0 5/ 6
 √ √ 
ℏ  √ √ √  −i √ 5/ 6
= 1/ 6 5/ 6
2 i/ 6
√ √ !
ℏ i 5 i 5
= − +
2 6 6
=0

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PHYS2041 - Quantum Mechanics I Lachlan Morton – 47078237

Problem 11.4

(a) Determine the constant A by normalising χ.

To find a normalisation constant A for the state χ, we find the solution for |χ|2 = 1 ,
 
3i
χ=A
4
=⇒ χ† χ = 1
 
3i
A∗ −3i 4 A
 
=1
4
|A|2 (−9i2 + 16) = 1
25|A|2 = 1
1
Taking the real and positive solution, A=
5

(b) Find ⟨Ŝx ⟩, ⟨Ŝy ⟩, ⟨Ŝz ⟩, and ⟨Ŝ 2 ⟩.

⟨Sˆx ⟩ = χ† Sˆx χ
  
  ℏ 0 1 3i/5
= −3i/5 4/5
2 1 0 4/5
 
  ℏ 4/5
= −3i/5 4/5
2 3i/5
 
ℏ 12i 12i
= − +
2 25 25
=0

⟨Sˆy ⟩ = χ† Sˆy χ
  
  ℏ 0 −i 3i/5
= −3i/5 4/5
2 i 0 4/5
 
  ℏ −4i/5
= −3i/5 4/5
2 −3/5
 
ℏ 12 12
= − −
2 25 25
12ℏ
=−
25

⟨Sˆz ⟩ = χ† Sˆz χ
  
 ℏ 1 0 3i/5
= −3i/54/5
2 0 −1 4/5
 
  ℏ 3i/5
= −3i/5 4/5
2 −4/5
 
ℏ 9 16
= −
2 25 25
7ℏ
=−
50

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PHYS2041 - Quantum Mechanics I Lachlan Morton – 47078237

⟨Sˆ2 ⟩ = χ† Sˆ2 χ
 3ℏ2
  
 1 0 3i/5
= −3i/5 4/5
4 0 1 4/5
 3ℏ2
 
 3i/5
= −3i/5 4/5
4 4/5
2
 
3ℏ 9 16
= +
4 25 25
3ℏ2
=
4
or simply,

⟨Sˆ2 ⟩ = χ† Sˆ2 χ
3ℏ2 †
= χ Iχ
4
3ℏ2 †
= χ χ
4
3ℏ2
=
4

(c) What is the probability of measuring ℏ/2 for the spin of the state in the y-direction?
   †  2
ℏ 1 1 3i/5
P + =
2 y 2 i 4/5
  2
1   3i/5
= 1 −i
2 4/5
2
1 3i 4i
= −
2 5 5
2
1 −i
=
2 5
  
1 −i i
=
2 5 5
1
=
50

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PHYS2041 - Quantum Mechanics I Lachlan Morton – 47078237

Problem 12.1

(a) A system consists of two particles of mass m1 and m2 interacting with an interaction potential V (r) that
depends only on the relative distance r = |r1 − r2 | between the particles, where r1 = (x1 , y1 , z1 ) and
r2 = (x2 , y2 , z2 ) are the coordinates of the two particles in three-dimensions (3D).

Show that for such an interaction potential, the Hamiltonian of the system,

ℏ2 2 ℏ2 2
Ĥ = − ∇r 1 − ∇ + V (r) (3)
2m1 2m2 r2
can be put in the form,
ℏ2 2 ℏ2 2
Ĥ = − ∇R − ∇ + V (r) (4)
2M 2µ r
We are given the following:
m1 r1 + m2 r2
r = r1 − r2 , R= , R = (X, Y, Z), ri = (xi , yi , zi )
m1 + m2
m1 m2
M = m1 + m2 , µ=
m1 + m2
Arranging for r1 and r2 in terms of R and r,

r1 = r + r2 , r2 = r1 − r
=⇒ R(m1 + m2 ) = m1 (r + r2 ) + m2 r2 R(m1 + m2 ) = m2 (r1 − r) + m1 r1
= (m1 + m2 )r2 + m1 r = (m1 + m2 )r1 − m2 r
m1 m2
∴ r2 = R − r ∴ r1 = R + r
m1 + m2 m1 + m2

Then, since r1 = (x1 , y1 , z1 and r2 = (x2 , y2 , z2 ,

if we consider just x,
=⇒ x = x1 − x2 , R = X
now evaluate the gradient,
∂ ∂X ∂ ∂x ∂ m1 x1 + m2 x2
∇x 1 = = + , X=
∂x1 ∂x1 ∂X ∂x1 ∂x m1 + m2
∂X m1 ∂x
⇒ = , =1
∂x1 m1 + m2 ∂x1
m1 ∂ ∂
⇒ ∇x1 = +
m1 + m2 ∂X ∂x
µ µ
⇒ ∇r1 = ∇R + ∇r and, ∇r2 = ∇R − ∇ r
m2 m1
Now if we evaluate the Laplacian for each,

µ2 2 2µ
∇2r1 = ∇ + (∇r · ∇R ) + ∇2r
m22 R m2
µ2 2µ
∇2r2 = 2 ∇2R − (∇r · ∇R ) + ∇2r
m1 m1

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PHYS2041 - Quantum Mechanics I Lachlan Morton – 47078237

Substituting these back into Eq. (3) we find,

ℏ2
 2
ℏ2
  2 
µ 2 2µ 2 µ 2 2µ 2
Ĥ = − ∇ + (∇ r · ∇ R ) + ∇ − ∇ − (∇ r · ∇ R ) + ∇ r + V (r)
2m1 m22 R m2 r
2m2 m21 R m1
:0
 

2  2 2 
−ℏ  µ µ 1 2 1 2 2µ 2µ 
∇2 + ∇2 +

∇ + ∇ + (∇r ·∇ − (∇r · ∇R )

= R
 + V (r)
2  m1 m22 R m21 m2 R m1 r m2 r m1 m 2  m 1 m2

 
2 2
    
−ℏ µ 1 1 1 1
= ∇2R + + ∇2r + + V (r)
2 m1 m2 m1 m2 m1 m2

1 1 m1 + m2 1
+ = = m1 + m2 = M
m1 m2 m1 m2 µ
−ℏ2
 
1 2 1 2
⇒= µ ∇ + ∇ + V (r)
2 (m1 + m2 )µ R µ r
−ℏ2 2 −ℏ2 2
= ∇R + ∇ + V (r)
2M 2µ r
, as required
(b) The time-independent Schrödinger equation for for the two-particle wavefunction ψ(r1 , r2 ) with energy
E, give some interation potential denoted, V (r1 , r2 ), is given by,

ℏ2 2 ℏ2 2
 
− ∇ − ∇ + V (r1 , r2 ) ψ(r1 , r2 ) = EΨ(r1 , r2 ) (5)
2m1 r1 2m2 r2

Then assume a seperable solution of the form,

ψ(r1 , r2 ) = ψ (M ) (R)ψ (µ) (r)

Using this to solve for Eq. (4),

COM :
−ℏ2 2 (M )
∇ ψ (R) = ECOM ψ (M ) (R)
2M R
Relative :
−ℏ2 2
 
∇ + V (r) ψ (µ) (r) = Erel ψ (µ) (r)
2µ r

These solutions describe the energies related with the center-of-mass and relative motions,
such that, E = ECOM + Erel .

The equation for center-of-mass decribes the motion of a free particle with mass M , such that there is
not potential form. Also called centre-of-mass motion.

The second eqution describes motion of a particle of mass µ moving in the interaction potential V (r1 , r2 ).

(c) [Not attempted]

End of Assignment