UNIVERSITÉ DE YAOUNDÉ I ANNÉE ACADÉMIQUE 2023-2024

FACULTÉ DES SCIENCES OCTOBRE 2023

PARCOURS PHYS (FOND, EEA, MECA) TRAVAUX DIRIGÉS CHAP 2
PHY321 - MECANIQUE QUANTIQUE Rédact.: Equipe Pédagogique

1 Successive Stern-Gerlach experiments

For these questions, use the simulation Successive Stern-Gerlach experiments and work through the simulation, including
the step-by-step exploration (click on the Step-by-step Exploration tab) in the QuVis Flash collection. But you can do
the exercise without simulation since Flash player is no longer included in web browsers

1. Consider the situation in the simulation where the first Stern-Gerlach Apparatus (SGA) is oriented in the +z direction,
the second along +z and the third along −z. After the first and second SGAs, one of the beams is blocked, and only
the beam deflected in the +z direction is allowed to pass. Determine the probability that a particle will pass all three
SGAs. Explain your reasoning, and verify your answer using the simulation.
2. Now the second SGA is rotated, so that it is oriented in the +x direction. The first and third SGAs remain oriented
along +z and −z respectively. After the first SGA, only the beam deflected in the +z direction is allowed to pass, and
after the second SGA, only the beam deflected in the +x direction is allowed to pass. What is now the probability that
a particle will pass all three SGAs ? Explain your reasoning, and verify your answer using the simulation.
3. Now consider the situation where the second SGA is rotated at angle θ to the z-axis as shown in the simulation.
Particles passing the first SGA are in eigenstate |z+⟩, particles passing the second SGA are in the eigenstate |θ+⟩.
Expand |z+⟩ in terms of |θ+⟩ and |θ−⟩. From the expansion coefficients, determine the probability that a particle
passing the first SGA will also pass the second SGA. Verify your result using the simulation.
4. The third SGA is now oriented along the x-axis. The orientation of the first and second SGAs remain as in 3). Determine
the probability that a particle that has passed the second SGA will also pass the third SGA in the state ketx+. You
may use the trigonometric relation sin 2x = 2 sin x cos x. Verify your result using the simulation.

2 Bloch sphere representation of quantum states for a spin 1/2 particle

For these problems, use the simulation Bloch sphere representation of quantum states for a spin 1/2 particle in the QuVis
HTML5 collection.

1. Have a play with the simulation for a few minutes, getting to understand the controls and displays. Note down three
things about the controls and displayed quantities that you have found out.
2. Start from the general quantum state
θ θ
|ψ⟩ = cos | ↑⟩ + eiϕ sin | ↓⟩, (8)
2 2
The notations | ↑⟩ and | ↓⟩ denote states where the outcome of a measurement of the z-component of spin Sz will give
+ h̄2 and − h̄2 respectively.

(a) Choose the angles θ and ϕ to depict the North Pole and then the South Pole of the Bloch sphere. Determine the
quantum states for these two points. Verify your result for the quantum state using the simulation.
(b) Choose θ and ϕ to depict a point on the equator oriented along +x. Determine the quantum state for this point.
Verify your result for the quantum state using the simulation.
(c) Choose θ and ϕ to depict a point on the equator oriented along +y. Determine the quantum state for this point.
Verify your result for the quantum state using the simulation.

3. (a) Explain how the measurement outcome probabilities shown in the simulation for Sz = + h̄2 and Sz = − h̄2 are
calculated. Show that the probabilities correctly sum to one.
(b) Choose θ and ϕ to depict a point on the equator oriented along +y. Calculate the measurement outcome proba-
bilities forSz = + h̄2 and Sz = − h̄2 . Verify your result using the simulation.
4. The quantum states |+⟩ and |−⟩ denote states where the outcome of a measurement of the x-component of spin Sx
will give + h̄2 and − h̄2 respectively. In terms of | ↑⟩ and | ↓⟩, these states are
1 1
|+⟩ = √ (| ↑⟩ + | ↓⟩), |−⟩ = √ (| ↑⟩ − | ↓⟩). (17)
2 2

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 (a) Determine θ and ϕ for the states |+⟩ and |−⟩.
(b) Where will these states be located on the Bloch sphere ?
(c) Verify these positions using the simulation.

5. The quantum states |n+⟩ and |n−⟩ denote states where the outcome of a measurement of the component of spin along
an arbitrary axis ⃗n in the (θ, ϕ) direction will give + h̄2 and − h̄2 respectively. In terms of | ↑⟩ and | ↓⟩, these states are

θ θ θ θ
|n+⟩ = cos | ↑⟩ + eiϕ sin | ↓⟩), |n−⟩ = sin | ↑⟩ − eiϕ cos | ↓⟩). (18)
2 2 2 2
(a) Assume the vector ⃗n points in the direction θ = 0.2π, ϕ = 0.3π as shown in step 5 of the simulation. What will
be θ and ϕ on the Bloch sphere for the states |n+⟩ and |n−⟩ for this situation ? Verify your positions using the
simulation.
(b) Generalize your findings from part (a). If the vector ⃗n points in the (θ, ϕ) direction, in what directions on the
Bloch sphere will the states |n+⟩ and |n−⟩ be located ? Explain your answer.
(c) Show that |n−⟩ = sin θ2 | ↑⟩ − eiϕ cos θ2 | ↓⟩).

3 Quantum key distribution or BB84 protocol with spin 1/2 particles

For these questions, use the simulation Quantum key distribution (BB84 protocol) with spin 1/2 particles in the QuVis
HTML5 collection.

1. Have a play with the simulation for a few minutes getting to understand the controls and displays before answering
these questions.
2. (a) If Alice sends a single particle with a spin state of |+⟩ and Bob measures with his Stern- Gerlach apparatus (SGA)
oriented along z-axix, what is the probability that Bob will measure +1 (a positive deflection along z-axis) ?
Explain your answer.
(b) The first column of the table below refers to Bob’s SGA orientation, the second to his measurement outcome.
Complete the third column, namely what Bob can infer about the spin state that Alice sent without knowing her
basis (X or Z).
Bob’s SGA orientation Bob’s measurement What Bob can infer about the spin state Alice sent
without knowing her basis
Z 1
Z 0
X 1
X 0
(c) In the key generation panel, under what condition is a key bit generated ? Explain why this is the case using your
table from part b). What determines the key bit value ?
3. Set up the simulation so that Eve is eavesdropping and fixed orientations are used. In the simulation, it is assumed
that by chance Eve chooses the same basis as Bob for her measurements if fixed orientations are used.

(a) Assume Eve’s SGA in front of her detector was oriented along Z. What state does Eve resend to Bob if she
i. measured 1 ;
ii. measured 0 ?
(b) Do errors occur in Alice and Bob’s measurements when Eve intercepts and resends particles ? Is the key secure
using only a single basis ?

4. Set up the simulation so that there is no eavesdropper and random orientations are used. What fraction of Alice’s
particles lead to a key bit ? Explain how this fraction comes about.
5. Set up the simulation so that Eve is eavesdropping and random orientations are used.

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 (a) Explain how Eve intercepts particles and what state she resends to Bob.
(b) Explain using a specific example from the simulation how an error occurs in Alice and Bob’s measurement when
Eve intercepts and resends particles. What can you say about Eve’s basis when an error occurs ?
(c) Assume Alice and Bob have chosen the same basis. Does an error occur every time Eve chooses the wrong basis
(a different one to Alice and Bob) ? Explain.
(d) What fraction of key bits lead to an error ? Explain how this fraction comes about.
(e) What actions do Alice and Bob take to determine whether or not Eve has compromised the security of their key ?
6. Which of the Challenges did you find most difficult and why ? Explain what this challenge is about and how you solved
the challenge, including your calculation or reasoning.

4 Successive measurements in the Bloch sphere representation

For these questions, use the simulation Successive measurements in the Bloch sphere representation in the QuVis HTML5
collection.

1. Have a play with the simulation for a few minutes, getting to understand the controls and displays. Note down three
things about the displayed quantities that you have found out.
2. Consider the initial state prior to measurement | ↑⟩ shown in the simulation.

(a) Starting from the general quantum state for a two-level system
θ θ
|ψ⟩ = cos | ↑⟩ + eiϕ sin | ↓⟩, (21)
2 2
determine the angles θ and ϕ for this initial state in the Bloch sphere representation. Compare your result with
the position shown in the simulation.
(b) Now assume a measurement of the z-component of spin Sz is performed. What are the possible outcomes of this
measurement ? What will be the quantum state in the Bloch sphere representation after the measurement ? Does
it matter whether an energy measurement is performed instead of a measurement of Sz ? Explain why or why not.
(c) Assume that a first measurement of Sz was performed. What will be the result of a second measurement of Sz ?
Does it matter whether an energy measurement is performed instead of a measurement of Sz ? Explain why or
why not.

3. Now consider the initial state prior to measurement

1
|ψ(t)⟩ = √ (| ↑⟩ + eiωt | ↓⟩), (22)
2
shown in the simulation.

(a) Starting from the general quantum state for a two-level system
θ θ
|ψ(t)⟩ = cos | ↑⟩ + eiϕ sin | ↓⟩, (23)
2 2
determine the angles θ and ϕ for this initial state in the Bloch sphere representation. Compare your result with
the time-dependent position on the Bloch sphere shown in the simulation.
(b) For this initial state, what are the possible outcomes of a measurement of the z-component of spin Sz ? Calculate
the measurement outcome probabilities. Now assume a measurement of the z-component of spin Sz is performed.
What will be the quantum state in the Bloch sphere representation after the measurement ? Does it matter whether
an energy measurement is performed instead of a measurement of Sz ? Explain why or why not.
(c) Assume that a first measurement of Sz was performed. What will be the result of a second measurement of Sz ?
Does it matter whether an energy measurement is performed instead of a measurement of Sz ? Explain why or
why not.

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