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Uantum Mechanics A L A Eynman: p p p p δ p p p p

1. The propagator for a free particle in momentum space is the Dirac delta function times an exponential term that depends on the momentum and time. 2. A Gaussian position-space wave packet evolves into another Gaussian wave packet where the width and position change with time according to deterministic equations. 3. The propagator for a simple harmonic oscillator depends on the frequencies, masses, and initial and final positions, and involves exponentials of sinusoidal terms.

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71 views3 pages

Uantum Mechanics A L A Eynman: p p p p δ p p p p

1. The propagator for a free particle in momentum space is the Dirac delta function times an exponential term that depends on the momentum and time. 2. A Gaussian position-space wave packet evolves into another Gaussian wave packet where the width and position change with time according to deterministic equations. 3. The propagator for a simple harmonic oscillator depends on the frequencies, masses, and initial and final positions, and involves exponentials of sinusoidal terms.

Uploaded by

LorenzzoVictor
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1

Q UANTUM MECHANICS A LA F EYNMAN


1. Derive an explicit expression for the propagator 〈pp 0 , t |p
p 00 , t 0 〉 in momen-
tum space for the free-particle case, analogous to 〈x , t |x 00 , t 0 〉 = 〈x 0 |e −i H (t −t0 )/ħ |x 00 〉.
0
· ¸
p 002 (t −t 0 )/(2mħ) (3) 0
Sol: e −ip
δ (p 0
p − p 0) .

2. Use the expression found for the free-particle propagator

m
r
0 0 2
0 0
〈x , t |x 0 , t 0 〉 = e i m(x −x0 ) /(2ħ(t −t0 )) (1)
2πħi (t − t 0 )

to determine how a Gaussian position-space wave packet (a is a con-


stant)
1 02 2
〈x 00 |α, t 0 〉 = pp e −x0 /(2a ) (2)
πa
· ¸
02 2
q
0 ma −x /[2{i ħ(t −t )/m+a }]
evolves in time, i.e., determine 〈x |α, t 〉. Sol: pπ(i ħ(t −t )+ma 2 ) e 0 .
0

3. Starting from

Zx 0
00
(t 0 )]/ħ
〈x 0 , t |x 00 , t 0 〉 = D[x 00 (t 0 )]e i S[x (3)
x 00

and considering x 00 (t 0 ) = x cl (t 00 )+y(t 00 ), where x cl represents the classical


path and y the deviation from it, determine, up to an overall multiplica-
tive function of time, the transition amplitude, or propagator, for the
simple harmonic
· oscillator of frequency ½ ω and mass m using the path
i mω 02 02
integrals. Sol: 〈x 0 , t |x 00 , t 0 〉 = F (t −t 0 )exp 2ħsin(ω(t −t 0 )) [(x +x 0 )cos(ω(t −
¾¸
0 0
t 0 )) − 2x x 0 ]

4. For which of the following does classical mechanics give an adequate


description of the motion? Explain. [Sol: b)]

a) An electron with a speed v/c = 1/137, which is typical in the ground


state of the hydrogen atom, traversing a distance of 0.5 Å (Angstrom),
which is a characteristic size of the atom.
b) An electron with the same speed as in a) traversing a distance of 1
cm.
2

5. A particle of mass m moves along one of two paths through space and
time connecting the points (x, t ) = (0, 0) and (x, t ) = (D, T ). Once path
is quadratic in time, i.e., x 1 (t ) = 21 at 2 , where a = aii is the acceleration,
which is constant. The second path is linear in time, i.e., x 2 (t ) = v t ,
where v = vii is the velocity, which is a constant. The correct classical
path is the quadratic path, that is x 1 (t ).

a) Find the value of a for the correct classical path. Using Newton’s
laws, find the force F = Fii and the potential energy function V (x)
in terms of m, D, and T . Also find the value of v for the linear,
i.e., incorrect classical, path. [Sol: a = 2D/T 2 , V (x) = −2mD x/T 2 ,
v = D/T ].
b) Calculate the classical action S[x(t )] for each of the two paths x 1 (t )
and x 2 (t ). Conform that S 1 ≡ S[x 1 (t )] < S 2 ≡ S[x 2 (t )], and find ∆S =
S 2 − S 1 . [Sol: S 1 = 4mD 2 /(3T ), S 2 = 3mD 2 /(2T )].
c) Calculate ∆S/ħ for a particle which moves 1 mm in 1 ms when the
particle is (i) a nanoparticle made up of 100 carbon atoms (ii) an
electron. For which of these would you call the motion quantum
mechanical and why? [Sol: ∼ 2 × 107 for the nanoparticle and ∼ 9
for the electron].

Q UANTUM MECHANICS A LA S CHWINGER

6. State the Schwinger action principle. Obtain the solution for 〈x 0 , t |x 00 , t 0 〉


by integrating the Schwinger principle and compare it with the corre-
sponding Feynman expression for 〈x 0 , t |x 00 , t 0 〉. Describe the classical
limits of these two expressions.

7. Consider the one-dimensional motion of a particle of mass m and linear


momentum p = pii under the influence of a constant force F = Fii . The
hamiltonian operator H is given by

p2
H= − F x. (4)
2m

Using the Schwinger action principle, determine 〈x 0 , t |x 00 , t 0 = 0〉 [Hint:


Use the solution of the Heisenberg equations
· of motion to simplify the
x 0 +x 0
¸
0 − i F 2t3
q i m 0 0 2 i
m (x −x ) F t
expression and arrive to the final answer]. Sol: 2πi ħt e ħ 2t 0 eħ 2 e ħ 24m .
3

8. Consider now the Hamiltonian for a simple one-dimensional harmonic


oscillator of mass m, angular frequency ω and linear momentum p =
pii , i.e.,

p2 1
H= + mω2 x 2 . (5)
2m 2

Using the Schwinger action principle, determine 〈x 0 , t |x 00 , t 0 = 0〉 [Hint:


Use the solution of the Heisenberg equations·q of motion to simplify the ¸
i mω 02 02 0 0
expression and arrive to the final answer]. mω
e ħ 2sin(ωt ) [(x +x 0 )cos(ωt )−2x x 0 ] .
2πi ħsin(ωt )

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