IS/PHY 202-I Final Exam

Shams Arfeen
[email protected]

Habib University — April 21, 2023

Solution 1.
For an infinite square potential of lenght L,
(
V0 , 0 ≤ x ≤ L
V (x) =
0, otherwise

The stationary states are separable with time component so using TISE,
Et
Ψ(x, t) = Ae−i ℏ ψ(x)
ℏ2 ∂ 2
 
E= − + V (x) ψ(x)
2m ∂x2
(
sin nπx


ψn (x) = L , 0≤x≤L
0, otherwise

So for the given mixture of states,

Ψ(x, 0) = A (ψ1 (x) + ψ2 (x))

    
πx 2πx
Ψ(x, 0) = A sin + sin
L L

The normalizing constant is,

Z ∞ Z L   πx   2
Ψ(x, 0)2 dx = A2
  2πx
sin + sin dx = 1
−∞ 0 L L

2 !
Z L  πx 2   
2 2πx 2πx  πx 
A sin + sin + 2 sin sin dx = 1
0 L L L L

!
L 2πx 4πx √


1 − cos 1 − cos
Z
2 L L
A + dx = 1 =⇒ A = 1/ L
0 2 2

For the wave-function,

   
1  πx  ℏπ 2 t 2πx 2ℏπ 2 t
Ψ(x, t) = √ sin e−i 2mL2 + sin e−i mL2
L L L

1
For probability,
     2
2 1  πx −i ℏπ2 t2 2πx −i 2ℏπ22t 
|Ψ(x, t)| =  sin e 2mL + sin e mL 
L L L
ℏπ 2 t  πx   ℏπ 2 t  2ℏπ 2 t 2ℏπ 2 t
            
1 πx 2πx 2πx
|Ψ(x, t)|2 =  sin

cos 2
− i sin sin 2
+ sin cos 2
− i sin sin 2

L L 2mL L 2mL L mL L mL 
ℏπ 2 t 2ℏπ 2 t 2 ℏπ 2 t 2ℏπ 2 t 2
            
1  πx  2πx  πx  2πx
|Ψ(x, t)|2 = (sin cos + sin cos ) + (sin sin + sin sin )
L L 2mL2 L mL2 L 2mL2 L mL2
ℏπ 2 t 2ℏπ 2 t ℏπ 2 t 2ℏπ 2 t
           
1 πx 2πx  πx  2πx
|Ψ(x, t)|2 = sin2 ( ) + sin2 ( ) + 2 sin sin (cos cos + sin sin )
L L L L L 2mL2 mL2 2mL2 mL2
   
1 πx 2πx  πx  2πx
|Ψ(x, t)|2 = sin2 ( ) + sin2 ( ) + 2 sin sin cos(3ωt)
L L L L L
The expectation for position is,
Z ∞
⟨Ψ|x|Ψ⟩ = x|Ψ(x, t)|2 dx
−∞
Z L  πx   2πx  
x πx 2πx
⟨Ψ|x|Ψ⟩ = sin2 ( ) + sin2 ( ) + 2 sin sin cos(3ωt) dx
0 L L L L L
L 16L
⟨Ψ|x|Ψ⟩ = − cos(3ωt)
2 9π 2
16L
The amplitude is . Now using Ehrenfest’s theorem,
9π 2
d 16Lω
⟨p⟩ = ⟨Ψ|x|Ψ⟩ = sin(3ωt)
dt 3π 2

Expectation value for H is,

1 L ℏ2 ∂ 2
Z            
πx i ℏπ2 t2 2πx i 2ℏπ22t πx −i ℏπ2 t2 2πx −i 2ℏπ22t
⟨Ψ|H|Ψ⟩ = sin e 2mL + sin e mL − sin e 2mL + sin e mL dx
L 0 L L 2m ∂x2 L L
1 L
 2 2
2ℏ2 π 2
Z        
πx i ℏπ2 t2 2πx i 2ℏπ22t ℏ π  πx  ℏπ 2 t
−i 2mL 2πx −i 2ℏπ22t
⟨Ψ|H|Ψ⟩ = sin e 2mL + sin e mL sin e 2
+ sin e mL dx
L 0 L L 2mL2 L mL2 L
 2 2
2ℏ2 π 2 5ℏ2 π 2

1 ℏ π
⟨Ψ|H|Ψ⟩ = + =
2 2mL2 mL2 4mL2

The angular frequency is of the corresponding classical motion,

E 5ℏπ 2
ω= =
ℏ 4mL2
3ℏπ 2
Which differs from the frequency of expected position 3ω = .
2mL2

Solution 2. (a)
Using TISE, we can directly write solutions,
ℏ2 ∂ 2
 
Eψ(x) = − + V (x) ψ(x)
2m ∂x2
( ′ ′
(A1 .eik x + A2 .e−ik x ), x < 0
ψ(x) =
(B1 .eikx + B2 .e−ikx ), x>0
tk′2 ℏ
( ′ ′
(A1 .eik x + A2 .e−ik x )e−i 2m , x < 0
Ψ(x, t) = tk2 ℏ
(B1 .eikx + B2 .e−ikx )e−i 2m , x>0

2
Where we make following restrictions on the solution owing to continuity,

k ′2 ℏ2 k 2 ℏ2
+U =
2m 2m
tk′2 ℏ tk2 ℏ
(A1 + A2 )e−i 2m = (B1 + B2 )e−i 2m

tk′2 ℏ tk2 ℏ
k ′ (A1 − A2 )e−i 2m = k(B1 − B2 )e−i 2m

Another solution is when energy is less than U ,

tk′2 ℏ
( ′ ′
(A1 .eik x + A2 .e−ik x )e−i 2m , x < 0
Ψ(x, t) = tk2 ℏ
(B1 .ekx + B2 .e−kx )e−i 2m , x>0

Assuming source is on the left we can set B1 = 0 in the above solution. Indeed, the above general solutions
are written in the form of linear combinations of energy eigenstates.

Solution 2. (b)
Delta potential well is defined V (x) = −V0 δ(x) so,

(
Aeikx + Be−ikx x>0
ψ(x) =
F eikx + Ge−ikx x<0
A+B =F +G

Now to stitch the piecewise function let ϵ be a infinitesimally small positive number,

ℏ2 ∂ 2
 
Eψ(x) = − − V0 δ(x) ψ(x)
2m ∂x2
Z ϵ Z ϵ 2 2 Z ϵ
ℏ ∂
Eψ(x)dx = − 2
ψ(x)dx − V0 δ(x)ψ(x)dx
−ϵ −ϵ 2m ∂x −ϵ
ℏ2 ∂ ϵ

0=− ψ(x) − V0 ψ(0)
2m ∂x −ϵ
ℏ2
V0 (A + B) = − (A + B − F − G)
2m

Therefore we have two boundary conditions. For scattering states, we choose the source of particle to be
at the left of delta potential so that B = 0. For bounded states, we have exponential decay on either side
of wave function so,

(
Ae−kx
x>0
ψ(x) =
Aekx
x<0
ϵ
ℏ2 ∂ 
0=− ψ(x) − V0 ψ(0)
2m ∂x −ϵ
kℏ2
V0 =
m

3
So that the only allowed energy and the eigenstate is for,

ℏ2 k 2 mV 2
E=− = − 20
2m 2ℏ
( mV
− ℏ20 x−iEt/ℏ
Ae x>0
Ψ(x, t) = mV0
Ae ℏ2 x−iEt/ℏ x<0

Solution 2. (c)
Assuming energy is less than U , so that states are bounded. Since potential is symmetrical so state must
also be, then clearly,

−kx
Ae
 x>a
ψ(x) = B sin(k ′ x) + C cos(k ′ x) a > x > −a

 kx
Ae x < −a
Ae−ka = B sin(k ′ a) + C cos(k ′ a)
Aeka = −B sin(k ′ a) + C cos(k ′ a)
k 2 ℏ2 k ′2 ℏ2
= +U
2m 2m

Solution 3.
Comparing with TISE,

ℏ2 ∂ 2
 
Eψ(x) = − + V (x) ψ(x)
2m ∂x2
1
V (x) = Kx2
2
ℏ2 ∂ 2
 
−x2 /2α 1 2
EC0 e = − + Kx2
C0 e−x /2α
2m ∂x2 2
2 ℏ2 x2 1 2 1 2
Ee−x /2α = − ( − )e−x /2α + Kx2 e−x /2α
2m a2 a 2
ℏ2 x 2 1 1
E=− ( 2 − ) + Kx2
2m a a 2

As we just applied H operator on eigenfunction, we expected a constant factor out however the term on
RHS is not constant as it is depended on x2 . So we will assume coefficients of x2 as zero.

ℏ2
E=
2ma
K ℏ2
− =0
2 2ma2
ℏ
a= √
mK

So we found that for the above equation, our first wave-function will indeed be an eigenfunction of H.

4
 ℏ2 ∂ 2
 
2 1 2
EC1 xe−x /2α
= − 2
+ Kx 2
C1 xe−x /2α
2m ∂x 2
2 3
2 ℏ x x 2 1 2
Exe−x /2α = − ( 2 − 3 )e−x /2α + Kx3 e−x /2α
2m a a 2
ℏ2 x 2 3 1 3ℏ 2
E=− ( − ) + Kx2 =
2m a2 a 2 2ma
ℏ2 K
− + =0
2ma2 2
q q
ℏ2 3ℏ2
Which is true. We end up with two energy eigenvalues of E0 = 2ma = ℏ2 Km and E1 = 2ma = 3ℏ
2
K
m.

sZ s
ℏπ
C0 = 1/ √
|ψ0 |2 dx =
km
sZ √
h3/2 π
C1 = 1/ |ψ1 |2 dx = 3/4 3/4
2k m
ψ0 (x)

ψ1 (x)

x x

Solution 4.
For free moving particle V = 0 everywhere so,

ℏ2 ∂ 2
 
∂
iℏ Ψ(x, t) = − + V (x, t) Ψ(x, t)
∂t 2m ∂x2
1 2
Ψ(x, t) = C p e−x /2γ(t)
γ(t)
1 x2 −x2 /2γ(t) ′ ℏ2 1 x2 2
iℏ(− 3/2
+ 5/2
)e γ (t) = − (− 3/2
+ 5/2
)e−x /2γ(t)
2γ(t) 2γ(t) 2m γ(t) γ(t)
ℏ
iγ ′ (t) = −
m
ℏ
γ(t) = i t + α
m
Normalization factor computed for any one time, say at t = 0, will keep
√ Ψ normalized for all times. The
wave-function becomes a normalized Gaussian function with C = 1/ 2π so we know that normalization
is taken care of at time t = 0 when γ = α,

5
 1
exp −x2 /2γ


Ψ(x, t) = √
2πγ
x2 (α − iℏt/m)
 
1
Ψ(x, t) = √ exp −
2πγ 2(α2 + ℏ2 t2 /m2 )
x2 α x2 ℏt/m
   
1
Ψ(x, t) = √ exp − exp i
2πγ 2(α2 + ℏ2 t2 /m2 ) 2(α2 + ℏ2 t2 /m2 )
2
1 (α2 − ℏ2 t2 /m2 ) x2 α

|Ψ(x, t)|2 = exp −
2π (α2 + ℏ2 t2 /m2 )2 2(α2 + ℏ2 t2 /m2 )

We see that the real part in the exponent is responsible for decay of probability. So as time passes, the
variance of the corresponding squared Gaussian function is increasing which leads to probability becoming
much more spread out around the mean position x = 0.

Solution 5.
V (x)

x
The TISE reads,

ℏ2 ∂ 2 ℏ2
 
2
Eψ(x) = − − sech (x) ψ(x)
2m ∂x2 m
ℏ2 ∂ 2 ℏ2
Eψ(x) = − 2
ψ(x) − sech2 (x)ψ(x)
2m ∂x m
mE ∂2
2 2 ψ(x) = − 2 ψ(x) − 2 sech2 (x))ψ(x)
ℏ ∂x
mE ∂2
(1 + 2 2 )ψ(x) = − 2 ψ(x) − 2 sech2 (x)ψ(x) + ψ(x)
ℏ ∂x
∂2 ∂ ∂
(1 + ϵ)ψ(x) = − 2 ψ(x) − sech2 (x)ψ(x) − tanh(x) ψ(x) + tanh(x) ψ(x) + tanh2 (x)ψ(x)
∂x ∂x ∂x
∂ ∂ ∂
(1 + ϵ)ψ(x) = − ( ψ(x) + tanh(x)ψ(x)) + tanh(x)( ψ(x) + tanh(x)ψ(x))
∂x ∂x ∂x
∂ ∂
(1 + ϵ)ψ(x) = (− + tanh(x))( + tanh(x))ψ(x)
∂x ∂x
(1 + ϵ)ψ(x) = A† Aψ(x)

6
Z ∞ Z ∞
∂ ∂ ∂
ψ(x)∗ A† Aψ(x)dx = ψ(x)∗ (−
( ψ(x) + tanh(x)ψ(x)) + tanh(x)( ψ(x) + tanh(x)ψ(x)))dx
−∞ −∞ ∂x ∂x ∂x
Z ∞ Z ∞
∂ ∂ ∂
= ψ(x)∗ (− ( ψ(x) + tanh(x)ψ(x)))dx + ψ(x)∗ tanh(x)( ψ(x) + tanh(x)ψ(x))dx
−∞ ∂x ∂x −∞ ∂x
Z ∞ Z ∞
∂ ∂ ∂
= ψ(x)∗ ( ψ(x) + tanh(x)ψ(x)))dx + tanh(x)ψ(x)∗ ( ψ(x) + tanh(x)ψ(x))dx
−∞ ∂x ∂x −∞ ∂x
Z ∞
∂ ∂ ∂
= ψ(x)∗ ( ψ(x) + tanh(x)ψ(x))) + tanh(x)ψ(x)∗ ( ψ(x) + tanh(x)ψ(x))dx
−∞ ∂x ∂x ∂x
Z ∞
∂ ∂
= ( ψ(x)∗ + tanh(x)ψ(x)∗ )( ψ(x) + tanh(x)ψ(x))dx
−∞ ∂x ∂x
Z ∞
∂ ∂
= ( ψ(x) + tanh(x)ψ(x))∗ ( ψ(x) + tanh(x)ψ(x))dx
−∞ ∂x ∂x
Z ∞
= (Aψ(x))∗ Aψ(x)dx
−∞

Let ψ0 be an eigenfunction of A† A then,

A† Aψ0 = (ϵ + 1)ψ0
(ϵ + 1) = ⟨ψ0 |A† A|ψ0 ⟩ = ⟨Aψ0 |Aψ0 ⟩ > 0

m
We saw from Schrodinger’s equation that A† A = 2 H + 1 so the lowest energy will have,
ℏ2

2m
E>0⇒ϵ= E ⇒ ϵ > −1
ℏ2
ϵ = −1 ⇒ ⟨Aψ0 |Aψ0 ⟩ = 0 ⇒ Aψ0 = 0
d
ψ0 + tanh(x)ψ0 = 0
dx
1 dψ0
+ tanh(x) = 0
ψ0 dx
Z Z
1
dψ0 + tanh(x)dx = 0
ψ0
ln(ψ0 ) + ln(| cosh(x)|) = const.
   
1 2
ψ0 = (const.) exp = (const.) exp
cosh(x) exp(x) + exp(−x)
ψ0 (x)

7
Solution 6.

ℏ2 2
 
Eψ(r) = − ∇ + V (r) ψ(r)
2m
ℏ2 2
Eψ(r) = − ∇ ψ
2m
ℏ2 ∂ 2 ∂2 ∂2
Eψ(r) = − ( 2 ψ + 2 ψ + 2 ψ)
2m ∂x ∂y ∂z
2
ℏ
EXY Z = − (X ′′ Y Z + XY ′′ Z + XY Z ′′ )
2m
X ′′ 1 2m
=− (Y ′′ Z + Y Z ′′ ) − 2 E = Cx
X YZ ℏ
X ′′ = Cx X
n π 
x n2 π 2
X = sin x ⇒ Cx = − x 2
a a
1 2m n2 π 2
(Y ′′ Z + Y Z ′′ ) + 2 E = x 2
YZ ℏ a
Y ′′ n2x π 2 2m Z ′′
= − 2 E− = Cy
Y a2 ℏ Z
n π 
y n2y π 2
Y = sin y ⇒ Cy = − 2
b b
2 2 ′′ 2 2
nx π 2m Z n y π
− 2 E− =− 2
a2 ℏ Z b
2 2 2 2
n π n y π 2mE
Z ′′ = ( x 2 + 2 − 2 )
a b ℏ
n π 
z n2x π 2 n2y π 2 2mE n2 π 2
Z = sin z ⇒ ( 2 + 2 − 2 ) = − z2
c a b ℏ r c
2 2 2 2 2
ℏ π nx ny n 8 n π  n π  n π 
x y z
E= ( 2 + 2 + 2z ) ⇒ ψ(x, y, z) = sin z sin z sin z
2m a b c abc a b c
First state is non-degenerate (only 1 degree of degeneracy) as the only state on which it can be measured
is when nx = 1, ny = 1, nz = 1.

8
Solution 7.

[Si , Sj ] = Si Sj − Sj Si
 
0 0
[Si , Si ] = , ∀i
0 0
ℏ2 i 0
 
[S1 , S2 ] =
2 0 −i
ℏ2 −i 0
 
[S2 , S1 ] =
2 0 i
2
 
ℏ 0 −1
[S1 , S3 ] =
2 1 0
ℏ2 0 1
 
[S1 , S3 ] =
2 −1 0
ℏ2 0 i
 
[S2 , S3 ] =
2 i 0
ℏ2 0 i
 
[S2 , S3 ] = −
2 i 0
2
 
3ℏ 1 0
S2 =
4 0 1

Eigenvectors of S 2 and S3 is clearly,

 
1
v=
0
3ℏ2 1
 
2
S v=
4 0
 
ℏ 1
S3 v =
2 0
3ℏ2
= ℏ2 s(s + 1)
4
ℏ
= hs
2
1
Which is true for s = .
2