Download the full version of the ebook at

https://ebookultra.com

Quantum Mechanics Sixth Edition 6th Ed

Instructor s Solution Manual Solutions
Alastair I. M. Rae

https://ebookultra.com/download/quantum-mechanics-
sixth-edition-6th-ed-instructor-s-solution-manual-
solutions-alastair-i-m-rae/

Explore and download more ebook at https://ebookultra.com

 Recommended digital products (PDF, EPUB, MOBI) that
you can download immediately if you are interested.

Instructor s Solution Manual for Microelectronic Circuits

International 6th Edition Adel S. Sedra

https://ebookultra.com/download/instructor-s-solution-manual-for-
microelectronic-circuits-international-6th-edition-adel-s-sedra/

ebookultra.com

Control Systems Engineering Instructor Solutions Manual

6th Edition Norman S. Nise

https://ebookultra.com/download/control-systems-engineering-
instructor-solutions-manual-6th-edition-norman-s-nise/

ebookultra.com

Instructor s Solutions Manual to Accompany Analytical

Mechanics 7th Edition Grant R. Fowles

https://ebookultra.com/download/instructor-s-solutions-manual-to-
accompany-analytical-mechanics-7th-edition-grant-r-fowles/

ebookultra.com

Practical Graph Mining with R Instructor Solution Manual

Solutions 1st Edition Nagiza F. Samatova

https://ebookultra.com/download/practical-graph-mining-with-r-
instructor-solution-manual-solutions-1st-edition-nagiza-f-samatova/

ebookultra.com
Instructor s Solutions Manual for Elementary Number Theory
and Its Applications 6th Edition Kenneth H. Rosen

https://ebookultra.com/download/instructor-s-solutions-manual-for-
elementary-number-theory-and-its-applications-6th-edition-kenneth-h-
rosen/
ebookultra.com

Vector Calculus Instructor s Solutions Manual 1st Edition

Miroslav Lovric

https://ebookultra.com/download/vector-calculus-instructor-s-
solutions-manual-1st-edition-miroslav-lovric/

ebookultra.com

Instructor s Solutions Manual for Galois Theory 4th

Edition Ian Stewart

https://ebookultra.com/download/instructor-s-solutions-manual-for-
galois-theory-4th-edition-ian-stewart/

ebookultra.com

Principles of Macroeconomics Instructor s Manual with

Solutions Manual 4th Edition N. Gregory Mankiw

https://ebookultra.com/download/principles-of-macroeconomics-
instructor-s-manual-with-solutions-manual-4th-edition-n-gregory-
mankiw/
ebookultra.com

Instructor s Solutions Manual to Thomas Calculus 12th

Edition George B. Thomas

https://ebookultra.com/download/instructor-s-solutions-manual-to-
thomas-calculus-12th-edition-george-b-thomas/

ebookultra.com
Quantum Mechanics Sixth Edition 6th Ed Instructor s
Solution Manual Solutions Alastair I. M. Rae Digital
Instant Download
Author(s): Alastair I. M. Rae
ISBN(s): 9781482299182, 1482299186
Edition: 6, 6e
File Details: PDF, 1.04 MB
Year: 2015
Language: english
Contents

About this Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Solutions to Problems at the end of Chapter 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Solutions to Problems at the end of Chapter 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Solutions to Problems at the end of Chapter 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Solutions to Problems at the end of Chapter 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Solutions to Problems at the end of Chapter 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Solutions to Problems at the end of Chapter 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Solutions to Problems at the end of Chapter 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Solutions to Problems at the end of Chapter 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Solutions to Problems at the end of Chapter 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Solutions to Problems at the end of Chapter 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Solutions to Problems at the end of Chapter 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Solutions to Problems at the end of Chapter 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

Solutions to Problems at the end of Chapter 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

Solutions to Problems at the end of Chapter 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Solutions to Problems at the end of Chapter 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

Solutions to Problems at the end of Chapter 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

393
About this manual

This manual contains solutions to the problems set at the end of each chapter of
“Quantum Mechanics”. It is divided into sections corresponding to the chapters in
the text and titled accordingly. Bracketed numbers refer to equations in the main text.

1
 CHAPTER 1

The Physics and

Mathematics of
Waves

1.1 Use Euler’s formula to find a purely real expression for ii .

Solution  i
ii = eiπ/2 = e−π/2

1.2 Show that (1.3) can be written as

x(t) = A cos(ωt + φ)

and derive expressions for A and φ in terms of B and C. Assuming the oscillator starts
out at position x(0) = x0 with velocity v(0) = v0 , determine A and φ in terms of x0
and v0 . Note: We call A the amplitude and φ the phase of the oscillation.

Solution
Replace the constants B and C in x(t) = B cos ωt + C sin ωt with two different
constants A and φ which solve B = A cos φ and C = −A sin φ. This results in
x(t) = A cos(ωt + φ). Now x(0) = A cos φ = x0 and ẋ(0) = −ωA sin φ = v0 so A =
(x02 + v20 /ω2 )1/2 and φ = − tan−1 (v0 /x0 ω).

1.3 A spring with stiffness k hangs vertically from point on the ceiling. A mass m is
attached to the lower end of the spring without stretching it, and then is released from
rest. Show that when the gravitational force mg is taken into account, the motion is
still sinusoidal with ω = (k/m)1/2 but with an equilibrium position shifted to a lower
point. Find the new equilibrium position in terms of m, k, and g.

3
4  Quantum MechanicsSixth EditionSolutions Manual

Solution
Let y measure the vertical position of the mass, with y = 0 the unstretched string.
Then mÿ = −ky − mg = −k(y + mg/k). Defining x ≡ y + mg/k, get m ẍ = −kx, so once
again ω2 = k/m. The equilibrium point is x = 0 or y = −mg/k.

1.4 Consider a system of a mass and spring, such as in Figure 1.1, but with an
additional force Fdamp = −bv proportional to velocity but acting in the direction
opposite to the motion. Reformulate the equation of motion, and find the solution
for x(0) = x0 and v(0) = v0 . Use the ansatz x(t) = exp(iαt) to solve for α. You may
assume that b2 /m2 is less than 4k/m.

Solution
The equation of motion is m ẍ = −kx − b ẋ so −mα2 = −k − ibα. Defining ω20 ≡ k/m
and β ≡ b/2m, yields the equation α2 − 2iβα − ω20 =. Solving this,
1  1/2 
α = 2iβ ± −4β2 + 4ω20 = iβ ± ω
2
where ω2 ≡ ω20 − β2 . (Note that β2 /ω20 = (b2 /m2 )/(4k/m) < 1 so ω is real.) The
solution becomes x(t) = Ae−βt cos(ωt + φ) where A cos φ = x0 and −A(β cos φ +
ω sin φ) = v0 . These can be solved in principle, but the interesting solution is
when β  ω, i.e. “lightly damped” motion. The result in oscillation which slowly
damps.

1.5 Two equal masses m move in one dimension and are each connected to fixed
walls by springs with stiffness k. The masses are also connected to each other by a
third, identical spring, as shown:
k m k m k

Write the (differential) equations of motion for the positions x1 (t) and x2 (t) of the
two masses. Solve those equations with the ansatz x1 (t) = A1 exp(iαt) and x2 (t) =
A2 exp(iαt); you will discover nontrivial solutions only for two values of ω2 . (Those
k 3mWhat kind
two values are called eigenfrequencies.) k of2mmotion corresponds to each of
these two eigenfrequencies?

Solution
Label the two masses #1 and #2 from left to right. The force on m #1 is −kx1 +
k(x2 − x1 ) = −2kx1 + kx2 , and the force on m #2 is −kx2 − k(x2 − x1 ) = −2kx2 + kx1 ,
so, defining ω20 ≡ k/m, the equations of motion are

ẍ1 = −2ω20 x1 + ω20 x2 and ẍ2 = −2ω20 x2 + ω20 x1

Now insert the ansatz solution. After a little rearranging, you find
(2ω20 − ω2 )A1 − ω20 A2 = 0 and − ω20 A1 + (2ω20 − ω2 )A2 = 0
 The Physics and Mathematics of Waves  5

These are two homogenous equations for A1 and A2 . The only solution is A1 = A2 = 0,
that is no motion, unless the determinant vanishes:

ω40 = (ω2 − 2ω20 )2 so ω2 = ω20 or ω2 = 3ω20

m two masses
For ω2 = ω20 , find A1 = A2k so the k m
oscillate kin phase with the same
amplitude. For ω = 3ω0 , find A1 = −A2 so the two masses oscillate out of phase
2 2

with the same amplitude.

1.6 Find the eigenfrequencies for the two-mass, two-spring system shown here:
k 3m k 2m

Solution
Label mass 3m #1 and mass 2m #2. Then the equations of motion are

3m ẍ1 = −kx1 + k(x2 − x1 ) = −2kx1 + kx2 and 2m ẍ2 = −k(x2 − x1 ) = kx1 − kx2

Using the standard definitions and ansatz,

(3ω2 − 2ω20 )A1 + ω20 A2 = 0 and ω20 A1 + (2ω2 − ω20 )A2 = 0

Next, set the determinant equal to zero to find

(3ω2 − 2ω20 )(2ω2 − ω20 ) − ω40 = 6ω4 − 7ω20 ω2 + ω20 = (6ω2 − ω20 )(ω2 − ω20 ) = 0

so the eigenfrequencies are ω2 = ω20 , in which case the two masses oscillate with
equal amplitude but out of phase, and ω2 = ω20 /6, in which case the oscillations are
in phase with A1 /A2 = 2/3.

1.7 For the two-mass, three-spring system discussed in Problem 1.5, find expres-
sions for x1 (t) and x2 (t) subject to the initial conditions x1 (0) = A and x2 (0) = v1 (0) =
v2 (0) = 0. Make a plot of x1 (t) and x2 (t), and also plot the quantities x1 (t) + x2 (t) and
x1 (t) − x2 (t). Comment on your observations.

Solution

Now we need to write the the general solution for the motion of the two masses:
√ √
x1 (t) = aeiω0 t + be−iω0 t + ce 3iω0 t
+ de− 3iω0 t
√ √
x2 (t) = aeiω0 t + be−iω0 t − ce 3iω0 t
− de− 3iω0 t

Note that we have maintained the amplitude ratios and relative phases between the
different solutions for the particular eigenfrequencies. This is necessary in order
6  Quantum MechanicsSixth EditionSolutions Manual

to make sure that each of the four terms separately solves the coupled differential
equations. Now we can apply the initial conditions:
A = a+b+c+d
√
0 = a − b + 3(c − d)
0 = a+b−c−d
√
0 = a − b − 3(c − d)
Adding first and third gives a + b = A/2 and adding second and fourth gives a − b = 0,
so a = b = A/4. Subtracting third from first gives c + d = A/2 and subtracting fourth
from second gives c − d = 0 so c = d = A/4. Therefore
Ah √ i
x1 (t) = cos(ω0 t) + cos( 3ω0 t)
2
Ah √ i
x2 (t) = cos(ω0 t) − cos( 3ω0 t)
2
Below left, plots of x1 (t) and x2 (t). Below right, plots of x1 (t) + x2 (t) and x1 (t) − x2 (t).
1.0 1.0

0.5 0.5

2 4 6 8 10 12 2 4 6 8 10 12

-0.5 -0.5

-1.0 -1.0

The wiggling motion is a superposition of different eigenfrequencies, but the sum

and difference show the individual isolated eigenfrequencies.

1.8 Repeat Problem 1.7, but this time let the “coupling” spring between the two
masses have a spring constant kc = k/100. Show that the overall motion “oscillates”
between cases were the first mass is in simple harmonic motion by itself, to one
where the second mass is in simple harmonic motion, and then back again. What is
the frequency of these low frequency oscillations between the two masses?

Solution
First, go back to Problem 5. Now, the force on m #1 is −kx1 + kc (x2 − x1 ) = −(k +
kc )x1 +kx2 , and the force on m #2 is −kx2 −kc (x2 − x1 ) = −(k +kc )x2 +kx1 , so, defining
ω20 ≡ k/m and α2 = 2kc /m = 2(kc /k)ω20 , the equations of motion are

ẍ1 = −(ω20 + α2 /2)x1 + (α2 /2)x2 and ẍ2 = −(ω20 + α2 /2)x2 + (α2 /2)x1
Now insert the ansatz solution. After a little rearranging, you find
(ω20 + α2 /2 − ω2 )A1 − (α2 /2)A2 = 0 and − (α2 /2)A1 + (ω20 + α2 /2 − ω2 )A2 = 0
 The Physics and Mathematics of Waves  7

so ω20 + α2 /2 − ω2 = ±α2 /2 and the solutions are ω2 = ω20 and ω2 = ω20 + α2 . It is

easy to see, as in Problem 5, that these two solutions correspond to equal amplitude
oscillations in phase and out of phase, respectively. At this point, the motions of the
two masses work out just as in Problem 7, and we have
A
q 
x1 (t) = cos(ω0 t) + cos( ω20 + α2 t)
2
A
q 
x2 (t) = cos(ω0 t) − cos( ω20 + α2 t)
2
When k = kc , α2 = 2ω20 and we get the correct solution to Problem 7. Following are
the same plots, but for kc = k/10, that is, α2 = ω20 /5 (which plot more nicely than
kc = k/100):
1.0 1.0

0.5 0.5

50 100 150 50 100 150

-0.5 -0.5

-1.0 -1.0

The right plot shows that the eigenfrequencies are very close to each other, resulting
in the beat pattern shown in the left plot. With α2  ω20 , and the trigonometric
identities
u+v u−v
cos u + cos v = 2 cos cos
 u2+ v   u2− v 
cos u − cos v = −2 sin sin
2 2
it is clear that the plots are the product of a high frequency component
1
q 
ω0 + ω20 + α2 ≈ ω0
2
with an envelope with low frequency

1
q  ω  α2

 ω0 kc
0
ω0 + α2 − ω0 ≈
2
1 + 2 − 1 =


2 2 2ω0 2 k

That is, for the left plot above, there are ≈ 20 crests within one envelope wave-
length.

1.9 Derive the solution (1.13) to the wave equation (1.12) by going through the
following steps. Consider a change of variables from x and y to ξ = x − vt and η =
x + vt. Then use the chain rule to rewrite the wave equation in terms of ξ and η. You
should find that
∂2 y
=0
∂ξ∂η
8  Quantum MechanicsSixth EditionSolutions Manual

Then argue that this means that y is a function of either ξ or η, but not both at the
same time. In other words, the solution is (1.13). If you are not familiar with the
chain rule for partial differentiation, it means that if w and z are functions of x and y,
then
∂ ∂ f ∂w ∂ f ∂z
f (x, y) = +
∂x ∂w ∂x ∂z ∂x
and similarly for ∂/∂y. You can assume that you get the same result regardless of the
order in which the partial derivatives are taken.

Solution
As directed, apply the chain rule to the wave equation

∂y ∂y ∂y
= +
∂x ∂ξ ∂η
∂2 y ∂2 y ∂2 y ∂2 y
= +2 +
∂x2 ∂ξ 2 ∂ξ∂η ∂η2
∂y ∂y ∂y
= −v + v
∂t ∂ξ ∂η
∂2 y ∂ 2y ∂2 y ∂2 y
= v2 2 − 2v2 + v2 2
∂t2 ∂ξ ∂ξ∂η ∂η
1 ∂2 y ∂2 y ∂2 y
− = −4v2 =0
v2 ∂t2 ∂x2 ∂ξ∂η
leading to the expression we sought. The obvious solution to this differential equation
is the sum of two “constants” in ξ and η, respectively, that is y(ξ, η) = f (ξ) +
g(η).

1.10 Prove the principle of linear superposition for the wave equation (1.12). That
is, show that if y1 (x, t) and y2 (x, t) are solutions of the wave equation, then y(x, t) =
ay1 (x, t) + by2 (x, t) is also a solution, where a and b are arbitrary constants.

Solution
All you have to do is plug it in and it falls out easily:

1 ∂2 y ∂2 y 1 ∂2 y 1 1 ∂2 y2 ∂2 y1 ∂2 y 2
− = a + b − a − b
v2 ∂t2 ∂x2 v2 ∂t2 v2 ∂t2 ∂x2 ∂x2
1 ∂2 y1 ∂2 y1 1 ∂2 y2 ∂2 y2
" # " #
= a 2 2 − 2 +b 2 2 − 2
v ∂t ∂x v ∂t ∂x
= 0+0 = 0

1.11 A string with linear mass density µ hangs motionless between two fixed points
(x, y) = (±a, 0) where y measures the vertical direction. The length of the string is
greater than 2a, so the lowest point is at (x.y) = (0, b). Derive the differential equation
 The Physics and Mathematics of Waves  9

that describes the shape of the string, and solve it for y(x) in terms of a, b, and the
acceleration g due to gravity. Unlike our derivation of the wave equation, do not make
the “small displacement” assumption. Note that the shape, called a catenary, is not a
parabola.

Solution
Define angles as in Fig.1.2, but for a down-hanging string in the region x > 0. The
tension arises now from gravity, so is not a set parameter, and T 1 need not be the same
as T 2 . (Think of a point mass, suspended from two wires, each attached at different
vertical positions on walls.) Horizontal and vertical equilibrium for a short section of
string give

T 1 cos θ1 = T 2 cos θ2 and T 1 sin θ1 = T 2 sin θ2 + (µ∆s)g

where ∆s = (∆x2 + ∆y2 )1/2 is the length of the short section of string. Now as ∆x → 0,
the first equation implies that the tension is a constant, so we take T 1 = T 2 = T .
Since
dy
sin θ = cos θ tan θ = (1 + tan2 θ)−1/2 tan θ and tan θ = ≡ y0
dx
the second equation becomes
 
d  y0
 
0 2 1/2
 
T   = µg 1 + y

dx  1 + y0 2 1/2 
 

Taking the derivative, multiplying by (1 + y0 2 )3/2 , and defining k ≡ T/µg, we

have
  1 2
y00 1 + y0 2 − y0 2 y00 = y00 = 1 + y0 2
k
The catenary y = k cosh[(x − A)/k] + B solves this equation. (Note that for the
derivative of cosh u is sinh u and vice versa, and that 1 + sinh2 u = cosh2 u). Since our
case is symmetric, A = 0. Also, B = b − k, and the length of the string is determined
by a, which in turn determines the tension T .

1.12 Show that the standing wave solutions (1.19) are linear combinations of the
traveling wave solutions cos[kx ± ωt] and sin[kx ± ωt].

Solution
Just use the simple expressions for sines and cosines of sums or differences:

cos(kx ± ωt) = cos(kx) cos(ωt) ∓ sin(kx) sin(ωt)

sin(kx ± ωt) = sin(kx) cos(ωt) ± cos(kx) sin(ωt)
A
so A cos(kx) cos(ωt) = [cos(kx + ωt) + cos(kx − ωt)]
2
A
and A sin(kx) cos(ωt) = [sin(kx + ωt) + sin(kx − ωt)]
2
10  Quantum MechanicsSixth EditionSolutions Manual

1.13 A function f (x) is periodic, such that f (x + 2) = f (x). For −1 < x < 0 f (x) = −1,
and for 0 < x < 1 f (x) = +1. Find the first five terms of the Fourier expansion for f (x),
and make a plot of the approximations based on the first term, and the sums up to the
third and fifth terms, along with a plot of f (x) itself.

This is an odd function, with period 2, so there are only sine terms:
Z 1
2 2
bn = 2 sin(nπx)dx = − cos(nπx)|10 = [1 − cos nπ]
0 nπ nπ
All the even n terms vanish, so the Fourier series is
4 4 4
f (x) = sin(πx) + sin(3πx) + sin(5πx) + · · ·
π 3π 5π
Plotting the sum up to the first, second, and third terms, gives
1.5

1.0

0.5

-1.0 -0.5 0.5 1.0

-0.5

-1.0

-1.5

1.14 The G-string on a standard guitar vibrates at 196 Hz. On one particular guitar,
this string is 60 cm long and has a mass of 3.1 grams per meter. Calculate the tension
on the string, both in Newtons and pounds.

Solution

The wavelength of the fundamental is twice the p string length, so the wave speed
on the string is 1.2 m × 196 sec−1 = 235 m/sec = T/µ. With µ = 3.1 × 10−3 kg/m,
we determine T = 3.1 × 10−3 × 2352 = 171 N = 38.6 lbweight.

1.15 Consider a string with an initial shape similar to that shown in Figure 1.7, but
instead plucked at a position x = a/2 instead of x = 0. Find the motion of the string in
this case. You might find a program like M ATHEMATICA particularly useful to carry
out the calculation of the Fourier components, as well as to produce an animation of
the string’s motion.

Solution
 The Physics and Mathematics of Waves  11

For Figure 1.7, that is Worked Example 1.3, the shape function f (x) = y(x, t = 0) at
zero time was an odd function of x, so contained only sine terms, and this guaranteed
that y(0, t) = 0. We don’t have that condition here, however, so we need to improvise.
It is easiest to translate to x0 ≡ x + a and then make an odd function for −R/2 ≤ x0 ≤
+R/2, with R = 4a. You can then carry out the calculation of the coefficients bn in
(1.25b), and translate back to x = x0 − a. One finds
" ! #
8 3πn
bn = 2 2 4 sin − 3 sin(πn)
3π n 4

The following use n = 1, 2, . . . 41, and are for t = 0 (left) and t = 0, R/16c, R/8c, 3R/8c, R/2c:
1.0 1.0

0.5 0.5

-1.0 -0.5 0.5 1.0 -1.0 -0.5 0.5 1.0

-0.5 -0.5

-1.0 -1.0

The M ATHEMATICA notebook used for this calculation is available upon re-
quest.

1.16 Find the Fourier transform of the (normalized) Gaussian function

1
f (x) = √ exp(−x2 /2σ2 )
σ 2π
(You will need to “complete the square” of the exponent in the integrand to carry
out the integration.) Using σ as a measure of the “width” ∆x of f (x), propose an
analogous quantity to express with width ∆k of the Fourier transform, and evaluate
∆x∆k.

Solution
We work directly from (1.31b), so
Z ∞" # Z ∞
1 1 1 
√ e−x /2σ e−ikx dx = e−(x +2ikxσ )/2σ dx
2 2 2 2 2
a(k) = √
2π −∞ σ 2π 2πσ −∞
Z ∞
1 −k2 σ2 /2 ∞ −(x+ikσ)2 /2σ2
Z
1 
e−(x +2ikxσ −k σ +k σ )/2σ dx =
2 2 2 4 2 4 2
= e e dx
2πσ −∞ 2πσ −∞
1 −k2 σ2 /2 √ 1
σ 2π = √ e−k σ /2
2 2
= e
2πσ 2π
If the width of f (x) is σ, then clearly the width of a(k) is 1/σ, so the product is
unity.
12  Quantum MechanicsSixth EditionSolutions Manual

1.17 The “width” of a localized function can have a precise definition, based in fact
on the concept of standard deviation. For some normalized distribution f (z), we can
define the width ∆z by
Z ∞ Z ∞
hzi = z f (z)dz hz2 i = z2 f (z)dz and (∆z)2 = hz2 i − hzi2 (1.1)
−∞ −∞

Use this definition to find the width ∆k of the distribution function a(k) in Figure 1.8.
Are you surprised?

Solution √
For R Example 1.4, a(k) = sin(kα)/kα 2π. Therefore, hki ∝
R Figure 1.8, that is Worked
sin(kα)dk = 0 but hk2 i ∝ k sin(kα)dk → ∞. Yes, this is surprising. The plot of a(k)
in Fig. 1.8 does appear to have a finite width.

1.18 Consider a triangular function f (x) that forms a straight line from the point at
x = 0 to the x-axis at both x = ±α and is zero otherwise, that is

f(x)

-α 0 α x
Find the Fourier transform. Then find the width of both f (x) and of its Fourier
transform, using the definition (1.38) based on standard deviation.

Solution
The (normalized) function f (x) is even with f (x) = (α − x)/α2 for 0 < x < α and
f (x) = 0 for x > α. Clearly, hxi = 0. Therefore
Z α
2 α3 α4 α2 α
" #
1
(∆x)2 = 2 x2 2 (α − x)dx = 2 α− = and ∆x = √
0 α α 3 4 6 6

Since e−ikx = cos kx − i sin kx and f (x) is even, we calculate the Fourier transform
as
Z α r r
2 αk
!
1 1 2 1 − cos(αk) 2 2
a(k) = 2 √ (α − x) cos(kx)dx = = sin
2π 0 α2 π α2 k 2 π α2 k 2 2

This is also an even function, so hki = 0, and

αk
Z ∞ Z ∞ !
(∆k)2 = k2 a(k)dk ∝ sin2 dk → ∞
−∞ −∞ 2

Once again, as in Prob. 17, the “width” of the distribution is technically infinite.
 The Physics and Mathematics of Waves  13

There are mathematics theorems that discuss the properties of such functions, mostly
having to do with cases where f (x) has sharp corners.
A better problem would be to offer something with rounded edges so that the
Fourier transform has a finite width. I worked it through with (the area-normalized
function)
15 1 15 1 2
f (x) = (x − α)2 (x + α)2 = (x − α2 )2
16 α5 16 α5
√
I find ∆x = α/ 7 and for the Fourier transform
  
15 α2 k2 − 3 sin(αk) + 3αk cos(αk)
a(k) = − √
2πα5 k5
√
After area-normalizing the Fourier Transform, find ∆a = 2/α, so ∆x∆a = 2/ 7 =
0.756.

1.19 Evaluate the integral Z ∞

δ(ax)dx
−∞
where a is a positive constant.

Solution
Simply make the substitution w = ax so that dx = dw/a and
Z ∞
1 ∞
Z
1
δ(ax)dx = δ(w)dw =
−∞ a −∞ a

1.20 The “step function” H(x) is defined so that H(x) = 0 for x < 0, and H(x) = 1
for x > 0. Show that dH/dx has the correct properties to claim that dH/dx = δ(x).

Solution

Since H(x) is a constant everywhere except at x = 0, dH/dx = 0 everywhere except

at x = 0, just as for δ(x). Then, for some constant a > 0,
Z a
dH
dx = H(a) − H(−a) = 1 − 0 = 1
−a dx

so the integral also has the properties of δ(x). That’s all we need to show dH/dx =
δ(x).
 CHAPTER 2

Maxwell’s equation and

Electromagnetic
Waves

2.1 Consider a vector field V(r) = 4xx0 + 5yy0 + 6zz0 and a closed, cubical S surface
with sideH length L and one corner at the origin, lying in the first octant. Evaluate the
integral S V · dA by first carrying out the dot product and integral on each of the six
faces of the cube, and adding them up. Check your answer by using the divergence
theorem, which you are likely able to do in your head.

Solution
Make a table to explicitly evaluate the surface integral:

R
Surface V · dA
xy @ z = 0 0
xy @ z = L 6L · L2
yz @ x = 0 0
yz @ x = L 4L · L2
zx @ y = 0 0
zx @ y = L 5L · L2
Sum 15L3

∇ · Vdτ = 15 dτ = 15L3 .
R R
On the other hand,

2.2 Show that the integral form of Coulomb’s law can be derived from Gauss’s
law. First, argue why rotational symmetry implies that the electric field from a point
charge q has to be isotropic in all directions, and can only depend on the distance

15
16  Quantum MechanicsSixth EditionSolutions Manual

r from the charge. Next, use this to choose an appropriate “Gaussian surface” S so
that the integral in Equation (2.4a) is simple to evaluate. Finally, use Equation (2.5)
to show that the force F on another charge q0 is
1 qq0
F=
4π0 r2

Solution
It is obvious that the field can only depend on r because there is no preferred
direction. Similarly, it can only be radially outward (or inward), so choose a Gaussian
surface that is a sphere of radius r centered at the origin. The magnitude E of the
electric field is given by (2.4a) as
q 1 q
E · 4πr2 = so E=
0 4π0 r2
and the force on a charge q0 is just q0 E.

2.3 A “parallel plate capacitor” is made from two plane conducting sheets, each
with area A, separated by a distance d. The plates carry equal but opposite charges
±Q, uniformly distributed over their surface, and this creates a potential difference V
between them. Infer the (constant) electric field between the plates, and use Gauss’s
law to show that Q = CV, where C depends only A and d (and 0 ).

Solution
The surface charge density is σ = Q/A, so a “pillbox” Gaussian surface with one flat
surface inside the metal plate (where the field is zero) and the other flat surface in the
gap, gives E = σ/0 . The potential difference for this (constant) electric field is just
V = Ed = σd/0 = Qd/0 A so that C = Q/V = 0 A/d.

2.4 Use the concept of a parallel plate capacitor to find the energy density in an
electric field. Charge is added in small increments dQ0 to an initially uncharged
capacitor giving a potential difference V 0 . Each increment changes the stored energy
by V 0 dQ0 = (Q0 /C)dQ0 where C is the capacitance. (See Problem 2.3.) Integrate to
find the total energy when charge Q is stored in the capacitor. Divide by the volume
of the capacitor to find the electric field energy density
1
u E = 0 E 2
2
where E is the electric field inside the capacitor.

Solution
Just do as the problem statement tells you to do:
Z Q
1 1 1 0 0 1 Q2 1 (0 EA)2 1
ue = U= Q dQ = = = 0 E 2
Ad Ad 0 C Ad 2C Ad 20 A/d 2
 Maxwell’s equation and Electromagnetic Waves  17

2.5 Calculate the magnetic field at a distance r from an infinitely long straight wire
which carries a current I. First, using Gauss’s law for magnetism, explain why the
field must be tangential to a circle of radius r, centered on the wire and lying in a
plan perpendicular to the wire. Then use Ampére’s law to show that the magnitude
of the magnetic field is
µ0 I
B=
2πr

Solution
The problem has cylindrical symmetry, but there is a handedness set by the direction
of the current. By Gauss’ Law for magnetism, there can be no radial component, as a
cylindrical Gaussian surface can pass no no flux. With a circular loop at radius r, the
line integral of Ampere’s Law (2.4d) is just B · 2πr for an azimuthal field B, hence
B = µ0 I/2πr.

2.6 A long cylindrical coil of wire is called a solenoid and can be used to store a
magnetic field. If the coil is infinitely long, there is a uniform magnetic field in the
axial direction inside the coil, and no field outside the coil. Use an “Amperian Loop”
that is a rectangle enclosing some length of the coil, with one leg inside and one leg
outside, to show that the magnetic field is

B = µ0 In

where I is the current in the wire and there are n turns per unit length in the coil.

Solution
The current enclosed in the rectangular loop is nI` where ` is the length of the loop.
There is no field outside the solenoid, and the field inside is parallel to the axis, so
the line integral just gives B`, hence B = µ0 nI.

2.7 Find the vector potential A(r) which gives the magnetic field for the long
straight wire in Problem 2.5. It is easiest to let the wire lie along the z-axis and
express your result in terms of r = (x2 + y2 )1/2 , and to carry out the calculation in
cylindrical polar coordinates (r, θ, z).

Solution
B = Bθ̂ = ∇×A = −(∂Az /∂r)θ̂, so ∂Az /∂r = −µ0 I/2πr and A = −(µ0 I/2π) log r ẑ.

2.8 Follow this guide to convince yourself that the second term on the right in (2.4d)
is needed for the whole equation to make sense. First, imagine a long straight current-
carrying wire, with associated magnetic field given in Problem 2.5. Now “cut” the
wire, and insert a very thin capacitor, with plates perpendicular to the direction of
the wire. Current continues to flow through the wire while the capacitor charges up,
but no current flows between the capacitor plates, so it would seem there should be
no magnetic field there. But that doesn’t make sense: how could the magnetic field
just stop at the capacitor? Intuitively, you expect it to be continuous right through it.
18  Quantum MechanicsSixth EditionSolutions Manual

Finally, show that the second term, called a displacement current, in fact gives you
the same B inside the capacitor.

Solution The capacitor plates are circular with area A = πr2 . The electric field flux
through this area is Aσ/0 = Q/0 , since σ = Q/A. The left side of (2.4d) must equal
µ0 I, where I = dQ/dt, so " #
d Q I
µ0 I = K =K
dt 0 0
which implies that K = 0 µ0 , establishing (2.4d).

2.9 A “ 1/r2 ” vector field, such as the electric field from a point charge or the
gravitational field from a point mass, takes the form
k k
V(r) = r0 = 3 r
r2 r
Show by an explicit calculation in Cartesian coordinate coordinates, that ∇ · V = 0
everywhere,H except at the origin. Then, using a spherical surface about the origin,
show that V · dA = 4πk. Hence argue that the charge density for a point charge q
located at the origin is qδ3 (r) = qδ(x)δ(y)δ(z), where δ(x) is a Dirac δ(x) function as
defined in Chapter 1.

Solution
The calculation is straightforward, although a bit tedious:
∂ ∂ ∂
" #
k x y z
∇· 3r = k + +
r ∂x (x2 + y2 + z2 )3/2 ∂y (x2 + y2 + z2 )3/2 ∂z (x2 + y2 + z2 )3/2
1 3x2 1 3y2 1 3z2 3r2 − 3(x2 + yz + z2 )
= − + − + − = =0
r3 r5 r3 r5 r3 r5 r5
V · dA = (k/r2 ) · 4πr2 = 4πk.
H
for r , 0. For a sphere of radius r about the origin,
So, by Gauss’ Theorem for this spherical volume, ∇ · V = 4πk, but since ∇ · V = 0
R

everywhere except the origin, consider a small cube around the origin, and it is clear
that ∇ · V satisfies the properties of the 3D δ-function, i.e. ∇ · V = 4πkδ(x)δ(y)δ(z) =
4πkδ(3) (r). For Coulomb’s Law, V = E and k = q/4π0 , so Gauss’ Law takes the form
∇ · E = qδ(3) (r)/0 . Comparing to (2.19a), this implies ρ(r) = qδ(3) (r) for a point
charge q.

2.10 A “ 1/r” vector field, such as the magnetic field from an infinitely long current
carrying wire, takes the form
k k
V(r) = φ0 = z −yx0 + xy0

r r
Show by an explicit calculation in Cartesian coordinate coordinates, that ∇ × V = 0
everywhere, except at the origin. Then, using a circular curve about the z-axis, show
that V · dl = 2πk. Hence argue that the current density for an infinitely long current
H

carrying wire of zero thickness located along the z-axis is Iδ(x)δ(y).

 Maxwell’s equation and Electromagnetic Waves  19

Solution
The calculation is straightforward, but tedious. Also, note here that r2 = x2 +
y2 .

1 ∂x ∂ 1 ∂y ∂
" #
k 1 1
∇ × 2 (−yx0 + xy0 ) = k 2 +x + +y z0
r r ∂x ∂x x2 + y2 r2 ∂y ∂y x2 + y2
2x2 2y2
" #
k k h i
= 2
1 − 2
+ 1 − 2
z0 = 4 2 − 2x2 2y2 z0 = 0
r r r r

except for r , 0. For the circular loop, V·dl = (k/r)(2πr) = 2πk. Therefore, using the
H

magnetic field B from a line current, we get k = µ0 I/2π. Applying Stokes’ Theorem
along with (2.19d) implies that j = Iδ(2) (r)z0 .

2.11 Derive the wave equation for the magnetic field B from Maxwell’s equations.

Solution
Start with Equations (2.19), and take the curl of (2.19b) with j = 0:

∂ ∂B 1 ∂2 B
!
∇ × (∇ × B) = ∇(∇ · B) − ∇ B = −∇ B = µ0 0
2 2
− =− 2 2
∂t ∂t c ∂t

since µ0 0 = 1/c2 , and using (2.32) with (2.19c) and (2.19b). This gives

1 ∂2 B
− ∇2 B = 0
c2 ∂t2
2.12 Show that (2.39) is a solution to the wave Equation (2.34). It is easier to do
if you express the Laplacian in spherical coordinates, but you may find it more
satisfying to work it through in Cartesian coordinate coordinates, remembering that
r = (x2 + y2 + z2 )1/2 .

Solution
There is a typo in the problem. It should ask to show that (2.41) is a solution, not
(2.39). That is, taking time derivatives and with ω = kc, we need to show that

2 f (kr − ωt) r2 f 00 (kr − ωt)

" #
∇ g(θ, φ) = k2 g(θ, φ)
r r

The Laplacian in spherical coordinates is easy enough to find, for example (6.19).
So,
1 ∂ 2∂ f 1 ∂ ∂g 1 ∂2 g 00
! " ! #
f 2 f
g 2 r + 3 sin θ + 2 = k g
r ∂r ∂r r r sin θ ∂θ ∂θ sin θ ∂φ2 r
Now work on the first term on the left hand side of the above equation:

1 ∂ 2∂ f 1 ∂ ∂f 1 ∂f ∂2 f ∂ f
! ! !
1
g 2 r =g 2 r −f =g 2 +r 2 − = g k2 f 00
r ∂r ∂r r r ∂r ∂r r ∂r ∂r ∂r r
20  Quantum MechanicsSixth EditionSolutions Manual

That is, this cancels with the right side of the wave equation, leaving

1 ∂ ∂g 1 ∂2 g
!
sin θ + 2 =0
sin θ ∂θ ∂θ sin θ ∂φ2
which is a differential equation that can be solved for g(θ, φ).

2.13 Find the electrostatic potential V(r) at a distance r from a point charge q, with
R defined so that V(r) → 0 as r → ∞. You can do this either by
the integration constant
directly integrating C E · dl along some path C, or by simply guessing the function
V(r) which satisfies (2.20).

Solution
Let the curve C be the straight line starting at r and extending radially to ∞. That is,
dl = dr and with E = (1/4π0 )qr/r3 , we have
Z ∞ Z ∞
1 q q 1 q 1∞ 1 q
V(r) = − 3
rdr = − 2
dr = =
r 4π0 r 4π0 r r 4π0 r r 4π0 r
Going the other way, and using Cartesian coordinates, we need to calculate

∂ ∂ ∂ q xx0 + yy0 + zz0

" #
q 1 q r
−∇V(r) = − x0 + y0 + z0 = =
4π0 ∂x ∂y ∂z (x2 + y2 + z2 )1/2 4π0 (x2 + y2 + z2 )3/2 4π0 r3

2.14 An “electric dipole” is formed by two point charges ±q separated by a distance

d. Form such a system by putting the two charges on the z-axis at z = ±d/2 and
calculate the electric field E(r). Show that for distances r  d, the electric field can
be written in terms of the electric dipole moment vector p = qdz0 instead of explicitly
on either q or d.

Solution
Just go ahead and add the electric fields of the two charges:

r + (d/2)ẑ0
" #
q r − (d/2)ẑ0
E(r) = −
4π0 |r − (d/2)ẑ0 |3 |r + (d/2)ẑ0 |3
r + (d/2)ẑ0
" #
q 1 r − (d/2)ẑ0
= −
4π0 r3 |r̂ − (d/2r)ẑ0 |3 |r̂ + (d/2r)ẑ0 |3

For r  d, the denominators can be expanded using

|r̂ ∓ (d/2r)ẑ0 | = [(r̂ ∓ (d/2r)ẑ0 ) · (r̂ ∓ (d/2r)ẑ0 )]1/2

h i1/2
= (1 + d2 /4r2 ) ∓ (d/r)r̂ · ẑ0
d
≈ 1∓ r̂ · ẑ0
2r
 Maxwell’s equation and Electromagnetic Waves  21

Therefore
" ! ! ! !#
q 1 d 3d d 3d
E(r) = r − ẑ0 1 + r̂ · ẑ0 − r + ẑ0 1 − r̂ · ẑ0
4π0 r3 2 2r 2 2r
2
" !#
q 1 3d d
= r(r̂ · ẑ0 ) − dẑ0 + O 2
4π0 r3 r r
1 qd 1 1
= [3r̂(r̂ · ẑ0 ) − ẑ0 ] =

3r̂(r̂ · p) − p
4π0 r3 4π0 r3

2.15 Find the electrostatic potential V(r) at a distance r from the center of the
electric dipole in Problem 2.14. Express your answer in terms of the electric dipole
moment p.

Solution
We need to find the V(r) that satisfies E = −∇V. Working in spherical polar
coordinates with r̂ · p = p cos θ and ẑ0 = r̂ cos θ − θ̂ sin θ, this becomes
∂V 1 ∂V 1 ph i 1 ph i
r̂ + θ̂ = (r̂ cos θ − θ̂ sin θ) − 3r̂ cos θ = − 2r̂ cos θ + θ̂ sin θ
∂r r ∂θ 4π0 r 3 4π0 r 3

The correct form for V(r) is now apparent, namely

1 p 1 p · r̂
V(r) = cos θ =
4π0 r2 4π0 r2
Of course, one can also just add the electric potential of the two charges:
" #
q 1 1
V(r) = −
4π0 |r − (d/2)ẑ0 | |r + (d/2)ẑ0 |
" !#
q d d
= 1 + r̂ · ẑ0 − 1 − r̂ · ẑ0
4π0 2r 2r
1 qd 1 p · r̂
= r̂ · ẑ0 =
4π0 r 4π0 r2

2.16 Draw the electric field lines for and electric dipole with dipole moment p = pz0 .
Superimpose contour lines of electric potential on top of the field lines. This is best
done by choosing some specific values and using a program such as M ATHEMATICA.

Solution
Making dipole field plots in M ATHEMATICA is relatively straightforward, in fact,
a module in their documentation shows how to do this in three dimensions. The
plots below were made by writing the potential in polar coordinates, calculating the
field from the gradient, and using the TransformedField function to transform to
Cartesian coordinates before generating the plot. (The dipole lies in the x-direction.)
In both cases, ContourPlot is used to plot the potential, specifying the contour line
values. The left uses VectorPlot for the field. The right uses StreamPlot, which
22  Quantum MechanicsSixth EditionSolutions Manual

requires less adjustment of options, but which plots only enough arrows so that the
density across the plot is more or less constant.

2.17 An electric dipole p = qdz0 sits in a uniform, external electric field E. By

considering the torque on the dipole, from the interaction of the charges ±q with
E, calculate the work needed to rotate the dipole through an angle θ, about an axis
perpendicular to the plane formed by p and E. Thereby show that the electrostatic
potential energy of the dipole in the external field is U E = −p · E.

Solution
See the figure. The torque on the dipole is τ = 2F(d/2) sin θ = qdE sin θ, so the work
needed to rotate it to this position is

Z θ
UE = τdθ = −qdE cos θ = −p · E
0

2.18 A “magnetic dipole” is formed by a planar loop of wire with area A and
carrying current I. Using an approach similar to that in Problem 2.17, show that
the magnetic potential energy of a magnetic dipole in an external magnetic field
B is U B = −µ · B. Here, the magnetic moment µ has magnitude IA and direction
perpendicular to the plane of the loop. You can do this rather easily if you model the
loop as a square of side length L, in which case A = L2 , then use an argument similar
to that used to prove Stokes’ theorem to explain why deriving this for a square is
equivalent to solving it for any planar loop.

Solution
 Maxwell’s equation and Electromagnetic Waves  23

This is essentially the same as Problem 17. Orient the square loop so that the normal
to the plane and the magnetic field form a plane that is parallel to two sides of the
square. Then the force on those two sides just point into, or out of, the loop, with no
torque or net force. The force on the other two sides, however, are each ILB with a
lever arm L/2, so the torque on the loop is 2 × (ILB)(L/2) sin θ = (IL2 )B sin θ, where
θ is the angle between the loop normal and the magnetic field. Integrating to find the
work gives U B = −µ · B.
The “Stokes’ Theorem” argument just says that we can build up any loop out of a
large number of tiny square loops, and the torques add up, as does the area of the big
loop.

2.19 Given a scalar function χ(r, t), show explicitly that the transformation A →
A + ∇χ has no effect on the magnetic field. Then find the condition that needs to be
satisfied by χ so that the additional transformation V → V + χ has no effect on the
electric field.

Solution
For A → A0 = A + ∇χ, we have, using (2.24),
B0 = ∇ × A0 = ∇ × A + ∇ × ∇χ = ∇ × A = B
since the curl of any gradient is zero. Now following (2.25) we write
∂A0 ∂A ∂χ ∂χ
!
E = −∇V −
0 0
= −∇V − ∇χ − − = E − ∇χ +
∂t ∂t ∂t ∂t
Therefore, the expression in parenthesis must be zero for the electric field to remain
unchanged. In terms of special relativity, this means that the “four gradient” of χ
must be zero.

2.20 The Poynting Vector S = (1/µ0 )E × B for an electromagnetic wave. What is

the direction of this vector? Show that the Poynting Vector has the dimensions of
“energy flux,” that is, energy per unit area per unit time.

Solution
From (2.39), we see that
1 1 1 1
E0 × B0 = E0 × (k0 × E0 ) = k0 (E · E) − E0 (E · k0 ) = k0 E02
c c c c
since k0 is perpendicular to E0 . Thus, the direction of the Poynting vector is in
fact the direction of the wave propagation. (The Poynting vector “points.”) Now
since
0 0 E02
!
1 1
E0 × B0 = E0 × B0 = k0 = 2c 0 E0 k0
2
µ0 0 µ0 c0 µ0 2
we see that the Poynting vector has dimensions
velocity × energy density = energy/ (area × time)
(See Problem 2.4. Also, k0 is a dimensionless unit vector.)
 CHAPTER 3

Particle Mechanics,
Relativity, and
Photons

3.1 Derive the Lorentz Transformation (3.16) for space-time coordinates (ct, x, y, z)
for a boost along the x-direction using the following construct. Let the set of axes
(x0 , y0 , z0 ) move along the x-axis of an (x.y.x) coordinate system at speed V. Let their
origins coincide at t = t0 = 0, at which time a spherical light pulse is emitted. Then,
the constancy of the speed of light implies that
2 2 2 2
x2 + y2 + z2 = c2 t2 and x0 + y0 + z0 = c2 t0

Then write t0 = α(t − βx), x0 = γ(x − δt), y0 = y, and z0 = z and find solutions for α, β,
γ, and δ.

Solution

This approach is worked out in several textbooks. See, for example, Appendix A in
Quantum Physics, 2nd Edition, by Eisberg and Resnick.
Write the expanding-sphere equation in the primed frame, using the unprimed
variables:

γ2 (x − δt)2 + y2 + z2 = c2 α2 (t − βx)2
or γ (x − 2δxt + δ t ) + y + z
2 2 2 2 2 2
= c2 α2 (t2 − 2βxt + β2 x2 )

Our task is to find α, β, γ, and δ such that this reads x2 + y2 + z2 = c2 t2 . Firstly,

25
26  Quantum MechanicsSixth EditionSolutions Manual

it appears obvious that α = γ. Secondly, the cross terms must vanish, so δ = c2 β.

Rearrange to find

γ2 (1 − c2 β2 )x2 + y2 + z2 = γ2 c2 t2 (1 − δ2 /c2 ) = γ2 c2 t2 (1 − c2 β2 )

so we clearly also need γ2 = 1/(1 − c2 β2 ).

Now apply some physical reasoning. The point x0 = 0 must always correspond
p to
x = Vt, implying δ = V. Therefore β = V/c2 which implies that γ = 1/ 1 − V 2 /c2 .
This indeed gives the Lorentz transformation.

3.2 Invert the Lorentz Transformation (3.16) by directly solving for the Aµ in terms
of the A0µ and show that the result is the same as taking β → −β.

Solution
We need to invert (3.16a) and (3.16b). This is easy enough to do without computers.
Multiply (3.16b) by β and add to get

γ(1 − β2 )A0 = (1/γ)A0 = A00 + βA0x so A0 = γ(A00 + βA0x )

This is just (3.16a) but with β → −β. Similarly, multiply (3.16a) by β and add to
get
γ(1 − β2 )A x = 1(1/γ)A x = A0x + βA00
and you arrive at the analogous result for (3.16b).

3.3 Write the Lorentz Transformation (3.16) in terms of the rapidity η, defined as
tanh η = β. Your result will contain cosh η and sinh η but not γ or β explicitly. Can
you see a resemblance to ordinary rotation in three space dimensions?

Solution
With β = tanh η = sinh η/ cosh η, we have
1 cosh η
γ= = = cosh η
(1 − β )
2 1/2
(cosh η − sinh2 η)1/2
2

and γβ = sinh η. Thus, (3.16a) and (3.16b) become

A00 = A0 cosh η − A x sinh η

A0x = A x cosh η − A0 sinh η

These are strikingly similar to rotation in a plane, but with sines and cosines replaced
by their hyperbolic counterparts.

3.4 Use the Lorentz Transformation (3.16) to demonstrate time dilation 3.10. That
is, apply the transformation to two events A and B which occur at the same place in
the frame S 0 , and compare the time difference between them as seen by an observer
in each of the two frames.
 Particle Mechanics, Relativity, and Photons  27

Solution
The Lorentz transformation for spacetime is ct0 = γ(ct − βx) and x0 = γ(x − βct). The
time difference ∆t0 = ct20 − ct10 between two events (ct10 , x10 ) and (ct20 , x20 ) in S 0 satisfies
c∆t0 = γ(c∆t − β∆x) where c∆t = ct2 − ct1 , ∆x = x2 − x1 , and ∆x0 = x20 − x10 , and the
coordinates in S are (ct, x). Now ∆x0 = γ(∆x−βc∆t) = 0 giving ∆x = βc∆t. So,
c∆t0 = γ(c∆t − β∆x) = γ(c∆t − cβ2 ∆t = c∆t/γ
That is, ∆t = γ∆t0 . This is (3.10); note that the way the problem is worded, frame S ,
not S 0 , is the one that is “moving.”

3.5 Use the Lorentz Transformation (3.16) to demonstrate length contraction. That
is, apply the transformation to two events A and B which occur at the same time in
the frame S 0 , and compare the time difference between them as seen by an observer
in each of the two frames.

Solution
The text has a typo in this problem. The final clause in the last sentence should
talk about simultaneous measurement by the observer. Referring to problem (4),
with an observer in S who makes the length measurement by sighting both ends
simultaneously, we put ∆t = 0, so ∆x0 = γ∆x, or ∆x = ∆x0 /γ.

3.6 Use the results of Problems 3.4 and 3.5 to show that (∆s)2 is the same to
observers in both frames.

Solution
The quantity (∆s)2 ≡ (c∆t)2 − (∆x)2 refers to the differences in space and time
between two events happening in a particular reference frame. The time ∆t0 between
two ticks of a clock that doesn’t move gives (∆s)2 = (c∆t0 )2 . In the moving frame
∆x = V∆t, so
∆t0
(c∆t0 )2 = (c∆t)2 − (V∆t)2 or ∆t = p = γ∆t0
1 − V 2 /c2
which is the formula for time dilation from Problem (4).
To show length contraction, take care to identify the two events used to calculate the
invariant interval. Consider a rod of length ∆x0 (∆x) which is stationary (moving) as
seen by a moving (stationary) observer at a definite position. The two events for the
moving observer are when she passes each end of the rod, so ∆t = ∆x/V, and
!2
∆x0
(∆s) = c
2
− (∆x0 )2
V
The stationary observer sees a rod of length ∆x moving past her fixed position in a
time interval ∆t = ∆x/c, so
!2 !2
∆x ∆x0
(∆s)2 = c = c − (∆x0 )2
V V
28  Quantum MechanicsSixth EditionSolutions Manual

3.7 Use the Lorentz Transformation (3.16) to derive the relativistic velocity addition
formula. That is, write u0 = ∆x0 /∆t0 in terms of u = ∆x/∆t and the relative frame
velocity V. Show that if the speed is c in the S frame, then it is c in the S 0 frame.

Solution
See problem (4) for relevant equations. Put V = βc and u = ∆x/∆t. Then
∆x0 γ(∆x − βc∆t)
u0 = =c
∆t0 γ(c∆t − β∆x)
u − βc u−V
= c =
c − βu 1 − uV/c2

3.8 You are probably familiar with the Doppler effect as the frequency shift of a
sound wave when the source is receding from, or approaching, the listener. There is
a similar effect with electromagnetic radiation, but it is generally important to take
into account relativistic effects because the sources are often moving at high speeds,
and time dilation effects must be taken into account. Show that if an electromagnetic
wave is emitted with frequency f0 in the source rest frame, then an observer with
relative speed V sees a frequency
s s
1 + V/c 1 − V/c
f = f0 approaching or f = f0 receding
1 − V/c 1 + V/c

You should also note that relativity implies a “transverse” Doppler Effect, for objects
moving at right angles of the line between the source and observer.

Solution
The distance traveled by a source moving towards (or away from) a stationary
observer, between the emission of two wave crests, is (c ± V)/T where T is the
time between the two wave crests as seen by the stationary observer. Therefore, the
apparent wavelength seen by the observer is
 V  V 1
λ = (c ∓ V) T = cγ 1 ∓ T 0 = cγ 1 ∓
c c f0
where f0 is the frequency of the source in its rest frame. The frequency in the
observer’s frame is f = c/λ, so
q
2
v
1 − Vc2
t
1 1 1 ± Vc
f= f0 = f0 = f 0
γ 1 ∓ Vc 1 ∓ Vc 1 ∓ Vc

3.9 An astronomical object known as 3C273 was a long standing puzzle until
astronomers realized that it was emitting radiation from hydrogen atoms that were
shifted to much longer wavelengths by a factor of 1.158. At what speed is 3C273
receding from the Earth? Note: 3C273 was the first object to be called a “Quasistellar
Object” or quasar.
 Particle Mechanics, Relativity, and Photons  29

Solution √
Since λ = c/ f , we use problem (8) and solve (1 + V/c)/(1 − V/c) = 1.58 for V/c to
find V/c = 0.428.

3.10 An object of mass m is moving with a speed βc and collides with a stationary
object also of mass m. In their centre-of-momentum frame, both masses scatter at 90◦
relative to the incident direction of motion. Find the angle between the two objects
in the lab frame.

Solution
Write k1 + k2 = p1 + p2 for four-momentum conservation with particle 2 at rest in the
lab. Squaring both sides gives k1 · k2 = p1 · p2 . Since k2 = (0, mc) in the lab frame, the
left side is just E0 m where E0 is the incident energy in the lab frame. Since |p1 | =
|p2 | ≡ p because the scattering is at θcm = 90◦ , p1 · p2 = E 2 /c2 − p2 cos θ where E 2 =
p2 c2 + m2 c4 is (the square of) the energy of either of the masses after the collision.
Therefore
E0 m = E 2 /c2 − p2 cos θ = E 2 /c2 − (E 2 /c2 − m2 c2 ) cos θ
Now E0 = γmc2 = mc2 /(1 − β2 )1/2 and E = (E0 + mc2 )/2. Therefore
" #
1 1
γ = (γ + 1) − (γ + 1) − 1 cos θ
2 2
4 4
h i
4γ = γ + 2γ + 1 − γ2 + 2γ + 1 − 4 cos θ
2

(γ − 1)(γ + 3) cos θ = (γ − 1)2

γ−1
so cos θ =
γ+3
Note that for β → 0, γ → 1 and θ → 90◦ , and for β → 1, γ → ∞, and θ → 0, both of
which are correct.

3.11 An electron with energy E much larger than its rest energy, scatters from a
target through an angle θ. Its final energy is E 0 . The four-momentum transfer is q =
k − k0 where k (k0 ) is the electron incident (scattered) four-momentum. Show that
θ
q2 = −4EE 0 sin2
2

Solution
Since mc2  E, q2 = −2k · k0 = −2EE 0 − 2EE 0 cos θ = −4EE 0 sin2 (θ/2).

3.12 An object of mass m is moving with a speed βc and collides with a stationary
object also of mass m. If new matter is created out of the collision energy, what
is the largest mass that can appear? (You need to find the amount of energy in the
centre-of-momentum system.)
 30  Quantum MechanicsSixth EditionSolutions Manual

Solution
If p1 and p2 are the four-momenta of the two objects, then all we need to do is
calculate s ≡ (p1 + p2 )2 in both the lab frame and CM frame. We write γ = 1/(1 −
β2 )1/2 . Then,
In the lab frame, p1 = (γmc, p1 ) and p2 = (mc, 0) so

s = (γ + 1)2 m2 c2 − |p1 |2
= (γ + 1)2 m2 c2 − [γ2 m2 c2 − m2 c2 ]
= 2(γ + 1)m2 c2

In the CM frame, p1 = (E/c, p) and p2 = (E/c, −p) so s = 4E 2 /c2 = ET2 /c2 , where
ET = 2E is the total energy in the CM frame, also known as the “total available
energy.”
Now if ET = Mc2 , then M is the largest mass that can appear. That is, all the energy
appears as mass, and there is no momentum in the CM frame. Therefore, equating
s,
M = 2(γ + 1)m
p

Note that for β → 0, γ → 1 and M → 2m, as it must. Also note that for β → 1,
M increases as the square root of γ, which is proportional to the incident particle
energy.

3.13 The antiproton p̄ was discovered in the reaction pp → ppp p̄. What is the
minimum energy needed for the accelerated incident proton if the target proton is at
rest? It would interest you to look up the history of an accelerator called the Bevatron.

Solution
Using the results of Problem (12), with M = 4m, find 4 = 2(γ + 1) or γ = 7. The
p

minimum incident (kinetic) energy of the proton is therefore

Kinc = (γ − 1)mc2 = 6 × 938 MeV = 5.6 GeV

An accelerator called the Bevatron. . .

http://www2.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/sabl/2005/October/01-antiproton.html

. . . was built in the 1950’s with a maximum accelerated proton energy of 6.5 GeV. It
was designed to discover the antiproton, and it did.

3.14 An object with mass m and kinetic energy K collides with, and sticks to, a
stationary object of mass M. Find the mass of the final, compound object. Show that
you get the correct answer for K  mc2 . Also consider the answer for K  mc2 for
the cases m  M and m  M.
 Particle Mechanics, Relativity, and Photons  31

Solution
Follow
√ the example of Problem (12). The mass M of the compound object is just
s/c, but now
s = (p1 + p2 )2 = m2 + 2p1 · p2 + M 2
= m2 c2 + 2γmMc2 + M 2 c2
q
so M = m2 + 2γmM + M 2
p
where K = (γ − 1)mc2 . For K  mc2 , γ → 1 and M →p (m + M)2 = m + M which is
of course the correct answer. For K  mc2 , write M = 2M(γm + M), so if γm  M,
√
M = M 2, but for γm  M, M = 2γmM.
p

3.15 A neutrino is a very light (but not massless) elementary particle. Its mass m is
so small, that when it is produced in nature, it almost always comes with an energy
E  mc2 . Find an expression for E in terms of m and p, its momentum, to lowest
nonzero order in mc/p.

Solution
E = (p2 c2 +m2 c4 )1/2 = pc(1+m2 c2 /p2 )1/2 ≈ pc(1+m2 c2 /2p2 ) = pc+m2 c3 /(2p)

3.16 The Sun derives it energy from the (effective) nuclear fusion reaction
p + p + p + p →4 He + 2e+ + 2νe
where the neutrino νe mass can be neglected. The proton p has mass 938.272 MeV/c2 ,
the alpha particle 4 He has mass 3727.379 MeV/c2 , and the positron e+ has mass
0.511 MeV/c2 . Find the amount of energy released in one fusion reaction. If the Sun
has a mass of 2 × 1030 kg, how long can the Sun live if it is made purely of hydrogen?

Solution
The energy released in this (compound) fusion reaction is
4 × 938.272 − 3727.379 − 2 × 0.511 = 24.687 MeV = 3.95 × 10−12 Joules
per fusion reaction. The mass of a hydrogen atom is
938.272 + 0.511 − 13.6 × 10−6 = 939 MeV/c2 = 1.7 × 10−27 kg
so the number of possible fusion reactions is
2 × 1030 /(4 × 1.7 × 10−27 ) = 2.9 × 1056
The nominal solar luminosity is 3.8 × 1026 W, corresponding to 9.6 × 1037 reactions
per second. Therefore, the solar lifetime would be
2.9 × 1056 /9.6 × 1037 = 3.0 × 1018 sec = 9.6 × 1010 yr
This is about ten times longer than the best estimates for the lifetime of the Sun,
but it is expected that only about 10% of the Sun’s hydrogen is available for
burning.
 CHAPTER 4

The Early Development

of Quantum
Mechanics

4.1 When light of variable wavelength shines on a particular metal, no photoelec-

trons are emitted if the wavelength is greater than 550nm. For what wavelength of
light would the maximum energy of photoelectrons be 3.5ev?

Solution
Referring to (4.1), no photoelectrons are emitted if hν ≤ φ; hence φ = 2π}c/λ, where
λ = 550 × 10−9 m. Thus

φ = 2π × 1.05 × 10−34 × 3.0 × 108 /550 × 10−9 = 3.60 × 10−19 J = 2.24eV

If E x = 3.5 eV = 5.6 × 10−19 J, then

2πhc/λ = E x + φ = 5.84 eV = 9.2 × 10−19 J and λ = 353nm

4.2 If the energy flux associated with a light beam is 10 W m−2 , estimate how long
it would take, classically, for sufficient energy to arrive at a potassium atom of radius
2 × 10−10 m in order that an electron be ejected, if the potassium work function is
2.3 eV.
What would be the average emission rate of photoelectrons if such light fell on a
piece of potassium 10−3 m2 in area and all the energy were used in photoemission?
How would your answers to the latter question be affected by quantum-mechanical
considerations?

33
34  Quantum MechanicsSixth EditionSolutions Manual

Solution
The energy arriving per second at a potassium atom equals energy flux times the
atomic cross section equals 10×π×(2×10−10 )2 W = 1.26×10−18 W = 7.9 eVs−1 .
Hence time for 2.3 eV to arrive is 2.3/7.9 = 0.29 s.
The number of potassium atoms in 10−3 m2 ' 10−3 /(4 × 10−10 )2 = 6.3 × 1015 .
Hence average emission rate = 6.3 × 1015 /0.29 = 2.1 × 1016 electrons s−1 , assuming
(unrealistically) that all the energy has gone into overcoming the work function and
none is lost in heating the potassium target (which must also be part of an electric
circuit arranged so that the electrons are replaced as soon as they are emitted).
The average emission rate would not be affected by quantum considerations, but the
emission of some photoelectrons in times less than 0.29 s after the light is switched
on would imply that sufficient energy must have reached some atoms sooner than
expected classically. This is evidence for the quantization of the energy in the light
beam.

4.3 When light of wavelength λ was directed onto the surface of a sample of sodium
photoelectrons were emitted with maximum energy V. When λ = 2.5 × 10−7 m, V
was measured to be 2.4 eV and when λ = 1.2 × 10−7 , V = 7.5 eV. Obtain values for
Planck’s constant and the work function of sodium.

Solution
Using ν = c/λ, substitute the values given into (4.1) to get two simultaneous
equations. Subtract one from the other to get
1 1
h × 3 × 1015 [ − ] = (7.5 − 2.4) × 1.6 × 10−19
1.2 2.5
Hence
5.1 × 1.6 × 10−19 × 2.5 × 1.2
h= = 6.28 × 10−34 Js
1.3 × 3 × 1015
leading to
6.28 × 3
W =[ − 2.4] × 1.6 × 10−19 J = 2.31eV
2.5 × 1.6

4.4 Hydrogen forms a solid at very low temperatures. If electromagnetic radiation

of wavelength 50 nm were directed at solid hydrogen, what would be the maximum
energy of the resulting photoelectrons?

Solution
From (4.7), the minimum energy required to ionize a hydrogen atom equals

2πR0 }c = 2π × 1.10 × 107 × 1.05 × 10−34 × 3 × 108 = 2.17 × 10−18 J = 13.6 eV

 The Early Development of Quantum Mechanics  35

This is equivalent to the work function in the case of solid hydrogen. Thus, the
maximum energy of the photoelectrons is E x , where

2π}c 2π × 1.05 × 10−34 × 3 × 108

Ex = −φ = − 2.17 × 10−18 = (3.96 − 2.17) × 10−18
λ 5 × 10−8

= 1.79 × 10−18 J = 11.2 eV

4.5 X-rays of wavelength 0.1nm are scattered at 90◦ from a sample of carbon. What
is the wavelength of the scattered radiation if the scattering is from (i) an effectively
free electron within the sample and (ii) an atom of carbon acting as a whole?

Solution
Using (4.5)

2π} 2π × 1.05 × 10−34 −10 2.2 × 10

−42
λ0 =λ + (1 − cos θ) = λ + = 10 +
mc 3 × 108 m m
=0.1024 nm, when m = 9.1 × 10 −31
kg, the electron mass
=0.1000013 nm, when m = 1.66 × 10−27 kg, the mass of a carbon atom

4.6 The Compton effect describes the scattering an x-ray photon when it strikes an
electron. To conserve momentum, the electron must recoil in the process. Calculate
the magnitude of this recoil momentum and its direction relative to that of the
incident photon.

Solution
The electron’s recoil momentum must be equal and opposite to the change in
momentum of the photon. Referring to Figure 4.2, we take horizontal (x) and vertical
(y) components to get
p x = (2π}/λ) − (2π}/λ0 ) cos θ
py = −(2π}/λ0 ) sin θ
Hence the magnitude, p, of the recoil is given by
q
p = 2π} (1/λ)2 + (1/λ0 )2 − (2/λλ0 ) cos(θ)

The direction of the recoil makes an angle φ with the horizontal (x) axis where

tan(φ) = λ sin θ/[λ cos θ − λ0 ]

In all the above expressions, λ0 can be expressed in terms of λ and θ using

(4.5).
36  Quantum MechanicsSixth EditionSolutions Manual

4.7 One of the early experiments that revealed the quantization of atomic energy
levels was performed by J. Franck and G. Hertz in 1914. They passed a beam of
electrons through a cell containing mercury vapour. The electrons were accelerated
by an applied voltage and the resulting current increased steadily until this voltage
reached 4.9 V when it dropped suddenly, Further increase in voltage renewed the
current increase until a voltage of 9.8 V was reached when the current dropped again
and this behaviour repeated at a value of 14.7 V. Explain these results in as much
detail as you can.

Solution
When an electron has an energy equal or greater than that needed to excite a mercury
atom to one of its excited states, there is a probability of this happening so the
electrons involved lose their energy and their contribution to the current is much
reduced. From the data given, the first excited state of the mercury atom has an
energy of 4.9 eV above that of the ground state and the second excited state’s energy
is 14.7 eV above the ground state. The drop at 9.8(=14.7-4.9) eV corresponds to
excitation from the first excited state to the second.

4.8 What is the typical de-Broglie wavelength associated with an atom of helium in
a gas at room temperature, given that the average thermal energy equals (3/2)kB T ,
where kB is Boltzmann’s constant?

Solution
The average energy of an atom in a monatomic gas is E = (3/2)kB T = 3 × 1.38 ×
10−23 × 300/2 = 6.2 × 10−21 J.
From E = p2 /2m, we get the momentum
 1/2
p = (2mE)1/2 = 2 × 6.7 × 10−27 × 6.2 × 10−21 = 7.2 × 10−11 kg m s

Hence, the wavelength = 2π}/p = 2π×1.05×10−34 /9.1×10−24 = 7.2×10−11 m

4.9 A beam of neutrons with known momentum is diffracted by a single slit in

a geometrical arrangement similar to that shown for the double slit in figure 1.2.
Show that a value for the component of momentum of the neutrons in a direction
perpendicular to both the slit and the incident beam can be derived from the single-
slit diffraction pattern. Show that the uncertainty in this momentum is related to
the uncertainty in the position of the neutron passing through the slit in a manner
consistent with the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. (This example is discussed in
more detail in chapter 4.)

Solution
The magnitude of the momentum of a diffracted neutron is 2π}/λ so its component
in a direction perpendicular to both the slit and the incident beam is (2π}/λ) sin θ
 The Early Development of Quantum Mechanics  37

where θ is the angle through which the neutron has been diffracted. This angle can
be obtained from an observation measurement of the point of arrival of the neutron
at the screen and a measurement of the distance from the slit to the screen. The
diffraction pattern from a single slit of width a, consists of a series of peaks whose
heights diminish from a central maximum and the minima in this pattern correspond
to values of sin θ = nλ/a, where a is the slit width and n is an integer. An estimate
of the spread of values of the momentum component can be obtained from the angle
corresponding to the first minimum in the diffraction pattern. That is,

∆p x = (2π}/λ)(λ/a) = 2π}/a

The uncertainty in the position of the neutron as it passes through the slit is roughly
∆x = a/2, so
∆x ∆p x = π}
which is consistent with the uncertainty principle (4.11)
This problem is discussed in more detail in the section 4.5 of the main text.

4.10 In recent years, the wave nature of matter has been tested for systems of
appreciable mass and some complexity. One of these tests consisted of passing a
beam of molecules that are known as buckminsterfullerene and consist of 60 carbon
atoms in a near-spherical configuration, through a diffraction grating. The mass of
a carbon atom is twelve times that of a proton and the spacing of the grating used
was 10−7 m. What was the approximate value of the molecular speed for diffraction
effects to have been visible in this experiment?

Solution
Assuming a similar setup to that shown in Figure 4.3 and discussed in the associated
example, the angle of diffraction is given by

θ = λ/d = 2π}/(m v d)

where the mass, m, of the molecule is

m = 60 × 12 × 1.673 × 10−27 = 1.2 × 10−24 kg

For θ to be measurable it must be at least 10−6 radians, so

v ≤ 2π × 1.05 × 10−34 /(1.2 × 10−24 × 10−7 × 10−6 ) = 900ms−1

4.11 It can be shown that the magnitude of the average kinetic energy of an electron
in a hydrogen atom is equal to the magnitude of the binding energy. Use this and the
Heisenberg uncertainty principle to obtain an approximate lower bound to the radius
of a hydrogen atom in its lowest energy state.
38  Quantum MechanicsSixth EditionSolutions Manual

Solution
The radius of the atom (r0 ) is approximately equal to the uncertainty in the electron
position in any direction, which in turn is related to the momentum uncertainty by
the uncertainty principle. Using (4.7), we can estimate the average magnitude of the
electron momentum (< p >) from

< p >= (2me E)1/2 = (4πR0 }cme )1/2

Because the atom is at rest, the average momentum of the electron must be zero, so
< p > is just the momentum uncertainty and the atomic radius must be greater than
r0 , where
#1/2 " #1/2
1.05 × 10−34
"
} }
r0 = = =
2< p> 16πR0 cme 16π × 1.10 × 107 × 3 × 108 × 9.1 × 10−31
= 0.26 × 10−10 m

This result is consistent with the results of the detailed treatment of the hydrogen
atom in chapter 3, where we show that r0 u 0.5 × 10−10 m.

4.12 When an atom emits a photon, its energy level changes, but the atom also
recoils, so some energy is converted into kinetic energy of the atom as a whole. Show
that the change in photon angular frequency due to this effect is ∆ω = h̄2 ω20 /(2Mc2 ),
where ω0 is the frequency in the absence of recoil and M is the mass of the atom -
assume that h̄ω0 << Mc2 .

Solution
The magnitude of the recoil momentum equals that of the emitted photon, while the
energy of the atomic transition is the sum of the energy of the emitted photon. Thus

}ω/c = Mv and }ω = }ω0 − (1/2)Mv2

Thus
(1/2)Mv2 + Mcv − }ω0 = 0
so that  !1/2 
2}ω0  }ω0
v = c −1 + 1 +

 '
Mc2 Mc
and
∆ω = (1/2)Mv2 = h̄2 ω20 /(2Mc2 )
 CHAPTER 5

The one-dimensional
Schr ödinger
equations

5.1 An electron is confined to a one-dimensional potential well of width 6 × 10−10 m

which has infinitely high sides. Calculate: (i) the three lowest allowed values of the
electron energy; (ii) the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave that would cause
the electron to be excited from the lowest to the highest of these three levels; (iii) all
possible wavelengths of the radiation emitted following the excitation in (ii).

Solution
(i) Using (5.27) with 2a = 6 × 10−10 m we get

}2 π2 n2
En = 8ma2
(1.05×10−34 ×π)2
= 8×9.1×10−31 ×9×10−20
n2
= 1.66 × 10−19 n2 J = 1.04 n2 eV
Thus
E1 = 1.66 × 10−19 J = 1.04 eV ;
E2 = 6.64 × 10−19 J = 4.15 eV ;
E3 = 15.0 × 10−19 J = 9.34 eV ;

(ii) Using the answers to (i) with (4.2)

2π}c 2π × 1.05 × 10−34 × 3 × 108
λ1,3 = = = 1.50 × 10−7 m
E3 − E1 (15.0 − 1.66) × 10−19

39
40  Quantum MechanicsSixth EditionSolutions Manual

(iii) Emitted radiation may be associated with a transition from E3 to E1 or from E3

to E2 followed by E2 to E1 . Wavelengths are calculated in the same way as in (ii)
above

λ3,1 = 1.50 × 10−7 m ; λ3,2 = 2.38 × 10−7 m ; λ2,1 = 3.97 × 10−7 m ;

5.2 If um and un are the wave functions corresponding to two energy states of a
particle confined to a one-dimensional box with infinite sides, show that
Z ∞
un um dx = 0 if n , m
−∞

This is an example of “orthogonality” which will be discussed in Chapter 7.

Solution
Using (5.28) with n and m both even,
Z ∞ Z a
un um dx = a−1 cos(nπx/2a) cos(mπx/2a) dx
−∞ −a
Z a
= (2a)−1 (cos[(n + m)πx/2a] + cos[(n − m)πx/2a]) dx
−a
= 0 if n , m

The corresponding results for n and/or m odd are proved similarly.

5.3 Consider a particle of mass m subject to a one-dimensional potential V(x) that

is given by

V = ∞, x < 0; V = 0, 0 6 x 6 a; V = V0 , x>a

Show that bound states—i.e. those with E < V0 —of this system exist only if
k cot ka = −κ where k2 = 2mE/}2 and κ2 = 2m(V0 − E)/}2 . Obtain expressions for
the wavefunctions of the bound states.

Solution
The general solution to the Schrödinger equation in the region 0 ≤ x ≤ a is u =
A cos kx + B sin kx, while that in the region x > a has the form u = D exp(−κx)—cf.
(5.24) and (5.32). When x < 0, u = 0 because V is infinite.
At x = 0, u = 0, so continuity of the wave function implies that A = 0. At x = a,
continuity of the wave function and its first derivative give

B sin ka = D exp(−κa) and kB cos ka = −κD exp(−κa)

C.f. (5.34) and (5.35). Dividing the second equation by the first leads to k cot ka = −κ
as required.
 The one-dimensional Schrödinger equations  41

5.4 Use a spread sheet or write a computer program to implement the method of
bracketing and bisection and calculate the values of the quantities listed in Table 5.1.

Solution
The following is an implementation in Fortran90 code
program squwell
pib2 = 2.0*atan(1.0)

print *, "Enter N, xo"

read *, nn, xo
do n = 1,nn
x1 = max(0.0,(n-1.0)*pib2)
x2 = min(n*pib2,xo)

do while ((x2 - x1).gt.1.0e-6)

x = 0.5*(x1 + x2)
if(mod(n,2).eq.1) then
diff = x*tan(x)
else
diff = -x/tan(x)
end if
diff = diff - sqrt(xo*xo - x*x)
if(diff.gt.0.0) then
x2 = x
else
x1 = x
end if

end do
print *, n, x
end do
end

5.5 Show that there is only one bound state in the case of a particle moving under
the influence of a potential V = −δ(x), where δ(x) is the Dirac delta function defined
in Chapter 1. Obtain a value for the energy level and corresponding wavefunction.
Show that your results correspond with those for the finite square well where V0 → ∞
and a → 0, but aV0 = 1.

Solution
for a bound state, the energy, E, must be negative. From the properties of the Dirac
delta function, (i) When x , 0 V=0. Thus (remembering that E < 0, the wavefunction,
is given by u(x) = A exp(±κx) where }2 κ2 /2m = −E and the exponent is positive
when x is negative and vice versa. (A must be the same for both signs of s to ensure
42  Quantum MechanicsSixth EditionSolutions Manual

continuity at x = 0. (ii) If we integrate the Schrödinger equation from x = −δx to

x = δx, where δx is small, we get

}2 ∂u ∂u
" #
− (δx) − (−δx) − V0 u = 2Eδxu
2m ∂x ∂x

The sum of the bracketed terms equals −2κu and the RHS goes to zero when δx is
small. Thus
}2
κ − V0 = 0
m
So E = −mV02 /2}2 and this is the only bound-state solution.

5.6 Show that if V(x) = V(−x), normalized solutions to the time-independent

Schrödinger equation have definite parity—that is, u(x) = ±u(−x).
Hint: Make the substitution y = −x and show first that u(x) = Au(−x) where A is a
constant.

Solution
Making the substitution y = −x, the time-independent Schrödinger equation (5.17)
becomes
}2 d2 u(−y)
− + V(y)u(−y) = Eu(−y)
2m dy2
where u(y) is a solution corresponding to the energy level E and we have used the
fact that V(−y) = V(y). It follows that u(−y) is also a solution with the same value of
E. Hence u(−y) = Au(y) where A is a constant. If u is normalized, A2 = 1, so A = ±1
and result follows.
[NB this ignores the possibility of degeneracy which is discussed in chapter 4]

5.7 Do the wavefunctions representing the energy states of the system described in
problem 3 above have definite parity? If not, why not?

Solution It is clear from the description of the eigenfunctions at the beginning of

problem 3 that these are neither symmetric or antisymmetric. This is to be expected
because the potential is not symmetric.

5.8 Consider a particle of mass m subject to the one-dimensional potential V(x) that
is given by

V =0 if − a 6 x 6 a or if |x| > b
V = V0 if a < |x| 6 b

where b > a. Write down the form of an even-parity solution to the Schrödinger
equation in each region in the case where E < V0 . Note that the particle is not bound
in this potential as there is always a probability of quantum-mechanical tunnelling,
 The one-dimensional Schrödinger equations  43

so solutions exist for all values of E. Show, however, that if κ(b − a)  1 (where κ is
defined as in problem 3) the probability of finding the particle inside the region |x| < a
is very small unless its energy is close to that of one of the bound states of a well
of side 2a bounded by potential steps of height V0 . In the case where this condition
is fulfilled exactly, obtain an expression for the ratio of the amplitudes of the wave
function in the regions |x| 6 a and |x| > b.

Solution
This potential is an example of that illustrated in Figure 5.7(a). Even parity solutions
have the form similar to those discussed in the case of the finite potential well.
Thus

u = A cos kx −a 6 x 6 b
u = C exp(−κx) + D exp(κx) a6x6b
u = C exp(κx) + D exp(−κx) − b 6 x 6 −a
u = B cos kx |x| > b
Now consider the boundary conditions requiring continuity of u and ∂u/∂x at x = a
and x = b.
A cos ka = C exp(−κa) + D exp(κa)
Ak sin ka = Cκ exp(−κa) − Dκ exp(κa)
B cos kb = C exp(−κb) + D exp(κb)
Bk sin kb = Cκ exp(−κb) − Dκ exp(κb)

If we divide the first equation by the third and use the fact that κ(b − a)  1 (which
implies that κb  1 and κ(b + a)  1) then, unless D is small or zero, we can ignore
the first term on the right of each equation and get
A cos(kb)
= exp[−κ(b − a)]
B cos(ka)
Hence, |A| << |B| and the probability of finding the particle inside the region |x| < a
is small.
If we now divide the second equation by the first, we get

κC exp(−κa) − κD exp(κa)
k tan(ka) =
C exp(−κa) + D exp(κa)
In the case where the energy corresponds to a bound level, k tan(ka) = κ from (5.43),
implying that D = 0 and the previous expression does not apply. Assuming this and
dividing the third equation by the first, we get
B cos(ka)
= exp[−κ(b − a)]
A cos(kb)
Exploring the Variety of Random
Documents with Different Content
scarcely hear it. At intervals came the faint clang of a gong, the
whistle of a locomotive, the exhaust of an automobile on an up-
grade.
She did not see the man who, his horse's bridle rein over his arm,
rounded the turn and came slowly toward her. Her back was toward
them and on the soft path the steps of the horse were almost
without noise.
When she did hear them and, startled, swung suddenly around, it
was to come face to face with Harry Lorraine.
The recognition was mutual and simultaneous.
He stopped and surveyed her with scrutinizing glance—a bit of a
frown furrowed between the eyes, the eyes themselves half closed.
She regarded him with a look as impersonally indifferent as though
he were the most casual stranger, then shifted it with interest to his
horse.
"So!" he said, after a moment's steady stare. "You have returned—
after your paramour has cast you off. Whom do you wait for now, I
wonder?"
The cold insult of the words were more than she could endure.
"Not you, at all events!" she retorted.
He laughed mirthlessly—a hollow, mocking laugh that seemed to
wrench his very soul.
"No, not me," he answered—"even your effrontery would hesitate at
the same victim twice."
She shrugged her shoulders and made no reply.
He waited, while the horse drew over and began to crop the grass at
her feet. At length, he spoke again.
"What do you intend to do, Mrs. Lorraine—have you come back with
the purpose of driving some bargain with me—a bargain that will
leave you a trifling semblance of your good name?"
A slight smile curled her lovely lips but she made no answer.
"Because, if you have," he went on, "I warn you that it will be
unavailing."
The idea of his warning her of anything now, after the way he had
stood back and let her drift upon the rocks, was so intensely absurd
that she laughed.
"You would warn me!" she inflected. "Warn me!" and she laughed
again. "Do you think you are capable of warning any one?"
He saw her meaning and his face grew pale with anger.
"You think that I might have warned you before?" he broke out.
"Yes, I might——"
"And you did not!" she interrupted. "Therefore you are a
contemptible knave not to have saved your own wife."
"I might have warned you," he repeated slowly, "if I had suspected
you were in danger of forgetting your marriage vows."
"Then you were a fool for not realizing it.—You had plenty of
warning."
"Plenty of warning, yes—in the light of the after events. But no
warning whatever on the basis of trust and confidence. I never
thought of your being crooked, until you proved it before all the
world."
"Just so!" she exclaimed. "I proved it before all the world—which
think you is worse: the woman who does, or the husband who
through blindness or indifference suffers another man to rob him of
his wife before his very eyes?"
"The wife who is worthless is never missed!" he retorted.
"Then what quarrel have you for my going?" she demanded, "more
than hurt vanity?"
"It's not your going—it's your coming back that irritates me."
"Irritates!" she laughed. "I am sorry to have irritated you—sorry to
have irritated one so childish. It may affect your mind, Mr. Lorraine."
"If my mind has survived the last two years, I think it can survive a
trifle more. Nevertheless," he sneered, "I am deeply sensible of the
consideration you would show me."
"What are you going to do about it?" she asked sharply.
"I don't quite follow your train of thought," he answered.
"Of course not—it was dreadfully involved," she mocked. "I beg your
pardon, Mr. Lorraine. I meant what are you going to do now that I
have returned—divorce me?"
"Yes—divorce you," he answered bluntly.
"And without delay?"
"As quickly as the Courts can cut us asunder."
"I am glad," she said. "I rather feared you might make overtures for
a reconciliation."
"A reconciliation?" he exclaimed incredulously.
She nodded. "You seem uncertain of your own mind—your letters,
you know, were rather childish and vacillating."
"I know my own mind now, thank God," he answered, his voice
tense. "If I didn't know it before, it was because your beauty had
befuddled it into imbecility. Oh! you may smile, with all the assumed
credulity you can muster, but nevertheless you know in your own
heart that I speak the truth. I did love you—loved every part of you,
from your glorious hair to your slender arched feet. Loved your
proud, cold face, that can glow warm enough upon occasion—I've
seen it glow for me—and often; and your lips that were made for
kisses—and your arms—and your flawless shoulders, white as
marble, and soft as——"
Her derisive laugh broke in on him.
"Be careful, sir, or the recollection of my charms may cause you to
change your mind again," she cautioned.
For a space he was silent. And she was silent, too—waiting.
At last he spoke, slowly and deliberately.
"No," he said; "the time when you held me by a smile and a nod has
passed. You are just as beautiful, just as alluring, but your body is
soiled with the touch of another's hands. Your lips, your hair, your
arms, your shoulders—everything—have all been defiled by
Amherst's caresses, and by yours."
"Am I then so polluted?" she queried. "At least," slowly stretching
out her lithe limbs and looking herself over, "I see no trace of it—
neither do I feel it in me."
"Your honor is not sufficiently developed to feel it, there's the pity,"
he answered. "You will catch another man with the same
indifference you forsook me, or were yourself forsaken by Amherst.
And your basilisktic beauty will be fatal alike to them and to you."
"Are you a prophet?" she asked.
"One does not need to be a prophet to foresee the apparent," he
retorted.
She laughed pityingly.
"You had me unpolluted—why did you not keep me so?" she asked.
"I was yours, why did you not hold me fast? You could had you tried.
If I am as beautiful as you would have me believe, you were not
alone in knowing it. Therefore it was for you to guard me; you were
my husband—and you did not. Hence you are either faithless or
incompetent, so you have only yourself to blame."
"A naturally good woman doesn't have to be guarded," he sneered.
"Which shows how little—how very little—you know!" she smiled.
"You are scarcely fit to be out of the nursery, Harry—you need a
guardian, not a wife."
"The Divorce Court at least will relieve me of the wife," he retorted
—"and I shall not want another very soon."
"I trust not," she replied.
Two horses trotted quickly around the bend—their riders rising and
falling in perfect time. An amused smile broke over Stephanie's face
when she recognized Helen Burleston and Devonshire. As they
flashed by, the former nodded pleasantly, the latter raised his hat.
Their surprised looks, however, were not concealed—nor Lorraine's
embarrassed acknowledgment.
"We are creating a scandal—a fearful scandal!" Stephanie laughed.
"Husband and wife, about to be divorced, have been caught talking
together in a secluded bridle-path in the Park. What can it mean?"
"It can mean anything their imagination may suggest—except the
truth!" exclaimed Lorraine. "No one will ever believe it is a chance
encounter."
"Thanks," said she. "You do me that much credit, at least."
"Yes; I fancy I may truthfully assume that this meeting is
unpremeditated on your part as well as on mine—though you
doubtless are expecting some one," he sneered. "Else why are you
here?"
"For once you do me an injustice," she replied ironically.
"The circumstances speak for themselves—a secluded by-path,
unfrequented on Sunday afternoons, especially by pedestrians—the
thick veil which you have just laid aside, doubtless to prepare for the
greeting."
"All of which you know perfectly well is not the truth!" she laughed.
He answered with an expressive shrug.
"It is not the way of those with whom you intimate that I properly
belong, to appoint a rendezvous for such a place," she remarked.
"Their ways differ—this is your way. You are rather—unconventional,
you know."
"Have it as you will," said she indifferently; "though, if you are
correct in your assumption, don't you think the man is very laggard
at the tryst?"
"Or you are early!" he cut in. "Ah! perhaps he comes!" as the canter
of a horse was heard around the bend.
A moment later, Montague Pendleton came in sight.
Instantly the occurrence of yesterday at the Club—Pendleton's pre-
nuptial admiration, together with the rumors current at that time,
flashed to his mind. He leaned forward and bent his eyes on
Stephanie's face—to meet her amusing glance.
"Perhaps he does come!" he said. "Perhaps I am de trop."
"Then why don't you go?" she asked indifferently.
It was like a blow in the face—and it angered as a blow—sharply,
hotly.
He took a step toward her—recovered himself—stopped—glared at
her an instant—then faced Pendleton, who was just at hand, and
motioned for him to stop.
Instantly Pendleton drew rein and dismounted. His surprise he
concealed under the well-bred air of courteous greeting.
"What does it mean?" he thought. "Have they become reconciled—is
it a chance meeting—has Stephanie reconsidered—has Lorraine
made his peace for the affront of yesterday?"
One glance at Lorraine's face, however, answered him. There had
been no reconciliation—no peace made; rather had the breach
widened, if that were possible. He put his arm through his bridle-
rein, and coming forward took Stephanie's hand and pressed it
meaningly—and got an answering pressure back. Then he nodded
pleasantly to Lorraine.
"You will pardon me for intruding!" Lorraine exclaimed. "I didn't
realize, until a moment ago, that Mrs. Lorraine had an appointment
here with you."
Pendleton understood a little now—and he turned to Stephanie with
a politely interrogating air.
"Mr. Lorraine seems to be laboring under some excitement,
Stephanie," he said, "may I ask you to explain—if you think it worth
while. I'll not misunderstand, however, if you do not."
"Mr. Lorraine does me the honor to think that I have an appointment
to meet you here—and that he has discovered us," she answered,
unperturbed.
"Is that what you mean, Lorraine?" Pendleton inquired.
"That is exactly what I mean," he burst out. "Else why do I find her
here and waiting—and why do you come?"
"Don't be foolish, Lorraine," said Pendleton kindly.—"You don't mean
that—you're overwrought and nervous——"
"I'm not overwrought nor nervous!" Lorraine exclaimed. "And neither
am I foolish any longer. I was blind once, but I'm not blind now.
Amherst's gone—and you're substituted."
Pendleton looked at him doubtfully—was it hurt pride or just plain
jealousy? He could not determine. Stephanie had lost Amherst; but
she had come back and Lorraine had denied her—and yet, here he
was positively shaking with rage, because he thought he had
surprised her in a rendezvous with another man. He had cast her off
before all the world, and yet he wanted still to dictate as to what she
did!
Pendleton glanced at Stephanie; she flashed him a smile, and shook
her head not to become involved in a quarrel.
"Well, what have you to say?" sputtered Lorraine.
"Before I answer," returned Pendleton calmly, "I would like to know
by what right you ask?"
"By what right I ask! By what right do you think I ask. Isn't she still
my wife?"
"She is your wife—but you have lost all right to supervise her
actions. She is free of you—absolutely free. You made her free on
the Club-house piazza yesterday. You have no more authority over
her than any other man—you have less, indeed, for you renounced
even that when you disowned her and cast her adrift."
"So long as she bears my name, she shall not trail it in the mire in
this town by a vulgar, public assignation, if I can prevent it. I have
cause enough without that disgrace!" Lorraine declared. "Until the
Courts have divorced us she shall be decent, ostensibly at least—
afterward I don't care what she does nor when."
Pendleton frowned.
"That is discourteously blunt language, Lorraine," he replied.
"It is not the time nor the occasion to mince words," Lorraine
retorted. "You are here by pre-arrangement and——"
"That is a lie—and you know it's a lie," Pendleton answered.
"In the light of her past or of yours?" was the sneering question.
Pendleton hesitated what to answer. The man was plainly laboring
under intense excitement. His hands were trembling, his face was
flushed, he was beating a tatoo on his boot with his crop.
Suddenly Stephanie spoke. She had remained sitting down until
now.
"I think it is better that I should continue my walk," she remarked.
"You men are not apt to come to an understanding, so let us go our
respective ways. Mr. Pendleton, I thank you more than I can say—
and I shall be glad to see you at my home any time you choose to
call. I shall wait until you both are gone."
"Come, Lorraine!" Pendleton laughed good-naturedly. "We will go
together."
On Stephanie's account he was willing to do anything to get him off.
"No—we will not go together," Lorraine replied curtly, ignoring the
other's friendly tones and manner. "You'll go first, and I'll follow to
see that you don't come back."
His bearing was quite as insulting as his words, but Pendleton did
not seem to notice. It was the indulgent man and the complaining
boy.
And Stephanie understood and gave Pendleton a quick glance of
appreciation. He was trying to save her from further annoyance, she
knew, and she loved him for it, but she had endured so much the
last two years that she was hardened to a callous indifference. Once
she would have been shamed to the earth by Lorraine's accusation;
now it made no impression on her—she simply shrugged it aside.
Indeed, she found herself studying its revelations as to her
husband's character, and pitying him for this exposition of his
weakness and vacillation.
"Perhaps I would better go first since Mr. Lorraine is so exacting and
distrustful of a friend," she interposed. "Good-bye, Montague,"
giving him her hand; "I seem to be unfortunate lately with all who
are disposed to be nice to me. It won't always be so, I hope; I am
not all bad!" she smiled.
And with never a look at Lorraine, she passed in front of him and
went down the path toward town.
Lorraine watched her go—and Pendleton watched Lorraine. When
she had passed around the bend, the former turned slowly and
encountered the latter's eyes.
"Pendleton," said he impulsively, "I apologize! I didn't mean it—I
think I'm crazy—I must be crazy. Won't you shake hands with me?"
"Of course I will, Lorraine," Pendleton replied. "And you don't need
to apologize to me—apologize to Stephanie. She is the one you owe
it to."
Lorraine's face hardened.
"What do you think she owes me?" he asked.
"We are not computing the balance on the Amherst affair—we are
dealing with the present instance, and in it you were wholly at fault.
Because she slipped once, doesn't imply that she slips constantly,
nor does it excuse you for assuming that fact. Good God! man, give
your wife credit for regretting her mistake and wanting to live it
down—it's the normal and rational way to look at it. Be a little
charitable in your view—Stephanie needs it—we all need it."
"Do you mean that I should not divorce her—that I should take her
back?"
"That question you must decide for yourself."
"I ask for your opinion."
Pendleton shook his head.
"You must decide for yourself," he repeated, preparing to mount.
"I shall decide for myself—but I want your opinion," Lorraine
persisted.
Pendleton let his hand rest on the pommel of his saddle and
considered. What was the best for Stephanie—to return to Lorraine
or to be free of him? He was not sure she knew herself; yet he
wanted to help her even in a little, if his advice would be a feather-
weight toward that end.
"Tell me!" exclaimed Lorraine again.
He made a quick resolution—it could do no harm—it would still be
for her to determine:
"I should by all means take her back—if she will have you," he
answered.
"If she will have me!" Lorraine interrogated in surprise. "You think
there is any doubt about it?"
"Candidly I do—very material doubt, indeed."
"You say that with knowledge—you have talked with her!" Lorraine
cried, instantly suspicious.
"I saw Mrs. Lorraine but a few minutes at the Club-house, yesterday.
Is it likely she would discuss you there?" Pendleton replied. "It was
not until she was leaving, remember, that she encountered you and
your—rebuff."
It was an unfortunate speech. Pendleton realized it as the last word
was said.
It brought to Lorraine's mind the scene of yesterday, and his
decision—made before them all. He had refused to recognize her
then—should he reverse himself within twenty-four hours—make
himself the laughing stock of every one—prove himself a mere will-
o-the-wisp? He had been about to dash after Stephanie and
apologize—to ask her to come back—to forgive and forget the past.
But now he was not so sure—he must take time to consider—must
ponder the situation gravely—must——
He looked at Pendleton, indecision showing in his face and sounding
in his voice as he replied:
"It is a serious matter—I must think over it, Pendleton, I must think
over it. I will know what to do to-morrow—and to-morrow is time
enough to decide a matter that has been in abeyance for two years."
Pendleton nodded.
"Very well," he replied. "I said it is a matter for you alone to decide;
but if you will be advised you will decide it without taking counsel
with anyone. Make up your own mind, Lorraine, and then stick to it."
"You're very right, and I'll do it," Lorraine answered; and with a
wave of the hand he trotted away.
"I wonder," Pendleton mused, as he went slowly down the hill, "what
it must mean not to know your own mind any better than Lorraine
knows his—to be as changeable and as irresponsible—to keep
debating and putting off a decision for two years—and then be no
nearer it than you were at first."
 VII
AN OFFER AND AN ANSWER

Lorraine took Pendleton's advice. He did not take counsel with

anyone—not even with Cameron, with whom he dined at the Club
that evening, and afterward played billiards until bedtime. The
thought of what he had said to him yesterday, as to his intended
course of conduct, may have deterred him, as well as a hesitation to
admit the instability of his own mind. Yesterday he was fixed on
divorce—to-day he was not so sure. The real reason for his
uncertainty was his wife's beauty. Yesterday he had not noticed it—
had not time to notice it, being occupied with the instant.
But this Sunday affair was quite different. He had been alone with
her—and he had seen again the adorably beautiful woman—whom
once he had possessed, but possessed no longer; who was colder to
him now than a graven image.
The trim, slender figure in its close cut walking-skirt; the narrow,
high-arched feet that she put down so well; the small head, with its
crown of auburn hair; the cold, proud, high-bred face that once had
been so tender for him, he now saw in all their loveliness—
recollected in all their perfectness. And they weighed heavily in the
scale—almost balancing her sin. Nay, there were moments when
they did balance it, and a trifle more—until he grew hesitating again
and doubtful.... And the hesitancy gradually grew less, and the
doubt gradually decreased.
Then one afternoon in the latter part of the week, as he was coming
from his office, the day's work done, he saw her ahead of him on
the opposite side of the Avenue. And he became so absorbed in
watching her that he was three blocks beyond his Club before he
realized it.
Guiltily he turned and retraced his steps; and alone, in a quiet corner
of the lounge with a high-ball and his face to the wall, he fought it
out with himself.
And having fought it out, he did a most unusual thing for him—he
acted straightway upon his decision, and did not wait for it to cool
and himself to doubt and hesitate and change.
He pushed the bell.
"Call a taxi!" said he to the boy.
When it came, he gave Mrs. Mourraille's number. There was a click,
as the flag went up, and they whirred away.
"You need not wait," said he, handing the driver a bill as the car
drew up before the house.
The man touched his cap and shot off.
Lorraine crossed the sidewalk, went up the steps and rang the bell.
The aged butler answered. He had been in the Mourraille family for
a generation, but even his automaton calm was not proof against
such a surprise, and he failed to repress wholly the amazement from
his face and manner when he beheld who stood in the doorway.
"I want to see Mrs. Lorraine a moment, Tompkins," said Lorraine,
and went in with the utmost nonchalance.
There were no instructions against admitting Lorraine, so Tompkins
could do nothing but bow him into the living-room. Then he went
slowly up to the library and gave the card to Mrs. Lorraine.
She took it from the tray, wondering as she did so who was calling
on her, and read the name—and read it again. Then she frowned
slightly and remained silent.
The butler stood at attention and waited—waited so long, indeed,
that Mrs. Mourraille glanced up from her evening paper, having
observed the whole thing, and inquired casually:
"Who is it, Stephanie?"
Her daughter passed the bit of pasteboard across—then nodded to
Tompkins that she would be down.
Mrs. Mourraille's heart gave a great bound—if, in so placid a woman,
anything ever could bound—when she read the name. The thing for
which she had hoped—for which she had prayed—for two years was
that Stephanie would make it up with her husband, and go back to
him. It was the better way—the way that made everything as nearly
right as was humanly possible—the easier way for everyone. If he
overlooked her fault, who else had any cause to cavil? She had been
much too wise, however, to urge it unasked. It must come
voluntarily from Stephanie—then she could add her counsel and
encouragement. But better even than Stephanie was Lorraine
himself—and what else could his unexpected coming mean than an
overture for a reconciliation!
"You will receive him?" she asked quietly.
Stephanie nodded.
"I suppose," she said, "it is some arrangement about the divorce—
but I can't understand why he should come in person to make it."
"Perhaps it is a first step in an attempt to effect a—readjustment of
matters," her mother suggested.
Stephanie had risen—now she paused, and a smile flitted across her
face.
"As you hope it is—and hope also that it will be successful, n'est ce
pas?" she said, bending down and kissing her.
"What I hope, dear, is that you will do the best for yourself," Mrs.
Mourraille answered—"and you can alone decide that best, and hope
to remain satisfied with the decision. Go and see what Harry wants;
it was a great deal for him to come here, and you should not keep
him waiting."
"Particularly as he may change his mind if I keep him waiting long!"
she laughed; and with a little caressing touch to her mother's cheek,
she went down to the living-room.
Lorraine was standing with his back to the fireplace, nervously
drawing his gloves back and forth through his fingers. He came
forward and offered her his hand—and after just a second's
hesitation, she touched it momentarily.
It was as though she said:
"As the hostess, I cannot do less, but I don't in the least fancy the
doing."
"Will you sit down, Mr. Lorraine?" she said perfunctorily, letting
herself sink into a chair with the lithe grace he remembered so well.
She was perfectly at ease—with the air of one who entertains a
casual visitor.
She looked at him, politely interrogatively, and waited for him to
begin. It was his move, and she did not intend to help him in the
least.
Lorraine was not so tranquil—his agitation showed in his slightly
flushed face and in his manner. He took out his handkerchief and
passed it across his lips. When he did speak he knew it was with an
effort and unnaturally.
"Stephanie," he said, "I want to apologize for what I did at the Club-
house, and what I said yesterday—will you let me?"
"Certainly," she replied impersonally. "An apology is one thing that
you can tender and one thing that I can accept."
"It does not right the injury——" he began.
"No, it does not right it," she concurred.
"Any more than your apology will right the injury you have done
me," he added.
"And mine was the greater injury," she observed. "I know it. There is
no apology I can offer that will be effective—so, why try?"
"Don't try!" he exclaimed. "Just let us forget it, and take a fresh
start." He leaned forward and took her hand—and she, in sheer
amazement, suffered him to retain it. "I am willing to forgive,
Stephanie, if you are willing to come back to me. Will you do it,
dear?"
For a moment she had the impulse to ask how long this notion had
actuated him, and how long he thought that it would last. Then the
keen injustice of the taunt came home to her, and with it a sharp
sense of just what such an offer meant from him. Aside from
everything—of blindness when he should have seen, of supineness
when he should have acted, of vacillation when he should have
known his own mind, of all the other deficiencies of which he was
guilty—there yet remained the ever present, ever damning fact that
she was a guilty wife; and that he was willing to overlook the past,
and to restore her to the place she once had, made all his
shortcomings as nothing in comparison. It mattered not how soon
he might again change his mind—that was not the present question.
He had offered. He was waiting for her answer. She had but to
accept—and the thing was done beyond the fear of change.
"Will you do it, Stephanie, dear?" she heard him say again—she did
not know how often he had said it.
She released her hand and sat staring down at the rug at her feet. It
was a Senna prayer rug, beautiful in coloring and soft as an autumn
twilight in the tones, but she was looking back into the past—its lost
opportunities and forsaken shrines....
Presently her glance shifted to Lorraine—and lingered, speculatively,
appraisingly, as though casting up the balances. It swept him slowly
from head to foot, pausing long upon his face—so long, indeed, that
he shifted uneasily and smiled in self defence.
"Will you do it, Stephanie, dear?" he repeated.
She slowly shook her head.
"I cannot," she answered.
"Why can't you, dear?" he asked.
"Because I do not love you!"
"What has that to do with the question?" he replied. "Neither do I
know that I love you—we must try——"
"I know," she interrupted; "you don't love me—and love is the one
thing that could heal the wounds the past two years have made—for
us both."
"Do you love that scoundrel Amherst?" he asked.
"I do not," was the calm answer—"and you have termed him rightly
—he is a scoundrel."
"Do you love any other man?"
"I do not!" looking him straight in the face.
"Then let us try it, Stephanie," he said.
But she shook her head again.
"It is not just to you——"
"Let me be the judge of that," he cut in.
"Neither is it just to me," she ended. "You will take me back for the
sake of appearances. You think to save me and yourself some
temporary unpleasantness by obviating a divorce—by preventing
scare headlines in the papers. You don't see that you would be
making untold unpleasantness for us both through the remainder of
our lives. When we are apart and need only the Court's severing
decree, why should we assume a life of wretchedness for both? I
bear the heavier burden now. I am content to bear it for a little
while—until the world has forgotten—rather than to purchase that
forgetfulness by a reconciliation which would be only in name—and
scarcely in name, indeed."
"Why should it be only in name?" he asked, leaning toward her. "It
won't be with me, dear."
"You are very good to say so," she replied—"but you'll think
differently in a month—in a week possibly. Amherst will be ever
between us—you will always see him; and as time passes you will
see him only the more. Nothing we can do will remove him—he will
be persistently present—you can't see me without thinking of him—
and of what I did with him. And that can have only one result—
renewed unhappiness for us both, and eventually the final break.
Therefore why not let the break be now—when it is anticipated by
every one and is so much easier for us both?"
She might have added—what was in her mind—that with a man of
strong and resolute purpose the experiment would not be so
hazardous of success; but with one of his character the issue was
not even doubtful—it would be decided before it was begun.
A spasm of anger had crossed his face at her reference to Amherst
and herself, and for a moment she had hoped that he would recall
his offer—but as she talked it passed, and when he spoke it was
with quiet resolution.
"Wouldn't we better eliminate Amherst from the question?" he
asked. "I understand that episode has ended!"
"It has, indeed!" she answered,—"as between Amherst and me—but
it can never end as between you and me."
"As between you and me it is as we make it," he returned. "I engage
that I shall never, by word or act, refer to Amherst, nor to what you
have done. It will be as though it had never been. Is not that
satisfactory?"
"You can't engage to control your thoughts," she replied; "and
thoughts tincture acts, however much we may strive to avoid it. It's
generous, more generous than I can say, for you to offer to take me
back—but it cannot be, Harry. We may as well face the matter as it
is—there need be no concealment between us surely. I do not love
you—I never shall love you. You do not love me—you never can love
me. It is much wiser to end things now than to drag them along a
little while and end them."
"Why do you say I do not love you?" he asked.
"Because you admitted it yourself a moment since, and because,
aside from that, I know it."
He made a denying gesture.
"I loved you when we were married," he broke out.
"We both loved then—or thought we did—but we both have learned
much, since that day at St. Luke's." She sat up and bent nearer to
him. "And one of the things we have learned is that we are better
apart—and I have proven it—by running away with another man.
And you have proven it—by not following instantly and taking me
from him—or killing him."
"What have I proven by my present attitude?" he demanded.
"Your magnanimity—but not your love. And as I said, love alone
would justify a reconciliation now, or give the slightest warrant for
the future."
For a time he made no answer, looking at her steadily with
thoughtful eyes. At last he spoke.
"Am I to understand then that you refuse my offer?" he asked.
"I refuse!" she answered. "For both our sakes—yours as well as mine
—I refuse your offer."
There was a finality in her manner that left him no present ground
for hope. It was useless to argue further at this time, and he knew
it. He arose to go. She arose also.
Then a sudden, irresistible impulse came over him. Scarce knowing
what he did, nor the reason why he did it, he seized her in his arms
and crushed her to him.
She fought him in silence; with all her strength she strove to break
from his encircling arms—that held her only the tighter, while his
face drew slowly nearer hers. Her breath came in fierce gasps, as
closer and closer he pressed her—his lips ever nearer and nearer to
her own.
"Let me go!" she panted. "Let me go!"
But he only smiled. The perfume from her hair, the warmth of her
body, the intoxication from her person were working their due. He
was only a man—and she was only a woman.
He kissed her on the lips fiercely—once—twice—a score of times—
straining her to him with an intensity that left her helpless.
"You coward!—you coward!—you coward!" she kept repeating.
And every time he kissed her more fiercely than the last.
Then, suddenly as he had seized her, he loosed her and stepped
back—so suddenly, indeed, she swayed and almost fell.
"You beast! you miserable beast!" she breathed, wiping away his
kisses.
He laughed, a low mocking laugh.
"Did you call Amherst a beast?" he asked.
"You miserable beast!" she repeated.
"Who has a better right?" he queried.
"You miserable beast," she said again.
"Who has a better right to kiss you than your husband? Your lover?"
he sneered.
"Go!" she cried, pointing to the door. "Go! and never speak to me
again."
"Why all these melodramatics?" he inquired. "What have I done that
is wrong—how have I offended?"
"I have asked you to leave the house," she answered. "If you go
quietly at once well and good. If you do not"—laying her hand on
the button in the wall behind her—"I shall ring for Tompkins and bid
him summon the police."
"Still melodramatic!" he laughed.
She pressed the button.
"You shall decide whether the butler shows you out or summons an
officer," she replied.
Tompkins appeared in the doorway and waited.
She looked calmly at Lorraine, and Lorraine looked at her—then he
held out his hand.
"Good-bye!" he said.
"Good-bye!" she answered, and turned away.
He took a step toward her, and dropped his voice so that Tompkins
could not hear.
"And I'm not so sure now that I want a divorce," he said—"and you
can't get one."
Her only reply was the slightest shrug of the shoulders and an
expressive motion of her hands—she did not even take the trouble
to turn her head.
And after a second's hesitation, Lorraine faced about and strode
away.
 VIII
THE SUMMONS

A month went by and Lorraine made no move to obtain a divorce—

neither did he appear to seek a reconciliation. At first Society was
aghast with wonder, then it gradually accepted the course as one of
Lorraine's eccentricities of character. At the beginning he had made
no secret of his purpose to institute suit whenever personal service
could be obtained on her—although he was of course aware that
personal service was not necessary in such a case. He had a rather
Quixotic idea of the matter, it seemed. Now when he was given the
opportunity, and had openly expressed his intention to proceed
forthwith, he suddenly veered off and became non-committal and
non-communicative—even to his intimate friends.
They did not know—no one knew from him—that he had offered
reconciliation and that Stephanie had refused it. On this he was
absolutely silent. He had been injured enough before all the world
without giving it fresh food for gossip in this new injury that was
almost as searing to his pride as the other. To have his wife run off
with another man was humiliating enough, but to have his offer to
forget and forgive, and to reinstate calmly declined, was mortifying
to the last degree. Even to Cameron he could not bring himself to
confess such a shameful thing.
And the more he brooded over it, the greater seemed the wrong and
the more he grew to hate—not Stephanie, but Amherst. Amherst's
was the injury: if he had not led her astray there never would have
been the scandal—and her love would not have been lost. No—
Stephanie was not to blame! It was Amherst! Amherst had entered
his home and had robbed him of his dearest possessions—his wife
and his wife's love; made of him a mock and a jest—a thing
despised or pitied, as the case might be. He imagined that he was
the butt of all Society—the forsaken husband at whom they were
laughing slyly for his incompetence in not protecting his own.
But instead of confiding his notion to Cameron or to some other
friend, as he was wont to do, he buried it deep in his heart—and fed
upon it until it became the main-spring of his life: to square accounts
with Amherst. And as Amherst grew the blacker to him, Stephanie
grew the whiter—until finally he even acquitted her of all voluntary
wrong. She was Amherst's victim, as much as himself.
Which, only to a certain extent, was true. Amherst had led her
astray—but she had gone willingly, and with never a thought of the
husband who was too weak or too heedless to hold her to propriety
and duty.
And though he nursed his wrath to keep it warm, he did not venture
—yet—to intrude on Stephanie again. He went his usual way; and
with the craft of his passion he was changed only in one respect:—
upon the subject of his married life, its past and its future,
concerning which he had once been so voluble, he now never spoke.
And unless he spoke first, no one could speak to him. Though every
one marvelled exceedingly—and many expressed their marvel to one
another in becoming or unbecoming fashion, depending on the
respective point of view and the respective disposition of the
expressor—usually a woman.
Stephanie, meanwhile, went her way with the same air of
contemptuous indifference that she had shown on the Club-house
piazza the afternoon of her reappearance.
At first, Society had resented it—a few resented it actively—but soon
they began to soften a bit, and not to be quite blind when she was
in the vicinity. Stephanie Lorraine was of unimpeachable birth. Her
ancestors had been in Society as long as there was any Society to be
in—except aborigines; and if one, under such circumstances,
assumes an attitude of superiority, the general herd will follow in
time—even though the way be through the avenue of the Divorce
Court.
The difficulty in the case was that Mrs. Postlewaite and Mrs.
Porterfield—the "Queen P's," as they were called—were a trifle
recalcitrant. They ruled Society and they had not approved of
Stephanie's doings even before she married. She had been quite too
disregardful of conventions. Her affair with Amherst was shameful
enough, they averred, but when it had culminated in the elopement,
they were outraged beyond words—figuratively speaking, that is;
there was no paucity and little repression of language in the actual.
And when she suddenly returned, without a warning or even an
intimation, and came up to the Club-house in the most casual
manner—as though she had done nothing! nothing! nothing! they
were enraged at her "effrontery." It was the end of their reign, they
saw, unless she were made to pay penance for her offence in
sackcloth and ashes. The younger set would defy their authority—
they were near to defying it now, with their new-fangled ideas and
disregard for every convention that stood for the old order.
They might overlook some things, even though they were bizarre
and questionable, but Stephanie's offence was beyond the pale. If
she were permitted to come back to all her old privileges, and to go
unpunished by Society for her crime against it, then the reign of the
dissolute and depraved had begun. And they shook their heads
gravely, and with much decision resolved that it must not be.
So they let their decision be known and set quickly to work. It was
acquiesced in by almost all elders and by those who naturally follow
the leaders. Of the others, the majority thought that there was no
haste in the matter, and composed themselves and awaited
developments. The few who were independent, and accustomed to
do as they pleased, were uninfluenced by the rest—but they waited
also. And those that the Queen P's had thought would receive
Stephanie with open arms—the fast members of the younger set—
held off, and even edged away. They realized that the Lorraine affair
had made their own conduct all the more marked, and they were
afraid to take her up. As one of them put it: "A fellow feeling's all
right—but we're not running an eleemosynary institution at this
stage of the game." The degrees of intimacy, moreover, could be
gauged by the manner of salutation. Some did not speak at all—
some spoke only when it could not be avoided—some spoke when
the occasion required—some spoke always but with a certain reserve
—some spoke naturally, but went no further—some were as they
had always been—friends.
And Stephanie met them in kind.
Gladys Chamberlain, Elaine Croyden, Dorothy Tazewell, Margaret
Middleton, Helen Burleston, Sophia Westlake, and a few others
among the women, were her friends. Pendleton, Burgoyne, Croyden,
Mortimer, Fitzgerald, Devereux, Westlake, Devonshire and a score of
others among the men. There is never a dearth of men where the
woman is a beauty and well-born—that she is also a woman with a
past only adds to her attractiveness.
To but one person, other than her mother, did Stephanie reveal the
incident of Lorraine's visit—and then not until some time thereafter.
It was one evening when she and Pendleton had dined together
alone at her home—Mrs. Mourraille being out of town for several
days—and were sitting afterward in the piazza-room in the
moonlight.
"Stephanie," said he—after a pause, and apropos of nothing—
dropping his cigarette into the ash tray on the taboret between them
and lighting another, "what do you make out of Lorraine—isn't his
conduct exceedingly queer?"
"In what way?" she asked.
"In not applying for a divorce."
"Is that an exhibition of queerness on his part?" she smiled.
"It is—he never does the natural thing. What would be idiotic in a
sensible chap is just what one expects from him. That Saturday at
the Club-house—afterward, you know—he was going to begin action
on Monday. And Sunday you had the peculiar scene in the Park
where he threatened you with its immediate filing and so on—yet
since that day no one has ever heard him mention divorce."
"Rather an unusual time for Harry to hold to one opinion!" she
laughed. "I should say a change is long overdue." And when
Pendleton looked at her with a puzzled air she added: "He told me
he would not get a divorce—and that I could not. I'm waiting for him
to change his mind again and to file his papers. I am advised that
once filed they cannot be withdrawn without my consent, and that I
am permitted to press for a decision."
"He told you that Sunday in the Park?" he exclaimed.
"No—it was somewhat later in the week. He came here, and—
offered to—take me back—to forget and forgive. And I declined."
"You declined?" he marvelled. "Did you appreciate what you were
throwing away, Stephanie?"
"Yes—a worthless man, for one thing," she replied.
"And what else?" he asked, leaning a bit forward.
"A life-time of incompatibility and discord."
"And what else?"
"The opportunity for Society to overlook my—sin," she answered.
He nodded. "Just so—and you choose against Society. Was it wise,
Stephanie; was it wise, do you think?"
"What do you think it was, Montague?" she asked with an intimate
little smile.
"I think it was very foolish," he replied promptly; then added—"from
the point of expediency."
"And very wise from the point of happiness and myself—n'est ce
pas?" she smiled.
"Yes," he said; "unquestionably, yes—but few would have had the
courage to refuse."
"Let me tell you about it," she broke in. She disliked praise even
from her best friends, and she feared Pendleton would not
remember. "Mother was dreadfully disappointed, I fear—though she
has not mentioned the matter since. It was the expedient way, of
course; it would minimize the scandal, and things would go along
pretty much as before. That is just the difficulty. I couldn't return to
the old way. I could not endure it for a moment—not even long
enough to make a show at the reconciliation so that I might
purchase Society's forgetfulness. No, not even if I could be assured,
before going back to him, of ultimately being divorced."
"I understand," he said.
"You always understand, Montague," she replied. "You're the most
satisfactory of friends."
He made a deprecatory gesture. He was as averse as she to praise.
"You were about to tell of the Lorraine offer?" he reminded her.
And she told him all—not withholding even the final scene.
"I am not surprised," he remarked, when she had finished. "It is just
what one might expect from Lorraine. He was not too strong-minded
to start with, and this affair seems to have put him entirely to the
bad. He is keeping his own counsel now, however, which is
suspicious. As you say, he is long overdue for a change of mind, and
it doesn't seem to be forthcoming. How does he act when he sees
you—if you've noticed?"
"It is rather queer but I haven't seen him since that afternoon.
Possibly because I've been at the Club very rarely—not over a half-
dozen times, I should say—you were with me on the most of them."
"At least he has been quiescent," Pendleton added—"and sticking to
business, I hear, most assiduously. In that respect your coming back
seems to have steadied him."
"I'm glad to have done him some good indirectly," she smiled.
"He still is just a boy," said Pendleton, "despite his thirty years. He
has always had his own way, with nothing to settle him until this
came—and it completely unsettled him. So much so that very few of
the men had much sympathy for him. It went to you, Stephanie,
instead. In fact, the men had the matter right from the very first;
they knew Lorraine, they knew Amherst, and they knew—other
things, as well."
"And the women?" she asked.
"Oh, damn the women!" he replied.—"I beg your pardon, Stephanie
—but it is Mrs. Postlewaite and Mrs. Porterfield and all their kind, I
mean. A small number are discriminating and broad minded, like
Gladys Chamberlain and Elaine Croyden and Sophia Westlake and a
few more. They are friends—the rest are worthless bundles of dress
goods—manikins, if you please, pulled this way and that by the
fetish of the commonplace and the proper."
"Don't tell Mrs. Postlewaite!" laughed Stephanie. "She would have a
fit."
"It might do her some good if she had. I despise those people who
are so smug and self satisfied in their assumed superiority that they
think their ipse dixit inflates the social balloon. It's a positive
pleasure to have some one kick a hole in it just to show them they're
wrong."
"As I did, you mean," said she. "However, it would have been quite
as effective had I made another sort of kick. I punctured the