Quantum Physics

Homework I

Rahmanyaz Annyyev (2604619)

October 21, 2024

Department of Physics
Middle East Technical University
[Modified December 26, 2024]
PHYS300 ■ Homework I 1/4

Question 1
Solution. The de Broglie wavelength of a particle is given by:

ℎ ℎ
𝜆= =
𝑝 𝑚𝑣
where ℎ = 4.136 × 10−15 eV·s is the Planck constant, 𝑝 is the momentum of the particle, 𝑚 is the mass of the
particle, and 𝑣 is the speed of the particle. The kinetic energy of a particle is given by

1
𝑇= 𝑚𝑣 2
2
Hence, the de Broglie wavelength of a particle can be expressed in terms of its kinetic energy as

ℎ
𝜆= √
2𝑚𝑇

(a) The mass of the electron is 𝑚e = 0.5110 MeV/𝑐 2 , where 𝑐 is the speed of light. The de Broglie wavelength of
the electron with kinetic energy 𝑇 = 144 eV is

4.136 × 10−15 eV·s

𝜆= p = 1.023 × 10−10 m = 1.023 angstrom
2 × 0.5110 MeV/𝑐 2 × 144 eV

(b) The de Broglie wavelength of the electron with kinetic energy 𝑇 = 1 eV is

4.136 × 10−15 eV·s

𝜆= p = 1.227 × 10−9 m = 12.27 angstrom
2 × 0.5110 MeV/𝑐 2 × 1 eV

(c) The mass of a proton is 𝑚p = 938.3 MeV/𝑐 2 . The de Broglie wavelength of the proton with kinetic energy
𝑇 = 1 eV is
4.136 × 10−15 eV·s
𝜆= p = 2.864 × 10−11 m = 0.2864 angstrom
2 × 938.3 MeV/𝑐 2 × 1 eV

Diffraction occurs most significantly when the de Broglie wavelength of the particle is comparable to the spacing
in the crystal. Therefore, diffraction will be most significant for the 144 eV electron, which has a de Broglie
wavelength of 1.023 angstroms, closest to the spacing of the order of 1 angstrom in the crystal. ■

Question 2
Solution. (a) A given function 𝜓(𝑥) represents a state of definite momentum if it is an eigenfunction of the
momentum operator 𝑝ˆ with a scalar eigenvalue 𝑝:

𝑝𝜓
ˆ = 𝑝𝜓

Let’s determine which of the given wave functions represent states of definite momentum. For 𝜓1 = 𝑒 𝑖𝑘𝑥 , we
have
𝑑 𝑖𝑘𝑥
𝑝𝜓
ˆ 1 = −𝑖ℏ 𝑒
𝑑𝑥
 
= −𝑖ℏ 𝑖 𝑘𝑒 𝑖𝑘𝑥

= ℏ𝑘𝑒 𝑖𝑘𝑥
= 𝑝 1 𝜓1

Rahmanyaz Annyyev (2604619) October 21, 2024

Question 2 2/4

Therefore, 𝜓1 represents a state of definite momentum with momentum 𝑝1 = ℏ𝑘. For 𝜓2 = sin 𝑘𝑥, we have
𝑑
𝑝𝜓
ˆ 2 = −𝑖ℏ sin 𝑘𝑥
𝑑𝑥
= −𝑖ℏ𝑘 cos 𝑘𝑥
≠ 𝑝 2 𝜓2
2 /𝑎 2
Hence, 𝜓2 does not represent a state of definite momentum. For 𝜓3 = 𝑒 −𝑥 , we have
𝑑 −𝑥 2 /𝑎 2
𝑝𝜓
ˆ 3 = −𝑖ℏ 𝑒
𝑑𝑥
 
2𝑥 −𝑥 2 /𝑎 2
= −𝑖ℏ − 2 𝑒
𝑎
2𝑖ℏ𝑥 −𝑥 2 /𝑎 2
= 2 𝑒
𝑎
≠ 𝑝 3 𝜓3
Therefore, 𝜓3 does not represent a state of definite momentum.
(b) A given function 𝜓(𝑥) represents a state of definite kinetic energy if it is an eigenfunction of the kinetic
energy operator 𝑇ˆ with a scalar eigenvalue 𝑇:
ˆ = 𝑇𝜓
𝑇𝜓

Let’s determine which of the given wave functions represent states of definite kinetic energy. For 𝜓1 = 𝑒 𝑖𝑘𝑥 , we
have
ˆ 1 (𝑥) = − ℏ 𝑑 𝑒 𝑖𝑘𝑥
2 2
𝑇𝜓
2𝑚 𝑑𝑥 2
ℏ2  2 𝑖𝑘𝑥 
=− −𝑘 𝑒
2𝑚
ℏ2 𝑘 2 𝑖𝑘𝑥
= 𝑒
2𝑚
= 𝑇1 𝜓1
Therefore, 𝜓1 represents a state of definite kinetic energy with kinetic energy 𝑇1 = ℏ2 𝑘 2 /2𝑚. For 𝜓2 = sin 𝑘𝑥, we
have
ˆ 2 = − ℏ 𝑑 sin 𝑘𝑥
2 2
𝑇𝜓
2𝑚 𝑑𝑥 2
ℏ2
−𝑘 2 sin 𝑘𝑥


=−
2𝑚
ℏ2 𝑘 2
= sin 𝑘𝑥
2𝑚
= 𝑇2 𝜓2
2 /𝑎 2
Hence, 𝜓2 represents a state of definite kinetic energy with kinetic energy 𝑇2 = ℏ2 𝑘 2 /2𝑚. For 𝜓3 = 𝑒 −𝑥 , we
have
ˆ 3=−ℏ
2 𝑑 2 −𝑥 2 /𝑎 2
𝑇𝜓 𝑒
2𝑚 𝑑𝑥 2

ℏ2 2 −𝑥 2 /𝑎 2 4𝑥 2 −𝑥 2 /𝑎 2
 
=− − 2𝑒 + 4 𝑒
2𝑚 𝑎 𝑎
ℏ2 2 4𝑥 2
 
2 2
= − 4 𝑒 −𝑥 /𝑎
2𝑚 𝑎 2 𝑎
ℏ2 2 2
𝑎 2 − 2𝑥 2 𝑒 −𝑥 /𝑎


=
𝑚𝑎 4
≠ 𝑇3 𝜓3

Rahmanyaz Annyyev (2604619) October 21, 2024

PHYS300 ■ Homework I 3/4

Therefore, 𝜓3 does not represent a state of definite kinetic energy. ■

Question 3
Solution. (a) The probability density is given by
(
2 4𝛼3 𝑥 2 𝑒 −2𝛼𝑥 , 𝑥>0
|Ψ| =
0, 𝑥<0
The derivative of the probability density with respect to 𝑥 is
(
𝑑 8𝛼 3 𝑥𝑒 −2𝛼𝑥 (1 − 𝛼𝑥) , 𝑥>0
|Ψ|2 =
𝑑𝑥 0, 𝑥<0
By setting the derivative to zero, we find the critical point of the probability density to be 𝑥 = 1/𝛼. It immediately
follows that 𝛼 ≠ 0. The second derivative of the probability density with respect to 𝑥 is
(
𝑑2 8𝛼 3 𝑒 −2𝛼𝑥 1 − 4𝛼𝑥 + 2𝛼 2 𝑥 2 , 𝑥>0


2
|Ψ| =
𝑑𝑥 2 0, 𝑥<0
Let’s evaluate it at 𝑥 = 1/𝛼: (
𝑑2 −8𝛼 3 𝑒 −2 , 𝑥>0
|Ψ|2 =
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑥=1/𝛼 0, 𝑥<0
Therefore, the critical point 𝑥 = 1/𝛼 is where the probability density has a peak.
(b) Let’s calculate the expectation value of 𝑥:
∫ ∞ ∫ ∞  
∗ 3 −2𝛼𝑥 3! 3
⟨𝑥⟩ = Ψ [𝑥] Ψ 𝑑𝑥 = 4𝛼 3
𝑥 𝑒 𝑑𝑥 = 4𝛼 3
4
=
0 0 (2𝛼) 2𝛼
The expectation value of 𝑥 2 is
∫ ∞ ∫ ∞  
4! 3
𝑥2 = Ψ∗ 𝑥 2 Ψ 𝑑𝑥 = 4𝛼3 𝑥 4 𝑒 −2𝛼𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 4𝛼 3
 
= 2
0 0 (2𝛼)5 𝛼

(c) Let’s calculate the expectation value of 𝑝:

𝑑 ⟨𝑥⟩ 𝑑 3
 
𝑝 =𝑚 =𝑚 =0
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 2𝛼
The expectation value of 𝑝 2 is
∞
𝜕2
∫  
𝑝2 = Ψ∗ −ℏ2 Ψ 𝑑𝑥
0 𝜕𝑥 2
∞
𝑑2
∫
= −4𝛼 ℏ 3 2
𝑥𝑒 −𝛼𝑥 (𝑥𝑒 −𝛼𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥
0 𝑑𝑥 2

The second derivative of 𝑥𝑒 −𝛼𝑥 is

𝑑2 𝑑 −𝛼𝑥
(𝑥𝑒 −𝛼𝑥 ) = (𝑒 − 𝛼𝑥𝑒 −𝛼𝑥 )
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
= −𝛼𝑒 −𝛼𝑥 + 𝛼 2 𝑥𝑒 −𝛼𝑥 − 𝑎𝑒 −𝛼𝑥
= 𝛼2 𝑥𝑒 −𝛼𝑥 − 2𝛼𝑒 −𝛼𝑥

Rahmanyaz Annyyev (2604619) October 21, 2024

Question 3 4/4

Substituting the second derivative back into the integral, we get

∫ ∞
𝑝 2 3 2
𝑥𝑒 −𝛼𝑥 𝛼 2 𝑥𝑒 −𝛼𝑥 − 2𝛼𝑒 −𝛼𝑥 𝑑𝑥


= −4𝛼 ℏ
0 ∫ ∞ ∫ ∞ 
2 −2𝛼𝑥 −2𝛼𝑥
= −4𝛼 ℏ3 2
𝛼 2
𝑥 𝑒 𝑑𝑥 − 2𝛼 𝑥𝑒 𝑑𝑥
0 0
    
2! 1!
= −4𝛼 3 ℏ2 𝛼2 − 2𝛼
(2𝛼)3 (2𝛼)2
 
3 2 1 1
= −4𝛼 ℏ −
4𝛼 2𝛼
= 𝛼 2 ℏ2

(d) Let’s calculate the uncertainty in 𝑥:

q r √
2 3 9 3
Δ𝑥 = ⟨𝑥 2 ⟩ − ⟨𝑥⟩ = − 2 =
𝛼 2 4𝛼 2𝛼
The uncertainty in 𝑝 is given by q
2 √
Δ𝑝 = 𝑝2 − 𝑝 = 𝛼2 ℏ2 = 𝛼ℏ

The product of the uncertainties in 𝑥 and 𝑝 is

√
3 ℏ
Δ𝑥Δ𝑝 = ℏ>
2 2
The inequality is consistent with the uncertainty principle. ■

Rahmanyaz Annyyev (2604619) October 21, 2024