Quantum Mechanics: Few Tutorial Problems

Arnab Saha
Today

1. Estimate the best bound to the ground state energy for the 1D harmonic oscillator (Hamiltonian : H) by using
the following trial wave function
A
ψtrial = 2
x + b2
where A is the normalisation constant and b. is the adjustable parameter.

2. Let us consider
ψtrial (−x) = −ψtrial (x).
If Es = ⟨ψtrial |H|ψtrial ⟩, show that Es > 32 h̄ω.
3. By variation principle, show that the first order perturbation theory for non-degenerate systems always over-
estimates ground state energy.
4. If un (x) are the stationary energy eigenstates of 1D harmonic oscillator and √ fn (k) are their Fourier transforms,
show that fn (k̃) are the same functions of k̃ as un (x̃) are of x̃. Here x̃ = λx and k̃ = √kλ where λ = mω h̄ (m
and ω are the mass and frequency of the oscillator).
q q q
3 3 −1 3 −iϕ
5. The spherical harmonics Ylm with l = 1 : Y11 = − 8π sin θeiϕ , Y10 = 4π cos θ, Y1 = 8π sin θe .
Consider a system which is prepared in the following state :
 
x+y+z
ψ=N×
r

where N is the normalisation constant. Evaluate the probabilities to obtain the values of Lz as (h̄, 0, −h̄), while
measuring it.
2
d
6. Consider a quantum mechanical particle to move under the following Hamiltonian H0 = −C 2 dθ 2 where θ is

the polar angle (0 ≤ θ ≤ 2π) and C is a real constant. Find the stationary states and energy eigenvalues (En )
of the system. Comment on the degeneracy of the states.

Consider a perturbation H ′ = V0 exp (−θ/2π) where V0 is a constant. Total Hamiltonian of the system is now
H = H0 + H ′ . Calculate the 1st order correction to En . Comment on the degeneracy of the states of the
perturbed system.

Consider now the system is under H = H0 + H ′′ where the perturbation H ′′ = V0 sin2 θ. Calculate the first
order correction due to H ′′ . Comment on the degeneracy of the states of the perturbed system.
7. For any operator Â, we define (∆Â)2 ≡ ⟨A2 ⟩ − ⟨Â⟩2 . Now consider the position operator at time t of a non-
relativistic free particle having mass m is x̂(t). Calculate the lower bound of ∆x(t)∆x(0).

Consider the particle to be slightly relativistic now. What will be the first order relativistic correction to the
Hamiltonian of the free particle? In this case, calculate the commutator [x̂(t), x̂(0)].
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8. Show that for a virialised 1D harmonic oscillator ⟨V ⟩ = ⟨T ⟩ = 2 En where En is the total energy of the
oscillator.
d
9. From Heisenberg’s equation show that dt L̂ = r̂ × (−∇V̂ )

10. Consider an operator  such that |u⟩ = |Âv⟩ − a|v⟩ where a is a scaler and {|u⟩, |v⟩} are elements of a vector
space V. If ⟨v|v⟩ = 1 and ⟨u|u⟩ = ⟨v|Â2 v⟩ − ⟨v|Âv⟩2 , determine a.

1
11. Consider a free particle of mass m and energy E in one dimension but with periodic boundary condition i.e.
ψ(x + L) = ψ(x) where ψ is the wave function of the particle and L is the period.

Show that all the energy eigenstates are doubly degenerate.

Now Consider a perturbation H ′ = A0 δ(x) to the Hamiltonian H of the system where A0 is a constant.
Calculate the 1st order correction to the energy eigenvalues of the unperturbed case.
12. Consider a particle in a central potential. Given that |lm⟩ is the eigenstate of L2 and Lz , calculate ξ =
∆L2x + ∆L2y + ∆L2z . Will there be any state(s) for which ξ will be zero?

13. For a spherically symmetric 3D potential, consider a state with l = 1. Find the matrix representation of the
operators Lx , Ly , Lz , L2 in the basis of the eigenvectors of Lz , L2 .
14. With the set-up of Q13, if one measures Lx on a state √1 (1, 2, 1) with l = 1, what is the probability to obtain
6
zero.

15. For a 1D quantum mechanical harmonic oscillator at ground state, calculate the probability to find the particle
in a classically forbidden region. Will the probability increase or decrease if the oscillator is in the first excited
state.
16. Estimate the ground state energy of 1D harmonic oscillator using uncertainty principle.