OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY, ILE-IFE

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ENGINEERING PHYSICS

PHY 309: QUANTUM MECHANICS I
Second Semester Examination, 2012-2013 Session
Time Allowed: 1 hour.
Instruction: Answer Three (3) Questions.

(b) A particle moves in a 3-Dimensional potential given by

1 m 2 z 2
for 0 < x < Lx and 0 < y < Ly
V (~r) = 2
+

Section A.

i. (2 marks)
Write down the time-independent
Schroedinger equation
ii. (2 marks)
Use method of separation of variables to find the corresponding ODE.
iii. (2 marks)
Obtain the wave-function of the
system
iv. (2 marks)
Write an expression for the total
energy in terms of the quantum numbers nx , ny ,
and nz

1. (12 marks)
With appropriate mathematical equations,
state three basic postulates and some corollaries of quantum
mechanics
2. (a) Using equations for electrostatic force and centripetal
force,
i. (6 marks)
show that the radius of an electrons
orbit in hydrogen is given by
rn =

40 ~2 n2
m0 e2

ii. (3 marks)
Hence, calculate the Bohr radius
using the equation above.
(b) (3 marks)

Prove the commutation relation:

h
i h
i h
i
C = A,
C + B,
C
A + B,

Solutions-Section A
1.

Section B.
1. (a)

d2
+ (x2 ) = , the
dx2
x2

normalized eigenfunction is given by e 2 Hn (x), where the

eigenvalue = 2n + 1, and n is integer taking values 0, 1, 2...
For the differential Equation

i. (2 marks)
What is a Ladder operator?
ii. (2 marks)
Using the commutation relations or
otherwise, show that if |j, mi is an eigenstate of Jz
then J |j, mi is also an eigenstate
iii. (2 marks)
derive expressions for J .

(b) given that |j, mi is an eigenstate of the Hamiltonian

1 2
1
H =
J 2 + Jy2 +
J . Hint J+ J + J J+ =
2I1 x
2I2 z
2
2
Jx + Jy
i. (2 marks)
Calculate the energy level and the
degeneracy
ii. (2 marks)
Show that when I2 = I1 , all the
states become degenerate.
(c) (2 marks)
calculate two possible values for the gyromagnetic ratio of an electron in a p-orbital. Hint:
j =ls
2. (a) Show that, if the potential energy in the Schrodinger
Equation can be written as a simple sum of terms that
depend on only one component, i.e. V(q1 , q2 , q3 ) =
3
P
Vi (qi )
i=1

i. (2 marks)
the wave function can be written simple direct product of single variable terms
3
Q
i (qi )
(q1 , q2 , q3 ) =
i=1

ii. (2 marks)

the energy of the system can be

3
P
written as a simple sum E =
Eni where ni is
i=1

the quantum number associated with qi .

Postulate 1: State of a system

The state of any physical system is specified, at each
time t, by a state vector |(t)i in a Hilbert space H;
|(t)i contains (and serves as the basis to extract) all
the needed information about the system. Any superposition of state vectors is also a state vector.
Postulate 2: Observables and operators
To every physically measurable quantity A, called an
observable or dynamical variable, there corresponds a
whose eigenvectors form
linear Hermitian operator A
a complete basis.
Postulate 3: Measurements and eigenvalues of
operators
The measurement of an observable A may be represented formally by the action of A on a state vector
|(t)i. The only possible result of such a measurement
is one of the eigenvalues an (which are real) of the op If the result of a measurement of A on a state
erator A.
|(t)i is an , the state of the system immediately after
the measurement changes to |n i:
A |(t)i = an |n i
where an = hn |(t)i.
Postulate 4: Probabilistic outcome of measurements
For Discrete spectra: When measuring an observable
A of a system in a state |i, the probability of obtaining one of the nondegenerate eigenvalues an of the
corresponding operator A is given by
Pn (an ) =

h|n |i |2
|an |2
=
h|i
h|i

Solutions-Section B

where |n i is the eigenstate of A with eigenvalue an .

If the eigenvalue an is m-degenerate, Pn becomes
m
P

Pn (an ) =

m
P

h|nj |i |2

j=1

h|i

(j)

|an |2

j=1

h|i

The act of measurement changes the state of the system from |i to |n i. If the system is already in an
eigenstate |n i of A , a measurement of A yields with
certainty the corresponding eigenvalue an :

1 (a)

i. Ladder operators also known as raising or lowering

operators increase or decrease the eigenstate of a
component of the angular momemtum operator.
e.g. For total angular momentum J~ the ladder
operators are J+ and J .

J = Jx iJy

A |n i = an |n i
.
For Continuous spectra, the probability density that a
measurement of A yields a value between a and a + da
on a system which is initially in a state |i:

Ladder operator are not hermitian operators, but

they are adjoint to each other J = (J+ ) . also

J |j, mi = Cm
|j, m 1i

|(a)|2
|(a)|2
dP (a)
=
= R
da
h|i
|(a0 )|2 da

ii. firstly, we investigate the commutation relations,

Postulate 5: Time evolution of a system

The time evolution of the state vector |n i of a system
is governed by the time-dependent Schrdinger equation
i~

[Jz , J ] |j, mi = Jz J |j, mi J Jz |j, mi

= Jz (J |j, mi) m~ (J |j, mi)

|(t)i
|(t)i
=H
t

= ~ (J |j, mi)

is the Hamiltonian operator corresponding to

where H
the total energy of the system.
2. (a)

i. From the Bohr postulates,

m0 vrn

thus

= n~

thus
mke2 r = n2 ~2

Jz (J |j, mi)

thus
rn = r

=
=

n 2 ~2
mke2
40 n2 ~2
m 0 e2

ii. the Bohr radius a0 is defined such that rn = a0 n2 ,

thus
r1 = a0

40 ~2
m0 e2

40 ~2
m0 e2

m~ (J |j, mi) ~ (J |j, mi)

~ (m 1) (J |j, mi)

it follows that (J |j, mi) is an eigenstate of Jz .

iii.
+
J+ |j, mi = Cm
|j, m + 1i

J |j, mi = Cm
|j, m 1i

thus
a0

recall

(b)
[A + B, C]

(A + B) C C (A + B)

(AC + BC) (CA + CB)

(AC CA) + (BC CB)

[A, C] + [B, C]

Jx2 + Jy2 = J 2 Jz2

J 2 |j, mi = j(j + 1)~2 |j, mi Jz |j, mi = m~ |j, mi

from the definition of ladder operators above

Now,


J+ J


1
1 2
H |j, mi =
(J+ J + J J+ ) +
J |j, mi
4I1
2I2 z
~2
=
(j(j + 1) m(m 1))
4I1
~2
+
(j(j + 1) m(m + 1))
4I1
~2 2
m
+
2I2


m2
j(j + 1) m2
= ~2

+
|j, mi
2I1
2I1
2I2

(Jx + iJy ) (Jx iJy )

= Jx2 + Jy2 i [Jx , Jy ]

= Jx2 + Jy2 i (i~Jz )
= Jx2 + Jy2 + ~Jz
= J 2 Jz2 + ~Jz
J J+

(Jx iJy ) (Jx + iJy )

= Jx2 + Jy2 + i [Jx , Jy ]

= Jx2 + Jy2 + i (i~Jz )
= Jx2 + Jy2 ~Jz

from H |j, mi = E |j, mi, it follows that



j(j + 1) m2
m2
E = Ej,m = ~2

+
2I1
2I1
2I2

= J 2 Jz2 ~Jz

J+ J |j, mi = J+ Cm
|j, m 1i

= Cm
(J+ |j, m 1i)
+
= Cm
Cm1 |j, m 1i


2
= J Jz2 + ~Jz |j, mi

since Ej,m = Ej,m , then |j, mi and |j, mi are

degenerate states, it is doubly degenerate. degeneracy=2.
ii. when I2 = I1 , then


j(j + 1)
2
H |j, mi = ~
|j, mi
2I1
thus

= ~2 (j(j + 1) m(m 1)) |j, mi

thus
+
Cm
Cm1

= ~2 (j(j + 1) m(m 1))

+
J J+ |j, mi = J Cm
|j, m + 1i
+
= Cm
(J |j, m + 1i)

+
= Cm+1
Cm
|j, m 1i


2
2
= J Jz ~Jz |j, mi

Ej

all states have collapsed and have the same Energy.

There is 2j + 1 states, thus degeneracy=2j + 1

= ~2 (j(j + 1) m(m + 1)) |j, mi

thus

+
Cm+1
Cm

= Ej,m

(c) the expression for the gyromagnetic ratio is given by

2

= ~ (j(j + 1) m(m + 1))

g =1+

j(j + 1) l(l + 1) + s(s + 1)

2j(j + 1)

put m m 1,this equation becomes

1
for a p-orbital, l = 1 for an electron s = , thus when
2
1
3
j = l + s,j = 1 + =
2
2

+
Cm
Cm1 = ~2 (j(j + 1) m(m 1))

There are two constants, thus for simplicity, let

g

Cm

+
= Cm1
p

Cm
= ~ j(j + 1) m(m 1)
p
+
Cm = ~ j(j + 1) m(m + 1)
p
J+ |j, mi = ~ j(j + 1) m(m + 1) |j, m + 1i
p
J |j, mi = ~ j(j + 1) m(m 1) |j, m 1i

(b)

when j = l s,j = 1 +

2 (a)
H

=
=

=
=

i. from the Hamiltonian

1
1 2
J 2 + Jy2 +
J
2I1 x
2I2 z
1
1 2
(J+ J + J J+ ) +
J
4I1
2I2 z

3 3
1 1
( + 1) 1(1 + 1) + ( + 1)
2
2
2 2
1+
3 3
2 ( + 1)
2 2
4/3
1
1
=
2
2

1 1
1 1
( + 1) 1(1 + 1) + ( + 1)
2 2
1+ 2 2
1 1
2 ( + 1)
2 2
2/3

i. given that the potential energy V (q1 , q2 , q3 ) =

3
P
Vi (qi ), is variable separable and the kinetic eni=1

ergy T =

3
P
p2i
, the Hamiltonian H = T + V is
i=1 2mi

given by
H

(b)
3
3
X
X
p2i
+
Vi (qi )
2mi i=1
i=1

3  2
X
pi
+ Vi (qi )
2mi
i=1

T +V =

3
X

Hi (qi )

where Hi =

i=1

thus we can write V (~r) = Vx (x) + Vy (y) + Vz (z)

where

p2i
+ Vi (qi )
2mi

(
0
Vx (x) =
+
(
0
Vy (y) =
+

Thus the Hamiltonian can be written as a sum

of single variable or single particle Hamiltonian.
since
H = E

= Hj (qj )(q1 , q2 , q3 )
=

3
X

Hj (qj )

j=1

3
Y

3
X

i (qi ) Hj (qj )j (qj )

i=1,i6=j

3 
X

3
Y

which is an eigenvalue equation, with the eigenvalue Eni , being the Energy associated with variable qi in state ni .ni is therefore the associated
quantum number with qi . Thus,
= E
3
X
j=1

Therefore,
E=

3
X
j=1

The Schrodinger equation is given by



~2 2
+ V (~r) = E
H =

2m


~2 2
=

+ Vx (x) + Vy (y) + Vz (z)

2m
= E

i=1,i6=j

the terms in the summation depend on only one

variable.
Since qi are independent variables, then
1
Hj (qj )j (qj ) = constant, thus the wavej (qj )
function can be written as a simple product of
single variable terms.
1
Hj (qj )j (qj ) = En,i , then, it follows
ii. Since
j (qj )
that
Hj (qj )j (qj ) = En,i j (qj )

i (qi ) Hj (qj )j (qj )

1
Hj (qj )j (qj )
j (qj )

1
H

for 0 < y < Ly

(x, y, z) = X(x)Y (y)Z(z)

i (qi )

j (qj )
j (qj )
j=1

j=1

i=1

j=1
3
X

3
Y

for 0 < x < Lx

1
m 2 z 2
2
Since the potential energy can be written as a sum
of terms involving only one variable, the wavefunction of the system can be written as
Vz (z)

3
Q
1
then H = E. Let (q1 , q2 , q3 ) =
i (qi ),

i=1

1
H

i. The potential energy is given by

2 2

2 m z for 0 < x < Lx

V (~r) =
and 0 < y < Ly

Eni

Eni

ii. From the time-indepedent SE above

 2


2
2
~2
+
+
+
H =
2m x2
y 2
z 2
(Vx (x) + Vy (y) + Vz (z))


~2 2
=

+
V
(x)
XY Z +
x
2m x2


~2 2

+
V
(y)
XY Z +
y
2m y 2


~2 2

+
V
(z)
XY Z
z
2m z 2
=
E (XY Z)


1
~2 2 X
H =

+ Vx (x) +

2mX x2


~2 2 Y

+ Vy (y) +
2mY y 2


~2 2 Z
+ Vz (z)

2mZ z 2
=E
Thus it follows that,


~2 2 X

+ Vx (x) = Ex
2mX x2


~2 2 Y

+ Vy (y) = Ey
2mY y 2


~2 2 Z

+ Vz (z) = Ez
2mZ z 2

The wave-function exist only in the region 0 < x <

Lx and 0 < y < Ly , outside this region (x, y, z) =
0. The ODE are thus


~2 2 X

= Ex
2mX x2


~2 2 Y

= Ey
2mY y 2


~2 2 Z
1
2 2

+
m
z
= Ez
2mZ z 2
2

, Since X(x) = B sin kx x = B sin

Z
0

=
=

iii. Consider X(x), in the region 0 < x < Lx , V (x) =

0,


~2 2 X
= Enx

2mX x2

Consider X(x), in the region x > Lx and x < 0,

V (x) = +, thus
for x > Lx and x < 0

The wave function and there first derivative are

continuous. At x = 0, X(0) = 0
X(0) = A cos 0 + B sin 0 = 0
A=0

At x = Lx , X(Lx ) = 0
X(Lx ) = B sin Lx kx = 0
Lx kx = n

n = 1, 2, 3...

n
Lx

Since
2m
Ex
~2
then
 2
2m
n
= 2 Ex,nx =
~
Lx

2
2
nx
~
Ex,nx =
2m Lx
kx2 =

2
kx,n
x

Normalization requires that

Z
Z Lx
2
X(x) dx =
X(x)2 dx = 1


Lx
Lx
n
21
x
sin 2 x
B
2
2n
Lx 0



Lx
n
21
(Lx 0)
sin 2 Lx sin 0
B
2
2n
Lx
Lx
B2
2
thus
r
2
Lx

2
n
sin
x
Lx
Lx
To obtain Y (y) Since the potential function Vy (y)
is similar to Vx (x), and have similar boundary, the
wave-function Y (y) is can be obtained using by put
xy
s
2
n
Y (y) =
sin
y
Ly
Ly
X(x) =

X(x) = A cos kx + B sin kx

kx = kx,nx =

Lx

2m
Ex , the solutions for X(x) are
~2

thus

dx

finally,

2m
2X
+ 2 Ex X
x2
~

which implies that

2

Y (0) = Y (Ly ) = 0

which implies that

n
x
Lx



2 n
2
x dx
=
B sin
Lx
0

ZLx
1
n
= B2
1 cos 2 x dx
2
Lx
Z

X(0) = X(Lx ) = 0

X(x) = 0


B sin

The boundary condition are

let kx2 =

Lx

n
x, thus
Lx

or you can repeat the entire procedure above

Now Consider Z(z),


1
~2 2 Z
2 2
+ m z
= Ez

2mZ z 2
2
put z = u, where is a constant. It follows that
2
1 2
= 2 2 it follows that
2
z
u


~2 1 2 Z
1
2 2 2
Ez =

+ m u
2mZ 2 u2
2
2
2
2 2 4
2mZ
Z
m 2
Ez Z =

u Z

2
2
~
u
~2
r
m2 2 4
~
let
=
1,
i.e.

=
,
~2
m
2mZ2
2mZ ~
2
therefore, =
Ez =
Ez =
Ez
~2
~2 m
~
then
2Z
u2 Z = Z
u2
By comparision with the ODE provided, it follows
that
u2
Z(u) = Zn (u) = exp 2 Hn (u)

2
1 ~



z2

~
2 m
Z(z) = exp
Hn
z
m

where Hn (u) are the Hermites polynomial, also

=
thus

2
Ez = 2nz + 1
~



1
Ez = Ez,nz = ~ nz +
2

The wave function of the system is thus

s
r
2
2
n
n
(x, y, z)
sin
x
sin
y
Lx
Lx
Ly
Ly

exp

1 ~

2 m

z2


Hn

~
z
m

iv. the energy of the system is given by

Enx ,ny ,nz

=
=

Ex,nx + Ey,ny Ez,nz

!


n2y
1
~2 2 n2x
+
+
~
n
+
z
2m
L2x
L2y
2