PHYS851 Quantum Mechanics I, Fall 2009

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT 3: Solutions

Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics
1. [10pts] The trace of an operator is defined as T r{A} =
set.

m hm|A|mi,

where {|mi} is a suitable basis

(a) Prove that the trace is independent of the choice of basis.

Answer:
Let {|mi} and {|em i}
Pbe two independent
P basis sets for our Hilbert space.
We must show that m hem |A|em i = m hm|A|mi.
Proof:
X
hem |A|em i =
m

mm m

mm m

m m

m m

X
m

X
m

hem |m ihm |A|m ihm |em i

(1)

hm |em ihem |m ihm |A|m i

(2)

hm |m ihm |A|m i

(3)

m m hm |A|m i

(4)

hm |A|m i

(5)

hm|A|mi

(6)

(b) Prove the linearity of the trace operation by proving T r{aA + bB} = aT r{A} + bT r{B}.
Answer:

T r{aA + bB} =

X
hm|aA + bB|mi

(7)

(ahm|A|mi + bhm|B|mi)

(8)

X
X
hm|A|mi + b
hm|B|mi

(9)

= a

= a T r{A} + b T r{B}

(10)

(c) Prove the cyclic property of the trace by proving T r{ABC} = T r{BCA} = T r{CAB}.
Answer:
First, if T r{ABC} = T r{BCA} then it follows that T r{BCA} = T r{CAB}, so we need only
prove the first identity.
T r{ABC} =

X
hm|ABC|mi

(11)

mm m

mm m

hm|A|m ihm |B|m ihm |C|mi

(12)

hm |C|mihm|A|m ihm |B|m i

(13)

= T r{CAB}

(14)

2. Consider the system with three physical states {|1i, |2i, |3i}. In this basis, the Hamiltonian matrix
is:

1 2i 1
(15)
H = 2i 2 2i
1 2i 1
Find the eigenvalues {1 , 2 , 3 } and eigenvectors {|1 i, |2 i, |3 i} of H. Assume that the initial
state of the system is |(0)i = |1i. Find the three components h1|(t)i, h2|(t)i, and h3|(t)i. Give
all of your answers in proper Dirac notation.
Answer:
The eigenvalues are solutions to
det |H ~I| = 0

(16)

Taking the determinate in Mathematica gives

4 + 4 2 3 = 0

(17)

( 2 4 4) = 0

(18)

which factorizes as
which has as its solutions
1 = 2(1

2)

2 = 0

3 = 2(1 + 2)

(19)
(20)
(21)

the corresponding eigenvectors are

1
|1 i = (|1i + 2i|2i + |3i)
2
1
|2 i = (|1i + |3i)
2

1
|3 i = (|1i 2i|2i + |3i)
2

(22)
(23)
(24)

The components of |(t)i are found via |(t)i = eiHt |(0)|i, giving


1
2 + ei2(1 2)t + ei2(1+ 2)t
4


i 
h2|(t)i = ei2(1 2)t ei2(1+ 2)t
2 2


1
h3|(t)i =
2 + ei2(1 2)t + ei2(1+ 2)t
4

h1|(t)i =

The mathematic script I used to work this problem is on the following page:

(25)
(26)
(27)

3. Cohen-Tannoudji: pp 203-206: problems 2.2, 2.6, 2.7

2.2 (a) The operator y is hermitian:

 
 

0 i
0 i
0 i

y =
=
=
= y
i 0
i 0
i 0
We find the eigenvalues via det |y I| = 0:

 i
det 
i



 = 2 1 = 0


(28)

(29)

The solutions are = 1 and = 1.

Let the corresponding eigenvectors be |+i and |i, so that
y |i = |i.

(30)

Hit this equation with the bra h1| and insert the projector onto the {|1i, |2i} basis:
(h1|y |1i 1) h1|i h1|y |2ih2|i = 0

(31)

inserting the values of the matrix elements of y then gives:

h1|i + ih2|i = 0

(32)

a non-normalized solution is then

h1|i = i

h2|i = 1

(33)
(34)

the normalized eigenvectors are then given, up to arbitrary overall phase-factors, by

|+i =
|i =

1
(i|1i |2i)
2
1
(i|1i + |2i)
2

(35)
(36)

(b) The projectors are given by I = |ih|. In matrix form, in the {|1i, |2i} basis, these are


h1|ih|1i h1|ih|2i
I =
(37)
h2|ih|1i h2|ih|2i
!
i 1
i i
=

2 2
2 2
1
i
1
1

2 2
2 2

1
i

2
2
1
2i
2

2 = I and I + I = I:
we need to show that I

 1 i   1 i 
2
2
2
2
2
I
=
i
i
1
1
2
2

 21 12
i
i
+

4
4
4
4
=
1
1
+
4i 4i
4 4
 1
i

2
2
=
1
2i
2
= I

(38)

(39)

(40)
(41)
(42)
(43)

I+ + I =

1
2

+ 2i

2i
1
2

+ 21
2i


1 0
=
0 1
= I
=

1
2

+ 2i

(c) The results for M and Ly are attached.

1
2

2i

i

2i + 2
1
1
2 + 2

+ 2i
1
2

(44)
(45)
(46)
(47)

2_2M.nb

1
H* Enter the matrix M *L
M = 882, I Sqrt@2D<, 8-I Sqrt@2D, 3<<;
MatrixForm@MD

In[190]:=

i
2
j
j
j
j
!!!
k - 2

!!!
2 y
z
z
z
z
3 {

Out[191]//MatrixForm=

H* now compute the Hermitian conjugate and make sure it is self-adjoint *L

In[192]:=

MatrixForm@Conjugate@Transpose@MDDD
i
2
j
j
j
j
!!!
-
2
k

!!!
2 y
z
z
z
z
3 {

Out[192]//MatrixForm=

H* Now find the eigenvalues *L

In[198]:=

y = Solve@Det@M - w IdentityMatrix@2DD 0D;

H* extract the eigenvalues from y *L
w1 = w . y@@1, 1DD

In[213]:=

Out[213]=

1
w2 = w . y@@2, 1DD

In[214]:=

Out[214]=

4
H* now we find the eigenvectors the old-fashioned way*L
H* e1 and e2 will be the normalized eigenvectors *L
In[227]:=

y = Solve@HHM - w1 IdentityMatrix@2DL.81, c<L@@1DD 0, cD

Out[227]=

99c
!!! ==
2
81, c . y@@1DD<
e1 =

Sqrt@Conjugate@81, c . y@@1DD<D.81, c . y@@1DD<D

In[229]:=

Out[229]=

9$%%%%%%
,
!!! =
3
3

2_2M.nb

In[230]:=

y = Solve@HHM - w2 IdentityMatrix@2DL.81, c<L@@1DD 0, cD

88c -

Out[230]=

!!!
2 <<

81, c . y@@1DD<
e2 =

Sqrt@Conjugate@81, c . y@@1DD<D.81, c . y@@1DD<D

In[231]:=

Out[231]=

1
2
9
=
!!! , - $%%%%%%
3
3
H* we can form the projectors via the outer-product function *L

In[243]:=

I1 = Outer@Times, Conjugate@e1D, e1D;

MatrixForm@I1D
2
i

j
3
j
j
j
!!!!
j
j -
2

k
3

2 y

z
3
z
z
z
z
z
1

3
{
!!!!

Out[244]//MatrixForm=

In[245]:=

I2 = Outer@Times, Conjugate@e2D, e2D;

MatrixForm@I2D
1
i
j
3
j
j
j
!!!!
j
j
2
k 3

2 y
-
z
3
z
z
z
z
z
2

3
{
!!!!

Out[246]//MatrixForm=

H* To verify the othogonality relation, we compute Conjugate@e1D.e2

In[251]:=

Conjugate@e1D.e2
Out[251]=

0
H* Lastly, we verify the closure relation *L
In[252]:=

MatrixForm@I1 + I2D
Out[252]//MatrixForm=

1 0
N
0 1

*L

2_2Ly.nb 9/28/09

H* First we enter the matrix Ly *L

Ly = 880, Sqrt@2D, 0<, 8-Sqrt@2D, 0, Sqrt@2D<, 80, -Sqrt@2D, 0<<;

2I
MatrixForm@LyD

0
i
j
j
j
j
j
j

j
j

!!!!
j
j
2
j
j
j
j
j
j 0
k

-
!!!!
2

!!!!
2

y
z
z
z
z
z
z

-
z
!!!! z
z
2 z
z
z
z
z
z
0 z
{
0

H* Now we take the transpose and complex conjugate *L

MatrixForm@Conjugate@Transpose@LyDDD . Conjugate@D

i
0
j
j
j
j
j
j

j
j

!!!!
j
j
2
j
j
j
j
j 0
k

-
!!!!
2

!!!!
2

y
z
z
z
z
z
z

-
z
!!!! z
z
2 z
z
z
z
z
0 z
{
0

H* By comparison, we see it is Hermitian *L

H* This the the matrix whose determinant gives the spectrum of Ly *L

MatrixForm@Ly - w IdentityMatrix@3DD

i -w
j
j
j
j
j
j

j
j

!!!!
j
j
2
j
j
j
j
j 0
k

-
!!!!
2

-w

!!!!
2

y
z
z
z
z
z
z

-
z
!!!! z
z
2 z
z
z
z
z
-w z
{
0

H* Here we let mathematica solve the characteristic polynomial *L,

y = Solve@Det@Ly - w IdentityMatrix@3DD 0D;
Solve::svars : Equations may not give solutions for all "solve" variables.

H* so the eigenvalues are: *L

More

2_2Ly.nb 9/28/09
w1 = w . y@@1, 1DD
w2 = w . y@@2, 1DD
w3 = w . y@@3, 1DD
0
-

H* "Eigensystem" will give the eigenvalues and Hun-normalized eigenvectors *L

y = Eigensystem@LyD;
e1p = y@@2, 1DD;
e2p = y@@2, 2DD;
e3p = y@@2, 3DD;

H* To normalize them, we compute the normalization constants *L

n1 = Sqrt@Conjugate@e1pD.e1pD;
n2 = Sqrt@Conjugate@e2pD.e2pD;
n3 = Sqrt@Conjugate@e3pD.e3pD;

H* The normalized eigenvectors are then: *L

e1 = e1p n1
e2 = e2p n2
e3 = e3p n3

1
1
9
!!! , 0,
!!! =
2
2
1

1
9- ,
=
!!! ,
2
2
2
1

1
9- , -
=
!!! ,
2
2
2
H* Here we form the projectors by using Mathematicas outer-product function *L
I1 = Outer@Times, Conjugate@e1D, e1D;
I2 = Outer@Times, Conjugate@e2D, e2D;
I3 = Outer@Times, Conjugate@e3D, e3D;

2_2Ly.nb 9/28/09

MatrixForm@I1D
MatrixForm@I2D
MatrixForm@I3D

i
j
2
j
j
j
j
j
0
j
j
j
j
1
j
k 2

0
0
0

i
j
4
j
j
j
j
j

j
j

!!!!
j
j
2 2
j
j
j
j
1
j
j -
4
k

1
i

j
4
j
j
j
j
j

j
j
-
!!!!
j
j
2 2
j
j
j
j
1
j -
4
k

y
2 z
z
z
z
z
0 z
z
z
z
z
1
z
2 {

-
!!!!
2

!!!!
2

y
z
z
z
z
z
z

z
-
!!!! z
z
2 2 z
z
z
z
z
1
z
z

4
{
1
-
4

1 y
-
4 z
z
z
z
z
z

!!!! z
z
2 2 z
z
z
z
z
1
z
4
{

!!!!
2

-
!!!!
2

H* Here we square the matrices. By comparison we see that Ij 2 =Ij *L

MatrixForm@MatrixPower@I1, 2DD
MatrixForm@MatrixPower@I2, 2DD
MatrixForm@MatrixPower@I3, 2DD

i
j
2
j
j
j
j
j
0
j
j
j
j
1
j
k 2

0
0
0

1
i
j
4
j
j
j
j
j

j
j

!!!!
j
j
2 2
j
j
j
j
1
j -
4
k

i
j
4
j
j
j
j
j

j
j
-
!!!!
j
j
j
j 2 2
j
j
1
j
j -
4
k

y
2 z
z
z
z
z
0 z
z
z
z
1 z
z

2 {

-
!!!!
2

1
-
4

!!!!
2

!!!!
2

-
!!!!
2

!!!!
2 2

y
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
{

1 y
-
4 z
z
z
z
z
z

!!!! z
z
2 2 z
z
z
z
z
1
z
z

4
{

H* Lastly, we sum the projectors to verify the closure relation *L

MatrixForm@I1 + I2 + I3D

1 0 0y
i
j
z
j
z
j
j
0 1 0z
z
j
z
j
z
0
0
1
k
{

2.6 Let

x =
By definition we have
eix =

0 1
1 0

(48)

X
(i)m m
x
m!
m=0

For the m = 0 term, we have x0 = I, and for the


0
2
x =
1

1
=
0
= I

(49)

m = 1 term, x1 = x . For the m = 2 term, we find



1
0 1
(50)
0
1 0

0
(51)
1
(52)

From this it follows that x3 = x and x4 = I, and so on. So we see that all odd powers give x and
all even powers give I. Thus we can write
ix

X
X
(i)2m
(i)2m+1
= I
+ x
(2m)!
(2m + 1)!
m=0
m=0

X
X
(1)m ()2m+1
(1)m ()2m
+ ix
= I
(2m)!
(2m + 1)!

(53)
(54)

m=0

m=0

= I cos() + ix sin()

where the last step is possible because we recognize the series expansions for sin and cos.

(55)

2.7 We can start by computing y2 and seeing what


0
2
y =
i

1
=
0
= I

happens


i
0 i
0
i 0

0
1

(56)
(57)
(58)

Since the previous derivation followed strictly from x2 = I, then the same result must be valid for
y .
eiy = I cos() + iy sin()
(59)
For u = x + y , here we start by computing u :


0
i
u =
+ i
0

(60)

Computing the square gives

u2 =

0
i
+ i
0



2 + 2
0
=
0
2 + 2


1 0
=
0 1
= I


0
i
+ i
0

(61)
(62)
(63)
(64)

Thus it follows immediately that

eiu = I cos() + iu sin()

ix 2


0.42 0.91i
0.91i 0.42


0.54 0.84i
= I cos(1) + ix sin(1) =
0.84i 0.54

e2ix = I cos(2) + ix sin(2) =

eix

(65)

0.54 0.84i
0.84i 0.54



= =


0.42 0.91i
=
0.91i 0.42

0.54 0.84i
0.84i 0.54

= e2ix



0
i+1
ei(x +y ) = exp
i1
0


0.16
0.70 + 0.70i
=
0.70 + 0.70i
0.16
8

(66)
(67)

(68)
(69)
(70)
(71)
(72)

iy

ix iy

0.54 0.84
0.84 0.54

0.54 0.84i
0.84i 0.54



0.54 0.84
=
0.84 0.54


0.29 0.71i 0.45 + 0.45i
=
0.45 + 0.45i 0.29 + 0.71i
6= ei(x +y )

(73)


(74)
(75)
(76)

4. Cohen-Tannoudji ;pp341-350: problem 3.14

a. From inspection, the eigenvalues of H are ~0 and 2~0 , with the latter being doubly degenerate. The eigenstates are |u1 i, |u2 i, and |u3 i, with the first being the non-degenerate state. Thus
a measurement of the energy would yield ~0 with probability 1/2 and 2~0 with probability 1/2.


1
1
3
hHi = ~0 1 + 2
= ~0
2
2
2


1
5
1
= ~2 2
hH 2 i = ~2 02 1 + 4
2
2
2
r
p
5 9
1
H = hH 2 i hHi2 = ~0
= ~0
2 4
2

b. The eigenvalues of A are a and a, with eigenstates |a, 1i = |u1 i, |a, 2i =

|ai =

c.

1 (||u2 i
2

|u3 i)

1 (|u2 i
2

+ |u3 i), and

Clearly, the initial state is a superposition of |a, 1i and |a, 2i, so the probability to obtain a
is 1 and to obtain a is 0. Thus after the measurement, the state will remain unchanged.
ei0 t
ei20 t
ei20 t
|(t)i = |u1 i +
|u2 i +
|u3 i
2
2
2

d. Because the initial state is a superposition of degenerate eigenstates of A, we know that

hAi(t) = a

ei20 t
ei20 t
ei0 t
|u1 i +
|u2 i +
|u3 i
B|(t)i = b (|u1 ihu2 | + |u2 ihu1 | + |u3 ihu3 |)
2
2
2
 i20 t

e
ei0 t
ei20 t
= b
|u1 i + |u2 i +
|u3 i
2
2
2


so that
h(t)|B|(t)i = b

ei0 t ei0 t 1
+ +
2 2
2 2 4

=b


1
1
+ cos(0 t)
4
2

e. From the previous problem, we can see that a measurement of A at time t will yield a. The
eigenvalues of B are b and b, with eigenstates |b, 1i = |u3 i, |b, 2i = 12 (|u1 i + |u2 i), and
|bi =

1 (|u1 i
2

|u2 i).

i2 t
ei0 t
+ e 220
2

2
3
8 + 4 cos(0 t)

Projecting |(t)i onto |bi gives hb|(t)i =

Taking the square modulus gives p(b) =

By probability conservation, we have then p(b) = 1 p(b) =

10

5
8

2
4

cos(0 t)