Ben Sauerwine Quantum Mechanics 2 Homework 8 2) Suppose that with a suitable choice of orthonormal basis the matrices representing

a rotation group of a 10-dimensional representation are block diagonal with a 3 by 3 block, a 1 by 1 block, and a 6 by 6 block along the main diagonal. Assume that only j (not half-integer) representations are present. a) Present an argument that the individual block matrices representing J x , J y , and J z operatorse.g., the 3 by 3 matrices of the first blocksatisfy the usual commutation relations J x , J y = iJ z , etc.

Since this matrix is made up of only integer-spin components, its irreducible part must be composed of a composition of spin 0 (1 by 1), spin 1(3 by 3) and spin 2 (5 by 5) components. If anything larger existed, then it could not be bock diagonal as prescribed. In this case, then, to produce a 10 by 10 matrix of this form, I need (a 3 3 representation) 0 (a 6 6 representation) . There are two ways to produce a 3 by 3 representation: 0 0 0 , a trivial composition of singlets, or 1, a 3 by 3 spin 1 system. This is trivially true in the 0 0 0 case: as I will show in part b, J x = J y = J z = 0 for the 1-dimensional system, so obviously the commutation relation holds. In the spin-1 case, given that the matrix is block diagonal there is no reason to believe its spin operators should interact with the other blocks. Thus, given that it is constructed from only a spin-1 component, there is no reason to believe that it would not obey the usual commutation relations for a spin-1 system. b) What matrices (i.e., entries) will be present in the 1 by 1 block for J x , J y , v and J z , and for R( ) ? Give some reasons for your answer. The J z operator on a vector s, m gives hm . This being a spin-zero subsystem with

m = 0 , J z = 0 . J x and J y are linear combinations of the raising and lowering operators, each of which returns zero if it is not possible to raise or lower the spin state m beyond its current position. In this case it is certainly not possible to change v m from its zero state, so both J x = J y = 0 on this subsystem. Finally, R( ) in the one-dimensional case must be just 1, since a rotation in one dimension doesnt really have much place to rotate the vector to.
c) What is the spectrum of J 2 ? Indicate both eigenvalues and degeneracies. The answer is not unique, so discuss the various possibilities.

Let me first write down all permutations of the sub-matrices that could occur: 0 0 0 3 3 : 1 1 1 : {0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 66 : 11 20

J 2 s, m = h 2 s(s + 1) This indicates that there are six possible sets of eigenvalues and degeneracies. Note that each spin-0 brings exactly one degenerate zero eigenvalue, each spin-1 brings exactly three 2h 2 eigenvalues, and each spin-2 brings exactly five 6h 2 eigenvalues. Thus, a table of the possible sets of eigenvalues and degeneracies is below: eigenvalues deg eneracies {0} {10} 2 {7,3} {0,2h }

,6h 2 3) The four lowest energy levels of an atom containing an odd number of electrons, so that only the half-odd-integer j representations need be considered, have degeneracies of 2, 6, 2 and 4. What can you say for sure about the corresponding j values, and what can you say with considerable confidence? Explain. 1 5 1 3 The degeneracies indicate maximum total angular momentum of for 2 2 2 2 these energy levels, indicating that they may contain up to 2 electrons 2-degenerate levels, 6 in the 4-degenerate levels, and 10 in the 6-degenerate level (each electron 1 may contribute , but no available position may contain duplicate electrons of the 2 same spin). Since the atom is spherically symmetric, total angular momentum J must be a good quantum number. Because of this, it is possible to diagonalize J and the Hamiltonian H in the same basis. Now each of these degeneracies corresponds to a dimension of the energy eigenspace.

{0,2h

{0,2h {0,6h {0,2h {0,2h {0,2h

2

2 2 2 2 2

} } } } }

{4,6} {5,5} {7,3} {4,6} {1,9} {2,3,5}

While due to the fact that only half-odd-integer degeneracies are present, we can be 1 certain that the one-half spin levels correspond to levels with j = . For the other 2 5 3 two levels, however, we cant be totally certain of whether they are j = , levels 2 2 with accidental degeneracies. For example, the 6-degenerate level could in fact have 1 accidental degeneracies and be in fact composed of three j = irreducible 2 representations. 4) Cohen-Tannoudji, Ch. X, Complement G, exercise 1 (deuterium atom). In part (b) check that the total number of quantum states is given correctly by adding up the (2F+1) values. Consider a deuterium atom (composed of a nucleus of spin I = 1 and an electron). The electronic angular momentum is J = L + S, where L is the orbital angular momentum and S is its spin. The total angular momentum of the atom is F = J + I, where I is the nuclear spin. The eigenvalues of J 2 and F 2 are J (J + 1)h 2 and F (F + 1)h 2 respectively. a) What are the possible values of the quantum numbers J and F for a deuterium atom in the 1s ground state? 1 The electronic spin quantum number is certainly in the ground state, and its orbital 2 1 angular momentum is certainly 0, so J = L + S = . The nuclear spin is given as 1. Thus, 2 the total spin operator Fs values are in the range I J F I + J , so F may take on
1 3 the values , . 2 2 b) Same question for Deuterium in the 2p excited state. 1 1 3 Now L {0,1}, S = so may take on the values , . The nuclear spin is again given 2 2 2 as 1. By the same rules as part a, then, Fs values are in the range I J F I + J for 5 3 1 F , , . Counting the number of ways to get these, then, I note that the F values 2 2 2 corresponding to one-half and three-halves can be obtained from either the one-half or three-halves J values, so that they are two-degenerate. Then taking these values of 2F+1 twice, I get that 1 3 5 2F + 1 = 2 2 2 + 1 + 2 2 + 1 + 2 2 + 1 = 18 = (2L + 1)(2F + 1)(2I + 1) just as expected.

5) A sodium atom (one valence electron) is in a 2 P1 state with m J =

2

1 . What is 2

the probability that the valence electron has S z =

Sz =

1 (in units of h )? If 2

1 , what is the probability distribution for cos for this electron? Same 2 1 questions for the case in which m J = . 2 1 1 In this 2 P1 state, l = P 1 2 s + 1 = 2 s = j= . 2 2 2

Then, the product states are given by l , s; m J S z , S z . Certainly, there is no reason to believe that the spin portion would favor S z =
1 over 2

1 S z = , but the orbital portion might well favor m J S z = 0 or m J S z = 1 . 2 In order to compare these probabilities, I use Clebsch-Gordan coefficients in the commonly used notation J , M , which in this case is a linear combination of two states.

l =1 s =

1 1 , assume that m J = 2 2 1 case ml = 0 m s = (note ml + m s = m j l s J l + s ) 2 1 2 J= 1 1 1 1 , 1, ;0, 2 2 2 2

2

1 3 1 (note ml + ms = m j 2 ls J l+s)

case ml = 1 ms =
2

2 1 1 1 1 = , 1, ;1, 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 , the For the S z = case, with similar substitutions this time summing to J = 2 2

1 coefficient corresponding to m s = is 2 1 ms = is 2 1 1 1 1 1, ;0, , 2 2 2 2

2

1 1 1 1 1, ;1, , 2 2 2 2

2 and to 3

1 where I have used a table of Clebsch-Gordan 3 1 coefficients to find these. For the case where ml = 0 m s = , the probability 2 1 1 distribution would be 1, ;0, = Y10 ( , ) ; While the one-half spherical harmonic 2 2 =

doesnt really exist, in this case, it shouldnt affect the distribution on theta. Thus, I let it equal one and have 2 3 2 0 *0 Y1 ( , )Y1 ( , )d = P(cos ) = 2 cos . On the other hand, if the total spin is to be 0 1 1 1 2 1 for S z = as m J = , the probability distribution will be for S z = and 2 3 2 3 2 1 noted above. Now for my cosine distribution in the ml = 1 m s = case I 2 2 3 have Y11 ( , )Y1*1 ( , )d = P(cos ) = 1 cos 2 . 4 0 6) Cohen-Tannoudji, Ch. X, Complement G, Exercise 3 (two spin-half particles) Consider a system composed of two spin-half particles whose orbital variables are ignored. The Hamiltonian of the system is H = 1 S1z + 2 S 2 z where S1z and v v S 2 z are the projections of the spins S1 and S 2 of the two particles onto Oz and 1 and 2 are real constants. 1 [+ + + ] a) The initial state of the system at time t = 0 is (0) = 2 v v v 2 At time t, S 2 = (S1 + S 2 ) is measured. What results can be found, and with what probabilities? From Cohen-Tannoudji, I see that

B = B (t ) = c
n

n'

'

* n ', '

(t 0 )cn, (t 0 ) n ', ' B n,

i ( En ' En )(t t 0 ) h

B (t ) = c n ',t ' (t 0 )B n ', ' e

n'

i E n ' (t t 0 ) h

'

v v v 1 ( + + + )e0t S 2 = S 2 (t ) = S 2 2
The eigenvalues are v S 2 ( + + + ) = 2h 2 v S2( + + )= 0 with corresponding probabilities (respectively) 1 and 0: the energy of this initial state is zero, and so there is no fluctuation in it over time. b) If the initial state of the system is arbitrary, what Bohr frequencies v can appear in the evolution of S 2 ? Same question for S x = S1x + S 2 x .
1 E n E n ' for energies indexed n. 2h v v v 2 The energies for the eigenvectors of S 2 = S1 + S 2 are given by

Allowed Bohr frequencies are

H H

1 2 1

(+

+ + )= 0

( + + ) = (h1 h 2 ) ... 2 because

1 1 H + = h 1 + h 2 + 2 2 1 1 H + = h 1 + h 2 + 2 2 1 thus the only possible frequency is (1 2 ) . 2 1 (S + + S ) , then my matrix corresponding to this operator is If S x = S1x + S 2 x , S x = 2 ++ 0 1 1 0 + + + = 1 1 0 0 1 + , with eigenvectors (not normalized) and eigenvalues Sx + 2 1 0 0 1 + 0 1 1 0

1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 . To find the Bohr frequencies of 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 these, I first need the energies: these will be given by H ( + + + + + ) = 0 ...

H ( + + + + + + + ) = 0 ... H ( + + + ) = h(1 + 2 ) ... H ( + + + ) = h(1 2 ) ...

because h (1 + 2 ) + + 2 h H + = (1 2 ) + 2 h H + = ( 1 + 2 ) + 2 h H = ( 1 2 ) 2 Now comparing these frequencies, I get all possible sums and differences thereof. This leaves me with either H ++ =

1 1 1 1 1 + 2 , 1 2 , 1 , 2 . 2 2 2 2 7) Cohen-Tannoudji, Ch. X, Complement G, Exercise 4 (spin 3/2 disintegration) Consider a particle (a) of spin 3/2 which can disintegrate into two particles (b) of spin and (c) of spin 0. We place ourselves in the rest frame of (a). Total angular momentum is conserved during the disintegration. a) What values can be taken on by the relative orbital angular momentum of the two final particles? Show that there is only one possible value if the parity of the relative orbital state is fixed. Would this result remain valid if the spin of particle (a) were greater than 3/2?

Note that the parity operator acting on a spherical harmonic returns ( 1) . The resulting orbital angular momenta could be 1 or 2 since 3 l j = = l + s | l s . Now certainly since the parity operator returns ( 1) , if 2 the source particle is odd then the resulting value will be l = 1. If the source particle is even, the resulting value will be l = 2. If the source particle had spin greater than 3/2, there would be more valid choices for the orbital angular momenta for the child particles but at least half of these choices could be eliminated knowing that the source had even or odd parity.
l

b) Assume that particle (a) is originally in the spin state characterized by the eigenvalue ma h of its spin component along Oz. We know that the final orbital state has a definite parity. Is it possible to determine this parity by measuring the probabilities of finding particle (b) either in state + or state -?

I have used the result at http://electron6.phys.utk.edu/phys594/archives/quantum/Angular/angular1.htm to guide my work here. Suppose, for example, that in the final state l = 1. Using the results from C-T equation Ax 36 a , I see that 3 3 1 , = 1, ;1,+ 2 2 2 3 1 , = 2 2 P(+ ) = 1 P(+ ) = 2 3 1 3

2 1 1 1 1, ;0,+ + 1, ;1, 3 2 3 2

3 1 1 1 2 1 , 1, ;1,+ + 1, ;0, = 2 2 3 2 3 2 3 3 1 , = 1, ;1, 2 2 2 P(+ ) = 0

P(+ ) =

Note that these probabilities are each distinct, for each value of l! Because of this, then, accurately knowing the probability of being in the + or state would give the overall parity. However, any attempt to do this will be plagued by probabilistic tendencies and have a degree of certainty to it. In a way, it is plausible that one could then measure this with a good degree of confidence, but not with total certainty.

v ( 9) Turn r = ( x, y, z ) into an irreducible tensor operator of rank 1, RQ1) by

( setting R01) = z (multiplication by z) and making appropriate choices for

[J

( R1) . Check that the defining commutation relations 1

z

( ( ( ( , RQk ) = QRQk ) , J , RQk ) = K (K + 1) Q(Q 1)RQk)1 are satisfied with

J x = L x = i y z = ( J + + J ) , etc. z y i (J J + ) . Now in order to construct the other members of t he Recall that J y = 2 ( group, I start with R01) = z and take

] [ ix = [J , R ( ) ] = i[J
y

( ( iy = J x , R01) = J + + J , R01) =
1 0

( ( J + , R01) = i 2 R1(1) + 2 R1) . Putting these results together, it 1

] (

] (

( 2 R1(1) + 2 R1) . Similarly, I can write 1

is easy to see that I have i x ( ( y = R1(1) + R1) = R1(1) + R1) 1 1 2 2 1 (x + iy ) R(11) = 1 (x iy ) R1(1) = 2 2 Checking, I see that ( ( J z , RQk ) = QRQk )

[ [J [J

] 1 (x + iy ) = , R ( ) ] = i x y y x
1 1

( , R1) 1

2 2 1 (x iy ) = 1 ( x + iy ) = 1 R1(1) = i x y y x 2 2

(x + iy ) = 1 R1(1)

et cetera.
11) a) Find irreducible tensor operators that span the six-dimensional operator space generated by linear combinations of x 2 , y 2 , z 2 , xy, xz, yz , where x 2 means multiplication by x 2 . Let one of the irreducible operators be z 2 + cr 2 , with an appropriate choice for the constant, where r 2 = x 2 + y 2 + z 2 . Write the irreducible operators down explicitly, and showeither directly or by some other argumentthat v they satisfy the appropriate commutation v v v relations with J = L = ir .

Ill construct this space in the same way that I generated the space in problem 9: simply commute this with the raising and lowering operators to create the remainder of the space. First let me decide what the constant on r 2 must be: ( ( J z , RQk ) = QRQk )

i x y z 2 cr 2 = ixy + iyx = 0 y x 2 ( so z must correspond to R0k ) . The constant has still yet to be determined. From this information alone, I determine that this must be an integer-k space, and that the space must consist of two separate irreducible spaces: either1 1 or 2 0 . I can see easily that J + = (J x + iJ y ) J = (J x iJ y )

( Now commuting these operators with R0k ) , I get

[J [J

( ( , R0k ) = 2( x iy )z = K (K + 1)Rk ) 1 ( , R0k ) = 2( x + iy )z = K (K + 1)R1(k )

( Rk ) = 1

K (K + 1) 2

(x iy )z

(x + iy )z K (K + 1) which is easily confirmed as having the proper commutation relation with J z . Next, Ill commute these again and see what my results are for another round of commutation. 2 ( ( J , K (K + 1)Rk ) = 2 K (K + 1)( x iy ) = K (K + 1) K (K + 1) 2 Rk2) 1
+

R1(k ) =

( Rk2) =

[J

K (K + 1) K (K + 1) 2

(x iy )2
2

( , K (K + 1)R1(k ) = 2 K (K + 1)( x + iy ) = K (K + 1) K (K + 1) 2 R2k )

K (K + 1) K (K + 1) 2 Application of the appropriate operators now show that this is the end of my space, indicating that K = 2. Then I have: 1 ( (x iy )2 R(2 ) = 2 (x iy )z R2 ) = 2 1 3 6 2 (x + iy )z 3 6 Taking one of these and applying a raising operator gives 1 ( ( ( J + , R2 ) = 6 R02 ) R02 ) = z 2 r 2 . 1 3 Finally, the remaining one-dimensional space must be ( R00 ) = r 2 , which I have seen yields zero under each of these operations, as expected. v b) Consider a collection of quantum states r m = Yl m1 ( , ) f (r ) with =
( R22 ) =

( R2k ) =

(x + iy )2

(x + iy )2

R1(2 ) =

m { 1,0,1}. Use the Wigner-Eckart theorem to express the matrix

elements A(m' , m ) = m ' x 2 m , B(m' , m ) = m ' xy m in terms of the constants = 0 r 2 0

= 0 z 2 0 and appropriate Clebsch-

Gordan coefficients. In each case find the selection rules, i.e., the values of m and m for which A and B do not vanish (except accidentally). Indicate your reasoning.

From the Wigner-Eckart theorem, I know that

s

( ' J mJ Tms ) l ml = l s ml

ms J

mJ ' J Ts l

will give me the rest of the operators in space. To define these: Tk is a known operator in the space, from which I hope to produce the matrix elements of the other operator using the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients. Tsq is another operator in this space, that I obtain from part a. Here, s is the index indicating the dimensionality of the space (in terms of 2s + 1 ) and ms is the sub-index indicating which specific operator in the space I am discussing. J and l are the matrix elements which I index over. and ' are the representation indices, and are often dropped as is the case here.

v In this case, the constraint r m = Yl m1 ( , ) f (r ) fixes J = l. =

The selection rule indicates that these results will be zero unless ml + ms = m j l s J l + s . First I need an expression for x 2 in terms of my results from part a: ( r 2 = R00 ) = S 1 ( z 2 = R0 2 ) S 3 6 (2 ) (R2 R2(2 ) ) xy = i 4 1 6 (2 ) (R2 R2(2 ) ) 1 R0(2 ) x2 = S + 3 4 2 Now I can certainly write: ' 1 m' S 1 m = 1 0 m 0 1 m' ' 1 S 1 = m ,m '

= ' 1 0 T0(2 ) 1 0 = 1 2 0 0 1 0 ' 1 Ts 1

so 2 1 5 3

1 3

' 1 Ts 1 =

Now finding the matrix coefficients in this basis is a snap! Combining the expressions from two steps ago with my calculation from one step ago, I have simply A(m' , m ) = m ' x 2 m
1 = m,m ' 3 6 ( 1 2 m 2 1 m' + 1 2 m 2 1 m' ) 1 1 2 m 0 1 m' 2 + 2 5 3 4 6 ( 1 2 m 2 1 m' + 1 2 m 2 1 m' ) 2 4 5 3 By the selection rules, either m' = m (deltafunction ) m' = m 2 (selection) . B(m' , m ) = m ' xy m = i