Solutions - Chapter 3

Kevin S. Huang

Problem 3.1
a)

[Â, B̂ + Ĉ] = Â(B̂ + Ĉ) − (B̂ + Ĉ)Â = ÂB̂ − B̂ Â + ÂĈ − Ĉ Â = [Â, B̂] + [Â, Ĉ]

b)

i[Â, B̂ Ĉ] = ÂB̂ Ĉ − B̂ Ĉ Â = ÂB̂ Ĉ − B̂ ÂĈ + B̂ ÂĈ − B̂ Ĉ Â = B̂[Â, Ĉ] + [Â, B̂]Ĉ

Problem 3.2
Eigenstate problem:
h̄
Sˆn |µi = µ |µi
2

Sˆn = Sx sin θ cos φ + Sy sin θ sin φ + Sz cos θ

      
h̄ 0 1 0 −i 1 0
= sin θ cos φ + sin θ sin φ + cos θ
2 1 0 i 0 0 −1

e−iφ sin θ
   
h̄ cos θ sin θ(cos φ − i sin φ) h̄ cos θ
= = iφ
2 sin θ(cos φ + i sin φ) − cos θ 2 e sin θ − cos θ

Matrix form:
e−iφ sin θ
    
h̄ cos θ h+z|µi h̄ h+z|µi
=µ
2 eiφ sin θ − cos θ h−z|µi 2 h−z|µi

cos θ − µ e−iφ sin θ

  
h+z|µi
=0
eiφ sin θ − cos θ − µ h−z|µi
 
 cos θ − µ e−iφ sin θ 
 = µ2 − cos2 θ − sin2 θ = 0
 eiφ sin θ − cos θ − µ 
Eigenvalues:

µ = ±1

1
 e−iφ sin θ
  
cos θ ∓ 1 h+z| ± ni
=0
eiφ sin θ − cos θ ∓ 1 h−z| ± ni
Equation:

(cos θ ∓ 1) h+z| ± ni + e−iφ sin θ h−z| ± ni = 0

Normalization:

| h+z| ± ni |2 + | h−z| ± ni |2 = 1

(cos θ ∓ 1)2
| h+z| ± ni |2 + 2 | h+z| ± ni |2 = 1
sin θ
sin2 θ sin2 θ (1 − cos θ)(1 + cos θ)
| h+z| ± ni |2 = 2 = =
sin θ + (cos θ ∓ 1)2 2 ∓ 2 cos θ 2(1 ∓ cos θ)
r
1 + cos θ θ
| h+z| + ni | = = cos
2 2
r
1 − cos θ θ
| h+z| − ni | = = sin
2 2
θ
| h−z| + ni | = eiφ sin
2
θ
| h−z| − ni | = −eiφ cos
2
Eigenstates:
θ θ
|+ni = cos |+zi + eiφ sin |−zi
2 2
θ θ
|−ni = sin |+zi − eiφ cos |−zi
2 2
Problem 3.3
 2  
0 1 1 0
σ12 = =
1 0 0 1
 2  
0 −i 1 0
σ22 = =
i 0 0 1
2 
 
1 0 1 0
σ32
= =
0 −1 0 1
   
i 0 −i 0
σ1 σ2 + σ2 σ1 = + =0
0 −i 0 i

2
    
−1 0 0 1
σ1 σ3 + σ3 σ1 = + =0
0 1 −1 0
   
0 i 0 −i
σ2 σ3 + σ3 σ2 = + =0
i 0 −i 0

{σi , σj } = 2δij I
Problem 3.4
a)
σ × σ = (σx i + σy j + σz k) × (σx i + σy j + σz k)

= (σy σz − σz σy )i + (σz σx − σx σz )j + (σx σy − σy σx )k

[σy , σz ] = 2iσx
[σz , σx ] = 2iσy
[σx , σy ] = 2iσz

σ × σ = 2iσ
b)
σ · aσ · b = (ax σx + ay σy + az σz )(bx σx + by σy + bz σz )

= (ax bx + ay by + az bz )I + ax by σx σy + ax bz σx σz + ay bx σy σx + ay bz σy σz + az bx σz σx + az by σz σy

= a · bI + iσx (ay bz − az by ) − iσy (ax bz − az bx ) + iσz (ax by − ay bx )

σ · aσ · b = a · bI + iσ · (a × b)
Problem 3.5
a)
   2  3
−iSˆy θ/h̄ iθ 1 iθ 2 1 iθ 3
R̂(θj) = e =1− Sˆy + Sˆy − Sˆy + ...
h̄ 2! h̄ 3! h̄
2
Sˆy = I

 2  4
1 θ 1 θ
R̂(θj) = 1 − + + ...
2! 2 4! 2
"   3 #
θ 1 θ
+iσy − + ...
2 3! 2

3
 θ 2i ˆ θ
R̂(θj) = cos + Sy sin
2 h̄ 2
b)    
cos(θ/2) 0 0 sin(θ/2)
R̂(θj) → +
Sz 0 cos(θ/2) − sin(θ/2) 0
  
cos(θ/2) sin(θ/2) 1
R̂(θj) |+zi =
− sin(θ/2) cos(θ/2) 0
φ = 0:
θ θ
|+ni = cos |+zi + sin |−zi
2 2
Problem 3.6

Jˆ− |j, mi = c− h̄ |j, m − 1i

2 2 2 2
Jˆ+ Jˆ− = (Jˆx + iJˆy )(Jˆx − iJˆy ) = Jˆx + Jˆy − i[Jˆx , Jˆy ] = Ĵ − Jˆz + h̄Jˆz

hj, m| Jˆ+ Jˆ− |j, mi = c∗− c− h̄2 hj, m − 1|j, m − 1i

2 2
hj, m| Ĵ − Jˆz + h̄Jˆz |j, mi = [j(j + 1) − m2 + m]h̄2 hj, m|j, mi

p
c− = j(j + 1) − m(m − 1) |j, m − 1i
Problem 3.7

(hα| + λ∗ hβ|)(|αi + λ |βi) ≥ 0

hα|αi + λ∗ hβ|αi + λ hα|βi + λ∗ λ hβ|βi ≥ 0

Choose:
hβ|αi
λ=−
hβ|βi
hα|βi hβ|αi hβ|αi hα|βi hα|βi hβ|αi
hα|αi − − + =0
hβ|βi hβ|βi hβ|βi
hβ|αi hα|βi
hα|αi ≥
hβ|βi
Schwarz inequality:

hα|αi hβ|βi ≥ | hα|βi |2

Problem 3.8

4
 [Â, B̂] = ÂB̂ − B̂ Â = iĈ
Hermitian:
hα|A|βi∗ = hβ|A|αi

hα|AB − BA|βi∗ = hα|AB|βi∗ − hα|BA|βi∗ = hβ|BA|αi − hβ|AB|αi = hβ|BA − AB|αi

BA − AB = −iC

hα|iC|βi∗ = −i hα|C|βi = hα| − iC|βi

C is Hermitian:
hα|C|βi∗ = hβ|C|αi
Problem 3.9
Eigenstate of Sˆz : |+zi
h̄
q
∆Sx = hSx 2 i − hSx i2 =
2

hSx i = h+z|Sx | + zi = 0
 2
2 2 h̄
hSx i = h+z|Sx | + zi =
2
h̄
q
∆Sy = hSy 2 i − hSy i2 =
2

hSy i = h+z|Sy | + zi = 0
 2
2 2 h̄
hSy i = h+z|Sy | + zi =
2
h̄
hSz i = h+z|Sz | + zi =
2
h̄|hSz i|
∆Sx ∆Sy ≥
2
     
h̄ h̄ h̄ h̄
≥
2 2 2 2
Eigenstate of Sˆx : |+xi
q
∆Sx = hSx 2 i − hSx i2 = 0

5
 h̄
hSx i = h+x|Sx | + xi =
2
 2
h̄
hSx 2 i = h+x|Sx 2 | + xi =
2
h̄
q
∆Sy = hSy 2 i − hSy i2 =
2

hSy i = h+x|Sy | + xi = 0
 2
2 2 h̄
hSy i = h+x|Sy | + xi =
2

hSz i = h+x|Sz | + xi = 0

h̄|hSz i|
∆Sx ∆Sy ≥
2

0≥0
Problem 3.10
 
h̄ 0 1
Sx →
Sz 2 1 0
 
h̄ 0 −i
Sy →
Sz 2 i 0
 
h̄ 1 0
Sx →
Sz 2 0 −1

[Sˆx , Sˆy ] = ih̄Sˆz

       
h̄ 0 1 h̄ 0 −i h̄ 0 −i h̄ 0 1
Sx Sy − Sy Sx = −
2 1 0 2 i 0 2 i 0 2 1 0
 2    2 
ih̄2
  
h̄ i 0 h̄ −i 0 1 0
= − = = ih̄Sˆz
2 0 −i 2 0 i 2 0 −1
Problem 3.11
Instead of inserting the identity element connecting the two bases, we can use a cyclic
substitution x → y, y → z, z → x:
  
h̄ 1 0
Sˆy →
Sy 2 0 −1

6
   
h̄ 0 1
Sˆz →
Sy 2 1 0
  
ˆ h̄ 0 −i
Sx →
Sy 2 i 0
Problem 3.12
h̄
Sˆz |+zi = |+zi
2
h̄
Sˆz |+zi = − |−zi
2
h̄ h̄
Sˆz = |+zi h+z| − |−zi h−z|
2 2

Sˆ+ |+zi = 0
Sˆ+ |−zi = h̄ |+zi

Sˆ− |+zi = h̄ |−zi

Sˆ− |−zi = 0

Sˆ+ = h̄ |+zi h−z|

Sˆ− = h̄ |−zi h+z|
Problem 3.13
 
0 1 0
ˆ h̄ 
Jx → √ 1 0 1 
Jz 2 0 1 0
 
0 1 0
ˆ h̄ 
Jy → √ 1 0 1 
Jz 2 0 1 0
 
1 0 0
ˆ
Jz → h̄  0 0 0 
Jz
0 0 −1

[Jˆx , Jˆy ] = Jˆx Jˆy − Jˆy Jˆx

       
0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0
h̄ h̄ h̄ h̄
√  1 0 1 √  1 0 1 − √  1 0 1 √  1 0 1 
2 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 1 0

7
  
1 0 0
= ih̄2
0 0 0  = ih̄Jˆz
0 0 −1
Problem 3.14
Angular Momentum (spin-1: j = 1):

Jˆz |j, mi = mh̄ |j, mi

Jˆz |1, 1i = h̄ |1, 1i

Jˆz |1, 0i = 0
Jˆz |1, −1i = −h̄ |1, 1i
 
1 0 0
Jˆz = h̄ |1, 1i h1, 1| − h̄ |1, −1i h1, −1| → h̄  0 0 0 
Jz
0 0 −1

Jˆ+ |1, 1i = 0
√
Jˆ+ |1, 0i = 2h̄ |1, 1i
√
Jˆ+ |1, −1i = 2h̄ |1, 0i
 
√ √ 0 1 0
Jˆ+ = 2h̄(|1, 1i h1, 0| + |1, 0i h1, −1|) → 2h̄  0 0 1 
Jz
0 0 0
√
Jˆ− |1, 1i = 2h̄ |1, 0i
√
Jˆ− |1, 0i = 2h̄ |1, −1i
Jˆ− |1, −1i = 0
 
√ √ 0 0 0
ˆ
J− = 2h̄(|1, 0i h1, 1| + |1, −1i h1, 0|) → 2h̄  1 0 0 
Jz
0 1 0
J+ + J−
Jˆx =
2
J+ − J−
Jˆy =
2i
 
0 1 0
h̄
Jˆx → √  1 0 1 
Jz 2 0 1 0

8
  
0 −i 0
ˆ h̄ 
Jy → √ i 0 −i 
Jz 2 0 i 0
Problem 3.15

Sˆx |1, µix = µh̄ |1, µix

    
0 1 0 a a
h̄
√  1 0 1   b  = µh̄  b 
2 0 1 0 c c
Eigenvalues: µ = 1, 0, −1
 
−µ √1 0

2 a
√1 −µ √12 
 b  = 0

 2
0 √1 −µ c
2

µ = 1:
1
−a + √ b = 0
2
1
√ b−c=0
2
√
b = 2a
c=a
Normalization:
a2 + 2a2 + a2 = 1
1
a=
2
√
1 2 1
|1, 1ix = |1, 1i + |1, 0i + |1, −1i
2 2 2
µ = 0:
1
√ b=0
2
1 1
√ a+ √ c=0
2 2

b=0
c = −a
Normalization:
a2 + 0 + a2 = 1

9
 √
2
a=
2
√ √
2 2
|1, 0ix = |1, 1i − |1, −1i
2 2
µ = −1:
1
a+ √ b=0
2
1
√ b+c=0
2
√
b = − 2a
c=a
Normalization:
a2 + 2a2 + a2 = 1
1
a=
2
√
1 2 1
|1, −1ix = |1, 1i − |1, 0i + |1, −1i
2 2 2
Problem 3.16
1
P = | h1, 0|x |1, 1i |2 =
2
√ √
2 2
h1, 0|x = h1, 1| − h1, −1|
2 2
√ √ √
2 2 2
h1, 0|x |1, 1i = h1, 1|1, 1i − h1, −1|1, 1i =
2 2 2
Problem 3.17
 
1
1
|ψi → √  2 
Sz 14 3i
a)
1
P (Sz = h̄) = | h1, 1|ψi |2 =
14
2
P (Sz = 0) = | h1, 0|ψi |2 =
7
9
P (Sz = −h̄) = | h1, −1|ψi |2 =
14
4
hSz i = P (Sz = h̄)(h̄) + P (Sz = 0)(0) + P (Sz = −h̄)(−h̄) = − h̄
7

10
b)
hSx i = hψ|Sx |ψi
   
0 1 0 1
1
h̄ 1 2
=√ 1 2 −3i √  1 0 1  √  2  = √ h̄
14 2 0 1 0 14 3i 7 2

c)
P (Sx = h̄) = | h1, 1x |ψi |2
√
1 2 1
h1, 1|x = h1, 1| + h1, 0| + h1, −1|
2 2 2
1 2 3i
|ψi = √ |1, 1i + √ |1, 0i + √ |1, −1i
14 14 14
√ √
1 2 2 3i 1 + 2 2 + 3i
h1, 1x |ψi = √ + √ + √ = √
2 14 2 14 2 14 2 14

√ !2  2 √ √
1+2 2 3 1+4 2+8+9 9+2 2
P (Sx = h̄) = | h1, 1x |ψi |2 = √ + √ = =
2 14 2 14 4(14) 28

Problem 3.18

Sˆn |µi = µh̄ |µi

Sˆn = Sx sin θ cos φ + Sy sin θ sin φ + Sz cos θ

       
0 1 0 0 −i 0 1 0 0
h̄  h̄
= √
 1 0 1  sin θ cos φ + √  i 0 −i  sin θ sin φ + h̄  0 0 0  cos θ
2 0 1 0 2 0 i 0 0 0 −1
sin θ cos φ−i
√ sin θ sin φ
 
cos θ 2
0
= h̄  sin θ cos φ+i
√ sin θ sin φ 0 sin θ cos φ−i
√ sin θ sin φ 
 
2 2
sin θ cos φ+i
√ sin θ sin φ
0 2
− cos θ
−iφ
cos θ e √sin θ
 
2
0
 iφ θ e−iφ
= h̄  e √sin 0 √sin θ 

2 2
eiφ√sin θ
0 2
− cos θ
−iφ
cos θ e √sin θ
 
0
  
2 a a
 iφ θ e−iφ
h̄  e √sin 0 √sin θ   b  = µh̄  b 

2 2
eiφ√sin θ c c
0 2
− cos θ

11
 e−iφ
√sin θ
 
cos θ − µ 0

2 a
eiφ√sin θ e−iφ
√sin θ
−µ b =0
 
 2 2 
eiφ√sin θ c
0 2
− cos θ − µ
Eigenvalues:

e−iφ sin θ eiφ sin θ e−iφ sin θ eiφ sin θ

   
(cos θ − µ) (−µ)(− cos θ − µ) − √ √ − √ √ (− cos θ − µ) = 0
2 2 2 2

sin2 θ sin2 θ
 
(cos θ − µ) (−µ)(− cos θ − µ) − − (− cos θ − µ) = 0
2 2

2 sin2 θ2 sin2 θ
(−µ)(µ − cos θ) − (cos θ − µ) + (cos θ + µ) = 0
2 2

2 sin2 θ2 sin2 θ
(−µ)(µ − cos θ) − (cos θ − µ) + (cos θ + µ) = 0
2 2

(−µ)(µ2 − cos2 θ − sin2 θ) = 0

µ = 1, 0, −1
µ = 1:
e−iφ sin θ
(cos θ − 1)a + √ b=0
2
eiφ sin θ
√ b − (cos θ + 1)c = 0
2
1 − cos θ
c= a
1 + cos θ
√
eiφ (1 − cos θ) 2
b= a
sin θ
Normalization:

2(1 − cos θ)2 2 (1 − cos θ)2 2

a2 + a + a =1
sin2 θ (1 + cos θ)2
 
1 + cos θ 2 θ
a= = cos
2 2
√
eiφ sin θ 2
   
2 θ 2 θ
|1, 1in = cos |1, 1i + |1, 0i + sin |1, −1i
2 2 2

12
µ = 0:
e−iφ sin θ
(cos θ)a + √ b=0
2
eiφ sin θ
√ b − (cos θ)c = 0
2
√
eiφ cos θ 2
b=− a
sin θ
c = −a
Normalization:
2 cos2 θ 2
a2 + 2 a + a2 = 1
sin θ
√
sin θ 2
a=
2
√ √
sin θ 2 iφ sin θ 2
|1, 0in = |1, 1i − e cos θ |1, 0i − |1, −1i
2 2
µ = −1:
e−iφ sin θ
(cos θ + 1)a + √ b=0
2
eiφ sin θ
√ b − (cos θ − 1)c = 0
2
1 + cos θ
c= a
1 − cos θ
√
eiφ (1 + cos θ) 2
b=− a
sin θ
Normalization:

2(1 + cos θ)2 2 (1 + cos θ)2 2

a2 + a + a =1
sin2 θ (1 − cos θ)2
 
1 − cos θ 2 θ
a= = sin
2 2
√
eiφ sin θ 2
   
2 θ 2 θ
|1, −1in = sin |1, 1i − |1, 0i + cos |1, −1i
2 2 2
Problem 3.19
   2  3
−iSˆy θ/h̄ iθ 1 iθ 2 1 iθ 3
R̂(θj) = e =1+ − Sˆy + − ˆ
Sy + − Sˆy + ...
h̄ 2! h̄ 3! h̄

13
  
0 −i 0
ˆ h̄ 
Sy = √ i 0 −i 
2 0 i 0
 
 2 1 0 −1
2 h̄
Sˆy = √  0 2 0 
2 −1 0 1
 
 3 0 −2i 0
3 h̄
Sˆy = √  2i 0 −2i  = h̄2 Sˆy
2 0 2i 0
 
 4 2 0 −2
4 h̄  0 4 0  = h̄2 Sˆy 2
Sˆy = √
2 −2 0 2
 2  4    3
1 iθ 2 1 iθ 4 iθ 1 iθ 3
R̂(θj) = 1 + − Sˆy + − Sˆy + ... + − Sˆy + − Sˆy
2! h̄ 4! h̄ h̄ 3! h̄
Sy 2
   
1 2 1 4 −iSy 1 3
=1+ − (θ) + (θ) − ... + ... + √ (θ) − (θ) + ...
2 2! 4! 2 3!
Sy 2 iSy
=1+ (cos θ − 1) − √ sin θ
2 2
  
0 − sin
√θ 0
   cos θ−1 1−cos θ
1 0 0 2
0 2 2
+  2θ
 sin 0 − sin
√θ 
= 0 1 0 + 0 cos θ − 1 0 √
    
2
1−cos θ 1−cos θ sin
0 0 1 0 0 √θ 0
2 2 2
 1+cos θ 
2
− sin
√θ
2
1−cos θ
2
R̂(θj) =  sin
 √θ cos θ − sin
√θ 

2 2
1−cos θ sin
√θ 1+cos θ
2 2 2
  √  
2θ sin θ 2 2 θ
R̂(θj) |1, 1i = cos |1, 1i + + sin = |1, 1in (φ = 0)
2 2 2
Problem 3.20
a)
f = | hSn = h̄|Sz = h̄i |2 | hSz = −h̄|Sn = h̄i |2 = | h1, 1|n |1, 1i |2 | h1, −1||1, 1in |2

  √  
2 θ sin θ 2 2 θ
|1, 1in = cos |1, 1i + |1, 0i + sin |1, −1i
2 2 2
  √  
2 θ sin θ 2 2 θ
h1, 1|n = cos h1, 1| + h1, 0| + sin h1, −1|
2 2 2

14
  
θ2
h1, 1|n |1, 1i = cos
2
 
2 θ
h1, −1||1, 1in = sin
2
sin4 θ
   
4 θ 4 θ
f = sin cos =
2 2 16
b)
π
θ=±
2
1
fmax =
16
c)
f = | h1, −1|1, 1i |2 = 0
Last SGz device transmits particles with Sz = 0 only:
a)
f = | h1, 1|n |1, 1i |2 | h1, 0||1, 1in |2
 
θ
2
h1, 1|n |1, 1i = cos
2
√
sin θ 2
h1, 0||1, 1in =
2
  2
4 θ sin θ sin2 θ(1 + cos θ)2
f = cos =
2 2 8
b)

d  2
sin θ(1 + cos θ)2 = 2 sin θ cos θ(1 + cos θ)2 + 2 sin2 θ(1 + cos θ)(− sin θ) = 0

dθ
sin θ = 0
1 + cos θ = 0:
cos θ(1 + cos θ) − sin2 θ = 2 cos2 θ + cos θ − 1 = 0
(2 cos θ − 1)(cos θ + 1) = 0
1
cos θ =
2
π
θ=±
3
27
fmax =
128
15
c)
f = | h1, 0|1, 1i |2 = 0
Problem 3.21

Jz = mh̄
p
J = j(j + 1)h̄

m
cos θ = p
j(j + 1)
a) spin- 21
√
1/2 3
cos θ = p =
(1/2)(1/2 + 1) 3
√
3
θ = arccos
3
b) spin-1
√
21
cos θ = p =
(1)(1 + 1) 2
π
θ=
4
c) macroscopic spinning top

Lz = L

θ=0
Problem 3.22
X
|ψi = ca,b |a, bi
a,b
X X X
ÂB̂ |ψi = ca,b ÂB̂ |a, bi = ca,b Âb |a, bi = ca,b ab |a, bi
a,b a,b a,b
X X X
B̂ Â |ψi = ca,b B̂ Â |a, bi = ca,b B̂a |a, bi = ca,b ba |a, bi
a,b a,b a,b

ÂB̂ = B̂ Â

[Â, B̂] = 0

16