Question:1- What are some criteria for applying variational

method?
Answer:
There are a few criteria for applying variational method. Here are these criteria:
1. This method is applicable when the Hamiltonian of a system is known but the exact
solution of the Schrodinger equation can’t be found using perturbation method.

2. Schrodinger's equation exact solution cab be obtained from this method. When any
system contains more than one electron, then the variational method is used to
determine the exact solution of the Schrodinger equation.

3. A notable application of this method is in determining the upper bound values of

eigen energies of a system whose Hamiltonian is known but the corresponding
eigenvalues and eigenstates are unknown. This is particularly useful for determining
the ground state.

4. Another noticable use of variational method is to find the appropriate eigenenergies

and eigenfunctions from the variational equation,
δE ( ψ )=0
Where E ( ψ ) is the expectation value of the energy in the state ¿ ψ 〉.

5. For any trial function |ψ ⟩ we choose, the energy E is always larger than the exact
energy E0 :

E=
⟨ ψ |H|ψ ⟩ ≥ E
0
⟨ ψ|ψ ⟩

Question:2- What is WKB approximation method? Write down the

validity condition of WKB approximation. When it is applicable?
Answer: The full form of WKB method is Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin method. This method is
highly useful for approximate treatments of systems with slowly varying potentials; that is,
potentials which remain almost constant over a region of the order of the de Broglie
avelength. In the case of classical systems, this property is always satisfied since the
wavelength of a classical system approaches zero. The WKB method can thus be viewed as a
semi-classical approximation.
Application:
When any system has slowly varying potential, then the WKB method is used.
Validity Condition:
  The Schrodinger equation for the potential must be separable to one-dimensional
form.
 The rate of change of De-Broglie wavelength is small. But this condition is always
satisfied for classical system. So the condition for the WKB method is given by,

| ||
d ƛ(x)
dx
=
d ħ
|
dx P ( x )
<< 1

Question:3- Prove the principle of variational method.

Answer: The basis of the variational method is that the expectation value of the Hamiltonian
of any system in any state is greater than or equal to the ground state energy of that system
i.e.,
⟨ H ⟩=E 0
Where,
H=¿ Hamiltonian
E0 =¿ Ground state energy

The expectation value of the Hamiltonian H is,

+∞

∫ ψ ¿ H^ ψdτ
〈 H 〉=
−∞
+∞ (1)
∫ψ ¿
ψdτ
−∞

The state ψ of the system can be expanded as,

ψ=∑ C n ψ n (2)
n

Where,
ψ n=¿ Basis function

C n=¿ Coefficient of basis function

And we know,
^
H ψ n= ^
En ψ n (3)

From equation (1), (2) & (3) we have,

+∞

∫ ∑ C¿m ψ ¿m ∑ En C n ψ n dτ
⟨ H ⟩= −∞+∞m n

∫ ∑ C¿m ψ ¿m ∑ C n ψ n dτ
−∞ m n
 +∞

∑∑ C ¿
m C n E n ∫ ψ m ψ n dτ
¿

m n −∞
¿ +∞

∑ ∑ C¿m C n ∫ ψ ¿m ψ n dτ
m n −∞

∑ ∑ C¿m C n E n δmn
m n
¿ [δ mn=1 when m=n ¿
∑ ∑ C¿m C n δmn
m n

∑ C¿n C n E n
n
¿
∑ C¿n C n
n

∑ |C n|2 E n
n
¿
∑ |C n|
2

2
Since ψ is normalized, ∑|C n| =1 and denominator will be vanished

Therefore,

⟨ H ⟩=∑ |C n| En
2

Now,

⟨ H ⟩−E 0=∑ |C n| En−E 0 ∑ |Cn|

2 2

n n

¿ ∑ |C n| (E n−E0 )
2

Since, ( E n−E0 ) ≥ 0 ,therefore

⟨ H ⟩−E 0 ≥ 0
∴ ⟨ H ⟩≥ E0

Therefore, the expectation value of the Hamiltonian of any system in any state is greater
than or equal to the ground state energy of that system.
Question:4- Calculate the first order energy correction for one
dimensional harmonic oscillator whose Hamiltonian is and the
( ) ( )
1 2
k −k x
ground state wave function is ψ 0=
π ħω
4
exp
2ħω
.

Answer: The perturbing Hamiltonian,

(1 ) 4
H =a x

Hence,
+∞
E0 = ∫ ψ 0
( 1) ( 0 )∗¿a x 4
ψ 0 dx ¿
−∞

Substituting for ψ 0,

( ) ( )
+∞

( )
1 2 2
k 2 −k x 4 −k x
¿ a ∫ exp x exp dx
π ħω −∞ 2ħω 2ħω

( )
+∞

( )
1 2
k 2 −k x 4
¿ a ∫ exp x dx
π ħω −∞ ħω

exp (
ħω )
1 +∞
¿ 2( )
2
k −k x
π ħω
∫ 2
x dx
4

Now we use the standard integral

m+1
∞ Γ( ) m ≥0
1 n
∫ x m e−a x dx= n
n

0
a
n( )
m+ 1 n≥0

And the value of E(01) becomes as,

4+1
Γ( )
( )
1
k 2 1 2
E(01)=2 a.
( )
π ħω 2 k 2
5

ħω

( )
1
2 ħ ω 12 1 3 1 2
¿ 1 a. . . π
2
k 2 2 2
π
 ( ) 34a
1
ħω
¿ 2
k

This is first order energy correction of the 1D harmonic oscillator.

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