8.

04, Quantum Physics I, Fall 2015

TEST 2

Tuesday November 17, 9:30-11:00 pm

You have 90 minutes.

Answer all problems in the white books provided. Write

YOUR NAME and YOUR SECTION on your white
book(s).

There are five questions, totalling 100 points.

No books, notes, or calculators allowed.

Show your work CLEARLY!

1
 Formula Sheet
e2 1
• ~c ≃ 197.3 MeV · fm , me c2 ≃ 0.511 MeV , mp c2 = 938 MeV , ~c
≃ 137

• Relativity: p = γ mv , E = γmc2 , E 2 = p2 c2 + m2 c4 , γ = √1 , β= v
c
1−β 2

h
• Photons: E = hν , p = λ
, or E = ~ω , p = ~k

• Wavelengths
h h
de Broglie: λ = , Compton: λC = .
p mc
• Momentum and position operators
~ ∂ ~
p = , [x, p ] = i~ , p = ∇, [xi , pj ] = i~ δij
i ∂x i

• Schrödinger equation

∂Ψ  ~2 
i~ (x, t) = − ∇2 + V (x, t) Ψ(x, t) ,
∂t 2m
∂
ρ(x, t) + ∇ · J(x, t) = 0
∂t
~
ρ(x, t) = |Ψ(x, t)|2 ; J(x, t) = Im [Ψ∗ ∇Ψ]
m
• Fourier transforms:
1 1
Z Z Z Z
ikx
Ψ(x) = √ dk Φ(k)e , Φ(k) = √ dx Ψ(x)e −ikx
, dx |Ψ(x)| = dk |Φ(k)|2
2
2π 2π
1 1
Z Z Z Z
3 ik·x 3
Ψ(x) = 3 d k Φ(k)e , Φ(k) = 3 d x Ψ(x)e −ik·x
, d x |Ψ(x)| = d3 k |Φ(k)|2
3 2
(2π) 2 (2π) 2

Z ∞ Z ∞
1 ikx 1
e dx = δ(k) , 3
eik·x d3 x = δ (3) (k)
2π −∞ (2π) −∞
Z +∞ r  b2 
π
dx exp −ax2 + bx =


exp , when Re(a) > 0 .
−∞ a 4a

• Wavepackets
dω
vgroup = , ∆k ∆x ≃ 1 , shape preserving : t ∆v ≤ ∆x
dk

• Hermitian conjugation:
Z Z
∗
dx (KΨ(x, t)) Ψ(x, t) = dx Ψ∗ (x, t) (K † Ψ(x, t))

If K † = K, then K is Hermitian.

2
• Expectation values Z
hQi(t) = dx Ψ∗ (x, t)(QΨ(x, t))

• Time evolution of expectation value. For Q Hermitian

d
i~ hQi = [Q, H]
dt

• Commutator identity
[A, BC] = [A, B]C + B[A, C]

• Uncertainty ∆Q of a Hermitian operator Q

(∆Q)2 = hQ2 i − hQi2 = (Q − hQi)2

~
• Uncertainty principle: ∆x ∆p ≥ 2

• Stationary state:

~2 2
Ψ(x, t) = ψ(x)e−iEt/~ , − ∇ ψ(x) + V (x)ψ(x) = E ψ(x)
2m

• Infinite square well (

0, for 0 < x < a,
V (x) =
∞ otherwise
r
2 nπx ~2 π 2 n2
ψn (x) = sin , En = , n = 1, 2, . . .
a a 2ma2
• Finite square well bound states: E ≤ 0
(
−V0 , for |x| < a, V0 > 0
V (x) =
0 for |x| > a

2m(E + V0 )a2 2m|E|a2 2mV0 a2

η2 ≡ , ξ 2
≡ , z0
2
≡
~2 ~2 ~2
|E| ξ2
→ = 2, ξ 2 + η 2 = z02
V0 z0
Even solutions: ξ = η tan η
Odd solutions: ξ = −η cot η

• Delta function potential:

mα2
V = −α δ(x), α > 0, Bound state: E = −
2~2

3
• Harmonic Oscillator
1 2 1 ˆ + 1) , N ˆ = ↠â
Ĥ = p̂ + mω 2 x̂2 = ~ω (N 2
2m 2
r   r  
mω ip̂ † mω ip̂
â = x̂ + , â = x̂ − ,
2~ mω 2~ mω
r r
~ † mω~ †
x̂ = (â + â ) , p̂ = i (â − â) ,
2mω 2

ˆ† ] = 1 ,
[x̂, p̂] = i~ , [â, a ˆ â ] = −â ,
[N, ˆ , ↠] = ↠.
[N

 mω 1/4  mω 
âφ0 = 0 , φ0 (x) = exp − x2 .
π~ 2~

1
φn = √ (a† )n φ0
n!

1


Ĥ φn = En φn = ~ω n + 2
φn , N̂ φn = n φn , (φm , φn ) = δmn

√ √
↠φn = n + 1 φn+1 , â φn = n φn−1 .

4
1. Sketching wavefunctions [20 points]
A symmetric potential is attached to the first inside page of your blue book (it is also
the last page on this test.) The potential is infinite for |x| > a and it is an even
function of x. Indicated on the figure as horizontal dashed lines are the first (ground
state), the second, and the fifth energy levels. Sketch the associated wavefunctions.
Pay attention to symmetry, convexity or concavity, inflection points, nodes, amplitude,
and wavelength.

2. Cleaning up units [15 points]

In the hydrogen atom, the length scale is the Bohr radius a0 given by

~2
a0 = .
me2
Consider now the “radial equation” for the radial part ψ(r) of the wavefunction:
 ~2 d 2 ~2 ℓ(ℓ + 1) e2 
− + − ψ(r) = Eψ (r) .
2m dr 2 2mr 2 r
Here ℓ is a non-negative integer. Clean up the equation by defining a unit-free coordi-
nate u and a unit-free energy E so that the equation will take the form:
 d2 
− 2 + . . . ψ(u) = E ψ(u) .
du
(a) How are r and u related?
(b) How are E and E related?
(c) Complete the above equation.

3. Exercises with the harmonic oscillator [15 points]

(a) Calculate φn , (x̂)3 φn .

(b) Calculate φ0 , (x̂)10 φ10 .

5
4. Ground state and first excited state of a potential [20 points]
Consider the even potential sketched below, with height V0 except for a dip around
x = 0, near which the potential is accurately described by a quadratic function:

V (x) ≃ 1
2
αx2 , x near 0 ,

where α > 0 is a constant.

(a) Use the harmonic oscillator to give an estimate for the ground state energy. Find
an inequality satisfied by α, V0, m, and ~ required for the accuracy of your result.
(b) Now consider the even potential built by using two copies of the potential above,
with well-separated centers at ±x0 .

Give the approximate energies of the ground state and the first excited state
of this potential and sketch the associated wavefunctions. Write an inequality
involving x0 , α, ~, m required for the accuracy of your result.
(c) Combine your two inequalities into the form

... ≪ α ≪ ...

where the dots represent quantities you must write out.

6
5. From square well to delta function [30 points]
In this problem we ask you to derive the bound state energy of a particle of mass m
on the delta function potential

Vδ (x) = −α δ(x) , α > 0,

starting from the problem of a particle of mass m on a finite square well potential. For
this purpose consider a square well with potential Va (x):
(
−V0 , for |x| < a, V0 > 0
Va (x) =
0 for |x| > a

We think of the total width 2a as a regulator, namely, a parameter that will be taken
to zero in the limit as the potential Va becomes infinitesimally narrow to represent the
delta function potential Vδ .
You can think of a negative delta function as the limit of a well whose width and height
are simultaneously going to zero and infinity, respectively, while keeping the area of
the well equal to one.
If the regulator works properly, the final answer for the energy of the delta function
must not depend on a.

(a) For a given value of a fix the value of V0 so that in the limit a → 0 the potential
Va represents Vδ correctly. Give your answer in terms of α and a.
(b) What is the value of z02 for the well Va ? As a → 0 what happens to z0 ? Explain
why such behavior is reasonable.
(c) Work with a very small but nonzero, and calculate leading approximations for η
and ξ in terms of z0 .
(d) Determine the bound state energy of the delta function potential from your anal-
ysis of the well. Do you get the correct answer?

NOTE: Being a proof-like problem, show clear work!

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8
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8.04 Quantum Physics I

Spring 2016

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