Solutions to PHY4605-Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II, Test 1, Exams of Physics

Download Solutions to PHY4605-Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II, Test 1 and more Exams Physics in PDF only on Docsity! 1 PHY4605–Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II Spring 2004 Test 1 Solutions February 6, 2004 1. Short Answer. Must attempt (only) 3 of 4. Circle answers to be graded. (a) Explain the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen ”paradox”. How does the Copen- hagen school of quantum mechanics escape the apparent violation of causality? Simplest example: spin 0 particle decays in lab frame into two spin–1/2 particles which recoil in opposite directions. Quantum Mechanics says spin state must be |s = 0〉 = 1√ 2 (↑↓ − ↓↑). When observer at point A far from B measures spin of particle 1 to be up, wave function colapses ⇒ 2 is down with probability 100%, i.e. 1 influences 2 instantaneously apparently contradicting relativistic causality. Copenhagen: no info can be transferred due to statistical nature of measurement. (b) What’s the DC Stark effect? When is it linear and when quadratic in the applied field? Stark effect is the shift of the spectral lines in an atomic gas subject to an external constant electric field. In the case of a nondegenerate level in an atom, the first-order shift is zero, so the shift is quadratic in the field. If the line is degenerate, a linear term may result. (c) Sketch an experiment to measure the Aharonov-Bohm effect, and comment on the significance of the electromagnetic potentials A and φ in quantum mechanics as opposed to classical physics. interference pattern B=0 2 1 A=0 B=0 Changing B in solenoid changes relative phases of electrons travelling along “paths” 1+2 shifts interference pattern at screen. Classically e− would 2 need to move through region of B 6= 0 to feel an effect. Not true in Quantum Mechanics. (d) In terms of what fundamental ratio is the conductivity quantized in the integer quantum Hall effect? Sketch the energy eigenstates for a 2D elec- tron gas in a perpendicular magnetic field B, identify the spacing, and comment on the significance of a completely filled level for observation of the effect. σxy = n ( e2 h ) (1) E n=1 2 3 4 hω If level completely filled, no final states available for electron scattering if tem- perature is low. Therefore scattering time τ → 0. 5 3. Stern-Gerlach effect. A Stern-Gerlach setup is defined to be a region of inhomogeneous magnetic field, with field gradient pointing in the same direction as field itself. (a) Show that a neutral particle with spin S ‖ x̂ entering the SG setup shown feels a force in the x̂ direction. Explain briefly how you could create such a field, and what is wrong with the picture. F = −∇U = ∇(µ ·B) ∼ Sx(∇Bx) ∼ Sx|∇Bx|x̂ sign depends on Sx. Figure indicates B, ∇B point in same direction. Could do this approximately e.g. with coil whose winding density increases in x direction. However there must be some small transverse gradient to satisfy ∇ ·B = 0. (b) The 1st particle entering the SG setup shown is a neutron (spin 1/2), prepared in a pure spin state in accelerator A with S ‖ x̂. What is the probability it is recorded in particle detector D1? Detector D2? Since particle has Ŝ‖x̂,⇒ it is in pure eigenstate of Ŝx with eigenvalue +~/2 ⇒ it will be observed in detector D2 with 100% probability. (c) The 2nd particle is a ρ meson (charge 0, spin 1) prepared in a spin up (m = 1) state (the spin quantization axis is the ẑ direction, as usual). What is the probability the ρ is detected in D1? D2? (Note any particle whose trajectory lies on the y-axis is missed by both detectors). Write |z1〉 =   1 0 0   in terms of eigenstates of Ŝx for S = 1 particle. Work out mattrix elements 〈m|Ŝx|m′〉 for S = 1, find Sx = ~√2   0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0   6 eigenvectors |x1〉 = 1 2   1 √ 2 1  , |x0〉 = 1√ 2   1 0 −1  , |x,−1〉 = 1 2   1 √ 2 1   |z1〉 = ∑m〈x|m|z1〉|xm〉 = 12 |x1〉 + 1√2 |x, 0〉 + 12 |x,−1〉 ⇒ probability to be detected at D1 or D2 is (1/2) 2 = 1/4. (d) Now a camera with a very narrow-angle lens is placed at position C point- ing along the −y axis and another ρ in the same state as (c) is injected into the SG region. The camera does not observe the particle during the time it takes for the particle to pass through the setup. What is the probability it is recorded in D1? D2? If particle observed not to travel a long y-axis, probability must be 1/2 to be either in |x1〉 or |x,−1〉 ⇒ wave function collapses. 7 4. Molecule. A molecule is made up of three identical X atoms arranged in an equilateral triangle. An electron is added to the molecule to form an X−3 ion. Given that the elctron has zero energy when it sits on any one of the i X-atoms, 〈i|H0|j〉, with i = 1, 2, 3, · · · and that it hops between atoms with matrix element 〈i|H0|j〉 = −a, for i 6= j, and taking a > 0, (a) Find the eigenvalues of H0. State the degeneracy of each level. H0 =   0 −a −a −a 0 −a −a −a 0   ⇒ det [ H0 − λ ] = 0 =   −λ −a −a −a −λ −a −a −a −λ   = λ(λ 2 − a2)− 2a(aλ− a2) = (λ− a)[λ(λ + a)− 2a2] = (λ− a)2(λ + 2a) ⇒ E0 = −2a, E1 = a (degeneracy 2) (b) Find the eigenvectors of H0. [Be sure to express your eigenvectors in terms of a basis consisting of states where the electron is located with probability 1 on a given X-atom.] Ground state |ψ0〉:   0 −a −a −a 0 −a −a −a 0     x y z   = −2a   x y z   ⇒ y + z = 2x x + z = 2y x + y = 2z ⇒ |ψ0〉 = 1√ 3   1 1 1   .