Quantum Mechanics with Basic Field Theory (1st Edition)

Chapter 2, Problem 1P
Problem
The state vectors |γ〉, |α〉 and |β〉 are related as

where λ is an arbitrary complex constant. By choosing an appropriate λ and the fact that
〈γ |γ〉 > 0, derive the Schwarz inequality relation

Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1 of 6

Consider the given equation as shown below;

Where, are three state vectors and λ is an arbitrary

complex constant.

Here, the objective is to prove:

Comment

2. Step 2 of 6

Taking the inner product of as following

It is given that , therefore,

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Since, λ is an arbitrary complex constant, it should be fixed to
minimize the inequality. Therefore, the above equation (1)
undergoes partial derivation with respect to .

Comment

3. Step 3 of 6

This should be the appropriate value of λ, to minimize the inequality

of equation (1)

Comment

4. Step 4 of 6

Now, substituting the value of λ form equation (2), into the equation
(1)

Comment

5. Step 5 of 6

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This is the famous Schwartz inequality relation.

Comment

6. Step 6 of 6

Hence, Schwartz inequality relation has been

derived with appropriate value of λ as .

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 Chapter 2, Problem 2P
Problem
For the above problem consider a state |φ〉 such that

where A and B are Hermitian operators and ΔA and ΔB are the corresponding
uncertainties. Expressing the product ΔAΔB as a sum of a commutator and an
anticommutator,

and using the Schwarz inequality relation derived above, show that

From this result show that the uncertainty relation follows

Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1 of 7

Consider A and B are two Hermitian operators. And are the

corresponding uncertainties given such that,

Where, is an arbitrary state. The product of and is given

as a sum of commutator and anticommutator;

Comment

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 2. Step 2 of 7

According to the definition of uncertainties, and can be

written as,

Where, A is the operator, is the expectation value of operator A

acting on any state say From the above relations, by substituting

the values in equation(s) (1), it can be written as,

Taking the inner product of all possible combinations of these two

states,

Now, by using equation(s) (7) and Schwartz

inequality, , it can be written as,

Now, consider a complex number ‘z’ that comprises of real part and
imaginary part. According to the property of complex numbers, the
square of modulus of the complex number is given by,

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 Comment

3. Step 3 of 7
Where, ‘Re’ represents real part, ‘Im’ represents imaginary part and
z* represents complex conjugate of z.

Comment

4. Step 4 of 7

By comparing equation (8) & (9),

Comment

5. Step 5 of 7

Hence, it is shown that , using Schwartz

inequality.

Comment

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 6. Step 6 of 7

Replace operator A with position operator ‘x’ and operator B with

momentum operator ‘p’ in equation (10) such that,

As it is known that

The equation (10) becomes,

Taking square root on both side, the equation will become,

Comment

7. Step 7 of 7

Hence, the uncertainty relation has been derived.

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 Chapter 2, Problem 3P
Problem
Put B = H in the above relation and show that

Defining the time uncertainty Δt as

show that one obtains

which is often called the energy–time uncertainty relation.

Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1 of 3

Consider A and B as two Hermitian operators and and are the

corresponding uncertainties such that,

Now, consider the state vector , the operator A and Hamiltonian

operator H, which are time dependent operator acting

on expressed as,

Comment

2. Step 2 of 3

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Replacing B with H in equation (1).

Considering R.H.S. of above equation,

Substituting the value of from equation (3) in equation (2)

Taking the square root on both the sides, equation becomes,

Hence, the relation has been derived.

Comment

3. Step 3 of 3

It is given that

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By rearranging the terms,

Substituting equation (5) in equation (4)

The operator H is Hamiltonian operator is equivalent to Energy

operator and it can be expressed as E, hence,

Hence, this the energy- time uncertainty principle.

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 Chapter 2, Problem 4P
Problem
Use uncertainty relations to estimate the bound-state energies corresponding to
(i) the linear potential

(ii) the Coulomb potential (hydrogen atom)

Step-by-step solution

1. Step 1 of 5
Consider the particle of mass m, linear momentum p, moving under
the potential V(r).
As it is known that total energy of the system is expressed as the
sum of kinetic energy and potential energy such that

Here, is the energy, is momentum and is the mass of the

object.

Comment

2. Step 2 of 5
(i)
Potential V(r) which is linearly proportional to r, given as,

Putting the value of potential in total energy equation as following,

Considering are very small uncertainties in position and

momentum of the particle such that
Using the Heisenberg uncertainty relation,

It can be expressed as,

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Substituting the equation (3) in equation (2)

To find out the bound state energy, E should be minimizing by

differentiating it with respect to r, which implies

Putting the value of r (min) in equation (4)

Comment

3. Step 3 of 5
Hence, this is the bound state energy of the potential given.
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 Comment

4. Step 4 of 5
(ii)
Consider the hydrogen atom where electron of mass m is acting
under the potential given as,

Where, r is the position of electron, e is the charge and Z is the

constant
The total energy of the system is expressed as the sum of kinetic
energy and potential energy, hence,

Comment

5. Step 5 of 5
Considering are very small uncertainties such
that
Therefore, Heisenberg uncertainty relation becomes,

Substituting it in the equation (8)

Minimizing the value of E by differentiating it with respect to r,

which implies

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Substituting this value in equation (9)

Hence, this is the bound state energy of the potential given.

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 Chapter 2, Problem 5P
Problem

Show that the operator in spherical coordinates given by is not Hermitian.

Consider then the operator

Determine a so that it is Hermitian.

Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1 of 3

Consider the operator in spherical coordinates given by

The aim is to shoe that given operator is not Hermitian.

The condition for any operator to be Hermitian is

Comment

2. Step 2 of 3

Consider the R.H.S part of above equation

Further, consider L.H.S of the equation,

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Comparing LHS and RHS, they both are not equal. Hence, it is not a
Hermitian operator.

Comment

3. Step 3 of 3

Consider the given below operator is Hermitian,

To find the value of a, apply the condition of Hermitian operator.

Consider L.H.S of the equation

Consider the R.H.S part

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On comparing LHS and RHS for operator B to be Hermitian,

Hence, the value of a should be 1 for B to be Hermitian operator

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 Chapter 2, Problem 6P
Problem

Show that the operator

is Hermitian. Obtain its explicit form in spherical coordinates. Compare your result with
that of problem 5.

Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1 of 3

Consider the following operator given,

Where, p is the momentum operator and is the unit vector of

position operator.

The objective to prove D operator is Hermitian.

To prove the operator is Hermitian, the following condition should

be satisfied.

Comment

2. Step 2 of 3

Consider the operator D will act on the state vector such that,

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Hence, L.H.S is equal to R.H.S.

Therefore, the operator D is Hermitian.

Comment

3. Step 3 of 3

To express the operator D in spherical coordinate, consider the

momentum operator p as and position vector as

The operator D will act on the state vector such that,

Hence, this the representation of operator D in spherical coordinates

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 Chapter 2, Problem 7P
Problem
For the operator D defined above, obtain

where L (= r × p) is the angular momentum operator. Also show that

Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1 of 4

Consider the operator D is given as

Here, is the displacement operator, is equivalent to which is

position operator, is the momentum operator.

The objective is to obtain the commutation relations,

Here, is the angular momentum operators given by

Note that

Here, is reduced Planck’s constant.

Comment

2. Step 2 of 4

Starting with the first commutation relation,

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Let the operator is operation on the wave function

Comment

3. Step 3 of 4

Similarly, take the next relation,

Comment

4. Step 4 of 4

Further, take the next commutator relation,

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 Hence, collecting all results together, relations

, and

Chapter 2, Problem 8P
Problem
Using the fundamental commutator relation, determine [x, p2], [x2, p] and [x2, p2].

Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1 of 6

Consider x is the position operator, p is the momentum operator

which can be expressed as:

It is known that

Using the properties of commutator brackets,

Comment

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 2. Step 2 of 6

(i)

To determine , using equation (1) and (4)

Comment

3. Step 3 of 6

Hence, the required equation is .

Comment

4. Step 4 of 6

(ii)

To determine , using equation (1) and (2).

Comment

5. Step 5 of 6

Hence, the required equation is .

Comment

6. Step 6 of 6

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(iii)

To determine , using equation (1) , (2), (3) and (4)

Hence, the required result is .

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 Chapter 2, Problem 9P
Problem

Consider the operator which corresponds to finite displacement

Show that

If for a state |α〉 we define |αd〉 = F (d)|α〉, then show that the expectation values with
respect to the two states satisfy

Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1 of 3

Consider the given relation,

Here, is the operator, is the momentum, is the reduced

Planck’s constant and is the finite displacement.

The objective is to prove that

Here, is the position operator.

Comment

2. Step 2 of 3

Consider the RHS of equation (1) and write it in the form of

summation over

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Here,

Multiplying the above equation by

Now, consider the term that can be expressed as

Use this relation and plug it in equation (2)

For commutator relation,

Hence, this is the resulted required.

Comment

3. Step 3 of 3

Consider the state given such that;

The goal is to prove that,

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Here, is the expectation value of position operator

Now, starting with the LHS of the above equation (3)

Take the term , it can be expressed in the form of exponent as,

So, put this value in equation (4)

Replace in above expression

Hence, this is the required result.

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 Chapter 2, Problem 10P
Problem

For a Hamiltonian given by

evaluate the commutator [H, x] and the double commutator [[H, x] , x]. From these
derive the following identity involving the energy eigenstates and eigenvalues:

Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1 of 4

Consider the particle of mass , having the Hamiltonian given

as;

Here, is the momentum operator, is the potential applied to

the particle as the function of

The aim is to evaluate the commutator relations

Comment

2. Step 2 of 4

Starting with the first relation,

Write the first term in RHS separately as,

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Here, is the reduced Plank’s constant.

The second term in RHS is zero because is the function of

Therefore,

Similarly,

Comment

3. Step 3 of 4

Now next objective is to prove the following relation,

Here, and are two states of the system and are the
energies of the states respectively.

Consider the second term of LHS in the above equation,

Take the Hermitian conjugate such that;

Denote the equation (4) by A such that

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Open the brackets and calculate to simplify

By looking at the equation (6), it can be observed that can be

either multiplied to the left of or to the right.

Consider the former case first.

Now, considering the case when is multiplies to right,

Adding the equations (7) and (8)

Comment

4. Step 4 of 4
Substituting the value from equation (3)

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 This implies that

Therefore, this is the required result.

Chapter 2, Problem 11P

Problem

For a Hamiltonian given by

use the properties of the double commutator [[H, eik·r], e–ik·r] to obtain

Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1 of 3

Consider the particle of mass , having the Hamiltonian given

as;

Here, is the momentum operator, is the potential applied to

the particle as the function of
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The aim is to determine

Here, and are two states of the system and are the
energies of the states respectively, is the wave vector and is the
position vector.

Comment

2. Step 2 of 3

Firstly, start with the commutator relations given as,

Solve the RHS by taking terms separately.

Take the first term,

Take the second term,

Substitute the equation (2) and (3) in equation (1),

Take the double commutator relation as,

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 Comment

3. Step 3 of 3

Now, determine the expectation value equation (4) for state such
as,

Replace by

Hence, this is the required value.

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