DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati August 16, 2022

1. (a) Consider the energy of each mode of radiation is given by E = nhν with n = 0, 1, 2, 3 . . . .
If the probability of finding a mode at a particular energy E is given by
− k ET
e B
P (E) = P , (1)
− k ET
Ee
B

hν
then show that average energy per mode is given by Ē = hν .
e kB T −1

(b) So that the number of mode per unit volume in electromagnetic radiation at frequency
2
range ν to ν + dν is given by 8πνc3 dν .

(c) Using the above information find the energy density for the frequency range ν to ν + dν.

2. Why do we not see the wave nature of a particle at the macroscopic level? Justify by estimating
the wavelength of a water droplet which is in cubical shape. Each side is given by 0.1 mm.
The droplet is moving with velocity 10 cm/s. Consider the mass density of water as 10 kg/m3 .

3. Choose square shaped wave packet in k-space as

g0 if − a2 < k < a2 ;

Φ(k) =
0 if k > a2 and k < − a2 .

In the above g0 and a are constants. Find Ψ(x) and estimate ∆x∆k.

4. Assume wave packet in k-space as

In the above k0 and δ are constants. Find Ψ(x) and estimate ∆x∆k.

5. The wave packet in x-space is given by Ψ(x) = e−λ|x| for −∞ < x < +∞ (λ is a constant).
Calculate Φ(k) and show that the widths of Ψ(x) and Φ(k), reasonably defined, satisfy reciprocal
relation; i.e. ∆x∆k is a pure number.

6. Assume  √
 √ 2π if k0 − 2δ ≤ k ≤ k0 + 2δ ;
Φ(k) = − 2π if k0 − δ ≤ k ≤ k0 − 2δ and k0 + δ
2 ≤ k ≤ k0 + δ;
0 for all other values of k.


Calculate Ψ(x) and show that although the width of k-distribution is as question 4, the width
of Ψ(x) is greater in accordance with the inequality ∆x∆k ≥ 21 .

7. Consider a wave packet satisfying the relation ∆x∆px ≃ h̄. Show that if the packet is not to
spread appreciably while it passes through a fixed position, the condition ∆px << px must
hold.
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8. Express eif (A) in bra-ket form where A is a Hermitian operator whose eigenvalues are known.

9. (a) Express Sz in operator form by considering its eigenkets as basis vectors. Find the matrix
form of it in this representation. Also write the matrix forms of the eigenkets of Sz in the same
representation.

(b) In the same basis express Sy and Sz in matrix forms.

(c) Consider operators S+ = h̄ |+⟩ ⟨−| and S− = h̄ |−⟩ ⟨+|. Find their matrix form in the basis
representation, given by the eigenkets of Sz .

(d) Discuss the role of S± by investigating their action on |±⟩.

10. Show that the eigenkets of a Hermitian operator are linearly independent.

11. Suppose |i⟩ and |j⟩ are eigenkets of the Hermitian operator A. Under what condition we can
conclude that |i⟩ + |j⟩ is also an eigenket of A?

12. Consider a system of single spin 1/2 particle. For this show the following identities.

(a)
[Si , Sj ] = ih̄ϵijk Sk . (2)

(b)
h̄2
{Si , Sj } = δij . (3)
2

⃗ 2 = 3 h̄2 .
(c) Using the identity (3) show that S 4

⃗ 2 , Si ] = 0.
(d) [S

13. Consider a ket space spanned by the eigenkets {|a′ ⟩} of Hermitian operator A. There is no
degeneracy.

(a) Prove that Πa′ (A − a′ ) is a null operator.

(A−a )′′
′
(b) Show that Πa′′ ̸= a′ (a′ −a′′ ) projects an arbitrary ket |α⟩ along |a ⟩.

(c) Illustrate (a) and (b) parts for the example of single spin 1/2 particle by choosing A = Sz .

14. (a) Construct the operator S ⃗ · n̂ in matrix form in the Sz representation. n̂ is the unit vector
as shown in the Figure 1.
 E
⃗
(b) Using the above information find S · n̂; + in matrix form in the same representation such
that it satisfies
⃗ · n̂; + = h̄ S
 E  E
⃗ · n̂ S
S ⃗ · n̂; + . (4)
2
 E
⃗
Also write down S · n̂; + as linear combination of |±⟩, which are the eigenkets of Sz .

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Physics Physics — Quantum Mechanics I Page 3 of 4

Figure 1: Figure for Problem 14.

15. A spin 1/2 system is known to be in an eigenstate of S⃗ · n̂ with eigenvalue h̄/2, where n̂ is a
unit vector lying on the xz-plane that makes an angle γ with the positive z-axis.

(a) Suppose Sx is measured. What is the probability of getting + h̄2 ?

(b) Evaluate the dispersion in Sx ; i.e. < (Sx − < Sx >)2 >.

16. Prove the following identities.

(a) Tr(XY ) = Tr(Y X) .

(b) Tr(U † XU ) = Tr(X) .

(c) Tr(|a′ ⟩ ⟨a′′ |) = δa′ a′′ .

(d) Tr(|b′ ⟩ ⟨a′′ |) = ⟨a′ |b′ ⟩ .

17. By considering the commutator, show that the following Hermitian matrices may be simultaneously
diagonalized.  
1 0 1
Ω = 0 0 0  (5)
1 0 1
 
2 1 1
Λ = 1 0 −1 (6)
1 −1 2
Find the eigenvectors common to both and verify that under unitary transformation to this
basis both matrices are diagonalized.

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Physics Physics — Quantum Mechanics I Page 4 of 4

18. (a) Show that for any normalized state |Ψ⟩, ⟨Ψ| H |Ψ⟩ ≥ E0 ; where E0 is the lowest energy
eigenvalue and H is the Hamiltonian of the system.

(b) Consider an one dimensional system whose state is given by wave function (normalized)
 1/4 ax2
Ψ(x) = απ e− 2 with a > 0. Suppose the system is under attractive potential; i.e.
V (x) = −|V (x)| for all x. Show that there exists at least one bound state (which is the
eigenstate of H) in the system.
Give after introducing symmetries in quantum mechanics.
h̄
19. (a) Use the uncertainty relation ∆x∆p = 2 to estimate the ground-state energy of harmonic
oscillator.

(b) Use the same uncertainty relation to estimate the ground-state energy of a particle in the
potential V (x) = gx4 , where g is a constant.

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