UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY

PHAS3226 QUANTUM MECHANICS
Problem Sheet 2 (2009)
Solutions to be handed in by end of November 10 2009
The mark for each part is given in the right-hand margin

Question 1. A particle moving in one dimension is in a quantum state described by the

wave-function:
ψ(x) = A exp[ikx − γx2 ]
(this kind of state is known as a ‘wave-packet’). Show that in order to ensure that this
wave-function is normalised to unity, the constant A is given by the formula:

|A| = (2γ/π)1/4 .

(You may use the standard formula: [3]

Z ∞ 2
e−αx dx = (π/α)1/2 .
−∞

In the later parts of this question, you may wish to use the more general formulas:

(2n)! √ −(2n+1)/2
Z ∞ Z ∞
2n −αx2 2
x e dx = πα and x2n+1 e−αx dx = 0 .
−∞ n! 22n −∞

for any integer n ≥ 0 and any real constant α > 0.)

What are the expectation values hxi and hpi of the position and momentum of the particle? [4]
If many measurements of x are made, with the system always prepared in this same quantum

1/2
state, what is the standard deviation ∆x ≡ hx2 i − hxi2 of the measured values? [5]
If many measurements of momentum p are made, what is the standard deviation ∆p ≡

1/2
hp2 i − hpi2 ? [5]
Show that these values of ∆x and ∆p are related by:
1
∆x∆p = h̄ .
2
[3]

PHAS3226/2009 Problem Sheet 2 CONTINUED...

1
 Question 2. In a simple harmonic oscillator, a particle of mass m in one dimension is
acted on by a potential V (x) = 12 kx2 , where k is the spring constant. The frequency of the
oscillator is ω = (k/m)1/2 . In the quantum treatment of the harmonic oscillator, it is helpful
to work with step-up and step-down (creation and annihilation) operators â + and â− , defined
as:
1 h i
â+ = √ (mω/h̄)1/2 x̂ − i(mh̄ω)−1/2 p̂
2
1 h i
â− = √ (mω/h̄)1/2 x̂ + i(mh̄ω)−1/2 p̂ ,
2
where x̂ and p̂ are the position and momentum operators. The Hamiltonian of the system
can then be expressed as:
1 1
Ĥ = p̂2 /2m + kx̂2 = h̄ω(â+ â− + ) .
2 2

Show that in every energy eigenstate, the expectation values of the kinetic energy T and the
potential energy V are equal: hT i = hV i. (Hint: express x̂ and p̂ in terms of â + and â− by
adding and subtracting the equations that define â + and â− . Then, use these expressions for
x̂ and p̂ to express T̂ and V̂ in terms of â+ and â− .) [8]
Also, show that in the eigenstate n, whose energy is E n = (n + 21 )h̄ω (n = 0, 1, . . .), we have:

hx2 i1/2 hp2 i1/2 = cn h̄ ,

and obtain a formula for the constant c n . [8]

From this, show that the ground state is a state of minimum uncertainty for x and p, with
c0 = 1/2. [4]

PHAS3226/2009 Problem Sheet 2 END