math and physics play

Commutators for some symmetry operators

December 16, 2015 phy1520 , , ,

[Click here for a PDF of this post with nicer formatting]

Q: [1] pr 4.2

If \( \mathcal{T}_\Bd \), \( \mathcal{D}(\ncap, \phi) \), and \( \pi \) denote the translation, rotation, and parity operators respectively. Which of the following commute and why

  • (a) \( \mathcal{T}_\Bd \) and \( \mathcal{T}_{\Bd’} \), translations in different directions.
  • (b) \( \mathcal{D}(\ncap, \phi) \) and \( \mathcal{D}(\ncap’, \phi’) \), rotations in different directions.
  • (c) \( \mathcal{T}_\Bd \) and \( \pi \).
  • (d) \( \mathcal{D}(\ncap,\phi)\) and \( \pi \).

A: (a)

Consider
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:symmetryOperatorCommutators:20}
\begin{aligned}
\mathcal{T}_\Bd \mathcal{T}_{\Bd’} \ket{\Bx}
&=
\mathcal{T}_\Bd \ket{\Bx + \Bd’} \\
&=
\ket{\Bx + \Bd’ + \Bd},
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

and the reverse application of the translation operators
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:symmetryOperatorCommutators:40}
\begin{aligned}
\mathcal{T}_{\Bd’} \mathcal{T}_{\Bd} \ket{\Bx}
&=
\mathcal{T}_{\Bd’} \ket{\Bx + \Bd} \\
&=
\ket{\Bx + \Bd + \Bd’} \\
&=
\ket{\Bx + \Bd’ + \Bd}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

so we see that

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:symmetryOperatorCommutators:60}
\antisymmetric{\mathcal{T}_\Bd}{\mathcal{T}_{\Bd’}} \ket{\Bx} = 0,
\end{equation}

for any position state \( \ket{\Bx} \), and therefore in general they commute.

A: (b)

That rotations do not commute when they are in different directions (like any two orthogonal directions) need not be belaboured.

A: (c)

We have
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:symmetryOperatorCommutators:80}
\begin{aligned}
\mathcal{T}_\Bd \pi \ket{\Bx}
&=
\mathcal{T}_\Bd \ket{-\Bx} \\
&=
\ket{-\Bx + \Bd},
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

yet
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:symmetryOperatorCommutators:100}
\begin{aligned}
\pi \mathcal{T}_\Bd \ket{\Bx}
&=
\pi \ket{\Bx + \Bd} \\
&=
\ket{-\Bx – \Bd} \\
&\ne
\ket{-\Bx + \Bd}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

so, in general \( \antisymmetric{\mathcal{T}_\Bd}{\pi} \ne 0 \).

A: (d)

We have

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:symmetryOperatorCommutators:120}
\begin{aligned}
\pi \mathcal{D}(\ncap, \phi) \ket{\Bx}
&=
\pi \mathcal{D}(\ncap, \phi) \pi^\dagger \pi \ket{\Bx} \\
&=
\pi \mathcal{D}(\ncap, \phi) \pi^\dagger \pi \ket{\Bx} \\
&=
\pi \lr{ \sum_{k=0}^\infty \frac{(-i \BJ \cdot \ncap)^k}{k!} } \pi^\dagger \pi \ket{\Bx} \\
&=
\sum_{k=0}^\infty \frac{(-i (\pi \BJ \pi^\dagger) \cdot (\pi \ncap \pi^\dagger) )^k}{k!} \pi \ket{\Bx} \\
&=
\sum_{k=0}^\infty \frac{(-i \BJ \cdot \ncap)^k}{k!} \pi \ket{\Bx} \\
&=
\mathcal{D}(\ncap, \phi) \pi \ket{\Bx},
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

so \( \antisymmetric{\mathcal{D}(\ncap, \phi)}{\pi} \ket{\Bx} = 0 \), for any position state \( \ket{\Bx} \), and therefore these operators commute in general.

References

[1] Jun John Sakurai and Jim J Napolitano. Modern quantum mechanics. Pearson Higher Ed, 2014.

Plane wave and spinor under time reversal

December 16, 2015 phy1520 , , , , ,

[Click here for a PDF of this post with nicer formatting]

Q: [1] pr 4.7

  1. (a)
    Find the time reversed form of a spinless plane wave state in three dimensions.

  2. (b)
    For the eigenspinor of \( \Bsigma \cdot \ncap \) expressed in terms of polar and azimuthal angles \( \beta\) and \( \gamma \), show that \( -i \sigma_y \chi^\conj(\ncap) \) has the reversed spin direction.

A: part (a)

The Hamiltonian for a plane wave is

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:timeReversalPlaneWaveAndSpinor:20}
H = \frac{\Bp^2}{2m} = i \PD{t}.
\end{equation}

Under time reversal the momentum side transforms as

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:timeReversalPlaneWaveAndSpinor:40}
\begin{aligned}
\Theta \frac{\Bp^2}{2m} \Theta^{-1}
&=
\frac{\lr{ \Theta \Bp \Theta^{-1}} \cdot \lr{ \Theta \Bp \Theta^{-1}} }{2m} \\
&=
\frac{(-\Bp) \cdot (-\Bp)}{2m} \\
&=
\frac{\Bp^2}{2m}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

The time derivative side of the equation is also time reversal invariant
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:timeReversalPlaneWaveAndSpinor:60}
\begin{aligned}
\Theta i \PD{t}{} \Theta^{-1}
&=
\Theta i \Theta^{-1} \Theta \PD{t}{} \Theta^{-1} \\
&=
-i \PD{(-t)}{} \\
&=
i \PD{t}{}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

Solutions to this equation are linear combinations of

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:timeReversalPlaneWaveAndSpinor:80}
\psi(\Bx, t) = e^{i \Bk \cdot \Bx – i E t/\Hbar},
\end{equation}

where \( \Hbar^2 \Bk^2/2m = E \), the energy of the particle. Under time reversal we have

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:timeReversalPlaneWaveAndSpinor:100}
\begin{aligned}
\psi(\Bx, t)
\rightarrow e^{-i \Bk \cdot \Bx + i E (-t)/\Hbar}
&= \lr{ e^{i \Bk \cdot \Bx – i E (-t)/\Hbar} }^\conj \\
&=
\psi^\conj(\Bx, -t)
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

A: part (b)

The text uses a requirement for time reversal of spin states to show that the Pauli matrix form of the time reversal operator is

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:timeReversalPlaneWaveAndSpinor:120}
\Theta = -i \sigma_y K,
\end{equation}

where \( K \) is a complex conjugating operator. The form of the spin up state used in that demonstration was

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:timeReversalPlaneWaveAndSpinor:140}
\begin{aligned}
\ket{\ncap ; +}
&= e^{-i S_z \beta/\Hbar} e^{-i S_y \gamma/\Hbar} \ket{+} \\
&= e^{-i \sigma_z \beta/2} e^{-i \sigma_y \gamma/2} \ket{+} \\
&= \lr{ \cos(\beta/2) – i \sigma_z \sin(\beta/2) }
\lr{ \cos(\gamma/2) – i \sigma_y \sin(\gamma/2) } \ket{+} \\
&= \lr{ \cos(\beta/2) – i \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ 0 & -1 \\ \end{bmatrix} \sin(\beta/2) }
\lr{ \cos(\gamma/2) – i \begin{bmatrix} 0 & -i \\ i & 0 \\ \end{bmatrix} \sin(\gamma/2) } \ket{+} \\
&=
\begin{bmatrix}
e^{-i\beta/2} & 0 \\
0 & e^{i \beta/2}
\end{bmatrix}
\begin{bmatrix}
\cos(\gamma/2) & -\sin(\gamma/2) \\
\sin(\gamma/2) & \cos(\gamma/2)
\end{bmatrix}
\begin{bmatrix}
1 \\
0
\end{bmatrix} \\
&=
\begin{bmatrix}
e^{-i\beta/2} & 0 \\
0 & e^{i \beta/2}
\end{bmatrix}
\begin{bmatrix}
\cos(\gamma/2) \\
\sin(\gamma/2) \\
\end{bmatrix} \\
&=
\begin{bmatrix}
\cos(\gamma/2)
e^{-i\beta/2}
\\
\sin(\gamma/2)
e^{i \beta/2}
\end{bmatrix}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

The state orthogonal to this one is claimed to be

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:timeReversalPlaneWaveAndSpinor:180}
\begin{aligned}
\ket{\ncap ; -}
&= e^{-i S_z \beta/\Hbar} e^{-i S_y (\gamma + \pi)/\Hbar} \ket{+} \\
&= e^{-i \sigma_z \beta/2} e^{-i \sigma_y (\gamma + \pi)/2} \ket{+}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

We have

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:timeReversalPlaneWaveAndSpinor:200}
\begin{aligned}
\cos((\gamma + \pi)/2)
&=
\textrm{Re} e^{i(\gamma + \pi)/2} \\
&=
\textrm{Re} i e^{i\gamma/2} \\
&=
-\sin(\gamma/2),
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

and
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:timeReversalPlaneWaveAndSpinor:220}
\begin{aligned}
\sin((\gamma + \pi)/2)
&=
\textrm{Im} e^{i(\gamma + \pi)/2} \\
&=
\textrm{Im} i e^{i\gamma/2} \\
&=
\cos(\gamma/2),
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

so we should have

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:timeReversalPlaneWaveAndSpinor:240}
\ket{\ncap ; -}
=
\begin{bmatrix}
-\sin(\gamma/2)
e^{-i\beta/2}
\\
\cos(\gamma/2)
e^{i \beta/2}
\end{bmatrix}.
\end{equation}

This looks right, but we can sanity check orthogonality

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:timeReversalPlaneWaveAndSpinor:260}
\begin{aligned}
\braket{\ncap ; -}{\ncap ; +}
&=
\begin{bmatrix}
-\sin(\gamma/2)
e^{i\beta/2}
&
\cos(\gamma/2)
e^{-i \beta/2}
\end{bmatrix}
\begin{bmatrix}
\cos(\gamma/2)
e^{-i\beta/2}
\\
\sin(\gamma/2)
e^{i \beta/2}
\end{bmatrix} \\
&=
0,
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

as expected.

The task at hand appears to be the operation on the column representation of \( \ket{\ncap; +} \) using the Pauli representation of the time reversal operator. That is

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:timeReversalPlaneWaveAndSpinor:160}
\begin{aligned}
\Theta \ket{\ncap ; +}
&=
-i \sigma_y K
\begin{bmatrix}
e^{-i\beta/2} \cos(\gamma/2) \\
e^{i \beta/2} \sin(\gamma/2)
\end{bmatrix} \\
&=
-i \begin{bmatrix} 0 & -i \\ i & 0 \\ \end{bmatrix}
\begin{bmatrix}
e^{i\beta/2} \cos(\gamma/2) \\
e^{-i \beta/2} \sin(\gamma/2)
\end{bmatrix} \\
&=
\begin{bmatrix}
0 & -1 \\
1 & 0
\end{bmatrix}
\begin{bmatrix}
e^{i\beta/2} \cos(\gamma/2) \\
e^{-i \beta/2} \sin(\gamma/2)
\end{bmatrix} \\
&=
\begin{bmatrix}
-e^{-i \beta/2} \sin(\gamma/2) \\
e^{i\beta/2} \cos(\gamma/2) \\
\end{bmatrix} \\
&= \ket{\ncap ; -},
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

which is the result to be demononstrated.

References

[1] Jun John Sakurai and Jim J Napolitano. Modern quantum mechanics. Pearson Higher Ed, 2014.

Another aggregation of notes for phy1520, Graduate Quantum Mechanics.

December 15, 2015 phy1520, Uncategorized

I’ve posted a fourth (pre-exam) update of my aggregate notes for PHY1520H Graduate Quantum Mechanics, taught by Prof. Arun Paramekanti. In addition to what was noted previously, this contains the remainder of my lecture notes, more problem set solutions (not posted separately), and additional worked practice problems.

Most of the content was posted individually in the following locations, but those original documents will not be maintained individually any further.

Time reversal behavior of solutions to crystal spin Hamiltonian

December 15, 2015 phy1520 , , , ,

[Click here for a PDF of this post with nicer formatting]

Q: [1] pr 4.12

Solve the spin 1 Hamiltonian
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:crystalSpinHamiltonianTimeReversal:20}
H = A S_z^2 + B(S_x^2 – S_y^2).
\end{equation}

Is this Hamiltonian invariant under time reversal?

How do the eigenkets change under time reversal?

Answer

In spinMatrices.nb the matrix representation of the Hamiltonian is found to be
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:crystalSpinHamiltonianTimeReversal:40}
H =
\Hbar^2
\begin{bmatrix}
A & 0 & B \\
0 & 0 & 0 \\
B & 0 & A
\end{bmatrix}.
\end{equation}

The eigenvalues are
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:crystalSpinHamiltonianTimeReversal:60}
\setlr{ 0, A – B, A + B},
\end{equation}

and the respective eigenvalues (unnormalized) are

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:crystalSpinHamiltonianTimeReversal:80}
\setlr{
\begin{bmatrix}
0 \\
1 \\
0
\end{bmatrix},
\begin{bmatrix}
-1 \\
0 \\
1
\end{bmatrix},
\begin{bmatrix}
1 \\
0 \\
1 \\
\end{bmatrix}
}.
\end{equation}

Under time reversal, the Hamiltonian is

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:crystalSpinHamiltonianTimeReversal:100}
H \rightarrow A (-S_z)^2 + B ( (-S_x)^2 – (-S_y)^2 ) = H,
\end{equation}

so we expect the eigenkets for this Hamiltonian to vary by at most a phase factor. To check this, first recall that the time reversal action on a spin one state is

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:crystalSpinHamiltonianTimeReversal:120}
\Theta \ket{1, m} = (-1)^m \ket{1, -m},
\end{equation}

or

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:crystalSpinHamiltonianTimeReversal:140}
\begin{aligned}
\Theta \ket{1,1} &= -\ket{1,-1} \\
\Theta \ket{1,0} &= \ket{1,0} \\
\Theta \ket{1,-1} &= -\ket{1,1}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

Let’s write the eigenkets respectively as

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:crystalSpinHamiltonianTimeReversal:160}
\begin{aligned}
\ket{0} &= \ket{1,0} \\
\ket{A-B} &= -\ket{1,-1} + \ket{1,1} \\
\ket{A+B} &= \ket{1,-1} + \ket{1,1}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

Under the reversal operation, we should have

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:crystalSpinHamiltonianTimeReversal:180}
\begin{aligned}
\Theta \ket{0} &\rightarrow \ket{1,0} \\
\Theta \ket{A-B} &= +\ket{1,-1} – \ket{1,1} \\
\Theta \ket{A+B} &= -\ket{1,-1} – \ket{1,1}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

Up to a sign, the time reversed states match the unreversed states, which makes sense given the Hamiltonian invariance.

References

[1] Jun John Sakurai and Jim J Napolitano. Modern quantum mechanics. Pearson Higher Ed, 2014.

Spin three halves spin interaction

December 15, 2015 phy1520 , , , ,

[Click here for a PDF of this post with nicer formatting]

Q: [1] pr 3.33

A spin \( 3/2 \) nucleus subjected to an external electric field has an interaction Hamiltonian of the form

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:spinThreeHalvesNucleus:20}
H = \frac{e Q}{2 s(s-1) \Hbar^2} \lr{
\lr{\PDSq{x}{\phi}}_0 S_x^2
+\lr{\PDSq{y}{\phi}}_0 S_y^2
+\lr{\PDSq{z}{\phi}}_0 S_z^2
}.
\end{equation}

Show that the interaction energy can be written as

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:spinThreeHalvesNucleus:40}
A(3 S_z^2 – \BS^2) + B(S_{+}^2 + S_{-}^2).
\end{equation}

Find the energy eigenvalues for such a Hamiltonian.

A:

Reordering
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:spinThreeHalvesNucleus:60}
\begin{aligned}
S_{+} &= S_x + i S_y \\
S_{-} &= S_x – i S_y,
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

gives
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:spinThreeHalvesNucleus:80}
\begin{aligned}
S_x &= \inv{2} \lr{ S_{+} + S_{-} } \\
S_y &= \inv{2i} \lr{ S_{+} – S_{-} }.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

The squared spin operators are
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:spinThreeHalvesNucleus:100}
\begin{aligned}
S_x^2
&=
\inv{4} \lr{ S_{+}^2 + S_{-}^2 + S_{+} S_{-} + S_{-} S_{+} } \\
&=
\inv{4} \lr{ S_{+}^2 + S_{-}^2 + 2( S_x^2 + S_y^2 ) } \\
&=
\inv{4} \lr{ S_{+}^2 + S_{-}^2 + 2( \BS^2 – S_z^2 ) },
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:spinThreeHalvesNucleus:120}
\begin{aligned}
S_y^2
&=
-\inv{4} \lr{ S_{+}^2 + S_{-}^2 – S_{+} S_{-} – S_{-} S_{+} } \\
&=
-\inv{4} \lr{ S_{+}^2 + S_{-}^2 – 2( S_x^2 + S_y^2 ) } \\
&=
-\inv{4} \lr{ S_{+}^2 + S_{-}^2 – 2( \BS^2 – S_z^2 ) }.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

This gives
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:spinThreeHalvesNucleus:140}
\begin{aligned}
H &= \frac{e Q}{2 s(s-1) \Hbar^2} \biglr{ \inv{4} \lr{\PDSq{x}{\phi}}_0 \lr{ S_{+}^2 + S_{-}^2 + 2( \BS^2 – S_z^2 ) }
-\lr{\PDSq{y}{\phi}}_0 \lr{ S_{+}^2 + S_{-}^2 – 2( \BS^2 – S_z^2 ) }
+\lr{\PDSq{z}{\phi}}_0 S_z^2 } \\
&= \frac{e Q}{2 s(s-1) \Hbar^2} \biglr{ \inv{4} \lr{ \lr{\PDSq{x}{\phi}}_0 -\lr{\PDSq{y}{\phi}}_0 } \lr{ S_{+}^2 + S_{-}^2 }
+ \inv{2} \lr{ \lr{\PDSq{x}{\phi}}_0 + \lr{\PDSq{y}{\phi}}_0 } \BS^2
+ \lr{ \lr{\PDSq{z}{\phi}}_0 – \inv{2} \lr{\PDSq{x}{\phi}}_0 – \inv{2} \lr{\PDSq{y}{\phi}}_0 } S_z^2
}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

For a static electric field we have

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:spinThreeHalvesNucleus:160}
\spacegrad^2 \phi = -\frac{\rho}{\epsilon_0},
\end{equation}

but are evaluating it at a point away from the generating charge distribution, so \( \spacegrad^2 \phi = 0 \) at that point. This gives

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:spinThreeHalvesNucleus:180}
H
=
\frac{e Q}{4 s(s-1) \Hbar^2}
\biglr{
\inv{2} \lr{ \lr{\PDSq{x}{\phi}}_0 -\lr{\PDSq{y}{\phi}}_0
} \lr{ S_{+}^2 + S_{-}^2 }
+
\lr{
\lr{\PDSq{x}{\phi}}_0 + \lr{\PDSq{y}{\phi}}_0
} (\BS^2 – 3 S_z^2)
},
\end{equation}

so
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:spinThreeHalvesNucleus:200}
A =
-\frac{e Q}{4 s(s-1) \Hbar^2} \lr{
\lr{\PDSq{x}{\phi}}_0 + \lr{\PDSq{y}{\phi}}_0
}
\end{equation}
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:spinThreeHalvesNucleus:220}
B =
\frac{e Q}{8 s(s-1) \Hbar^2}
\lr{ \lr{\PDSq{x}{\phi}}_0 – \lr{\PDSq{y}{\phi}}_0 }.
\end{equation}

A: energy eigenvalues

Using sakuraiProblem3.33.nb, matrix representations for the spin three halves operators and the Hamiltonian were constructed with respect to the basis \( \setlr{ \ket{3/2}, \ket{1/2}, \ket{-1/2}, \ket{-3/2} } \)

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:spinThreeHalvesNucleus:240}
\begin{aligned}
S_{+} &=
\Hbar
\begin{bmatrix}
0 & \sqrt{3} & 0 & 0 \\
0 & 0 & 2 & 0 \\
0 & 0 & 0 & \sqrt{3} \\
0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\
\end{bmatrix} \\
S_{-} &=
\Hbar
\begin{bmatrix}
0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\
\sqrt{3} & 0 & 0 & 0 \\
0 & 2 & 0 & 0 \\
0 & 0 & \sqrt{3} & 0 \\
\end{bmatrix} \\
S_x &=
\Hbar
\begin{bmatrix}
0 & \sqrt{3}/2 & 0 & 0 \\
\sqrt{3}/2 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\
0 & 1 & 0 & \sqrt{3}/2 \\
0 & 0 & \sqrt{3}/2 & 0 \\
\end{bmatrix} \\
S_y &=
i \Hbar
\begin{bmatrix}
0 & -\ifrac{\sqrt{3}}{2} & 0 & 0 \\
\ifrac{\sqrt{3}}{2} & 0 & -1 & 0 \\
0 & 1 & 0 & -\ifrac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \\
0 & 0 & \ifrac{\sqrt{3}}{2} & 0 \\
\end{bmatrix} \\
S_z &=
\frac{\Hbar}{2}
\begin{bmatrix}
3 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\
0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\
0 & 0 & -1 & 0 \\
0 & 0 & 0 & -3 \\
\end{bmatrix} \\
H &=
\begin{bmatrix}
3 A & 0 & 2 \sqrt{3} B & 0 \\
0 & -3 A & 0 & 2 \sqrt{3} B \\
2 \sqrt{3} B & 0 & -3 A & 0 \\
0 & 2 \sqrt{3} B & 0 & 3 A \\
\end{bmatrix}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

The energy eigenvalues are found to be

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:spinThreeHalvesNucleus:260}
E = \pm \Hbar^2 \sqrt{9 A^2 + 12 B^2 },
\end{equation}

with two fold degeneracies for each eigenvalue.

References

[1] Jun John Sakurai and Jim J Napolitano. Modern quantum mechanics. Pearson Higher Ed, 2014.