Module 1 : Quantum Mechanics Chapter 7 : Miscellaneous topics Miscellaneous topics Here, we will consider some general properties of quantum

systems. We begin with the consideration of relations between states in different dimensions. 7.1 Inter-dimensional degeneracy There are some similarities in the basic Schroedinger equation in different dimensions which lead to relations between the solutions in different dimensions. We will consider the equations for energy eigenstates in 1-d, and the radial equations in 2-d and 3-d. 1-d: The Schroedinger equation in 1-d for an even potential is

(7.1)

2-d: The radial part of the 2-d Schroedinger equation in Eq.(5.24) in terms of polar coordinates, is

(7.2)

3-d: The radial part of the 3-d Schroedinger equation in Eq.(6.8) in terms of spherical coordinates, is

(7.3) Comparing these equations, one obtains

(7.4) Effectively, we get the solutions for 3-d energies by replacing or solutions for 2-d energies by replacing by by in the 2-d energies,

in 3-d solutions. We also note that

(7.5) where oddness of 1-d solutions is required since vanishes at . These relations are described as inter-dimensional degeneracies, and are illustrated by examples in S.H.O. and Coulomb potentials. (1) S. H. O. potential

(7.6) (2) Coulomb potential :

(7.7) Spin 1/2 particles (7.8)

in Eqs.(6.16),(6.17) with index

taking values

corresponding to , and

components and summation over repeated index

(7.9) in Eq.(6.57). This leads to the results

(7.10) in Eq.(6.62) where are eigenstates of and ,

(7.11)

The maximum and minimum values of

have to lead to zeros in Eq.(7.10) which implies

(7.12) Now, since is reached from in integer number of steps as in Eq.(7.10), one has

(7.13) This implies that the angular momentum algebra allows to be a half integer. Of course, is an integer. spatial description in terms of spherical harmonics puts in the condition that Therefore, there is no spatial description of = half integer states which are described as intrinsic spin or higher half integer intrinsic spin states.

For spin 1/2 particle, the basic states may be described as (7.14) which are eigenstates of spin angular momentum,

(7.15) This implies that one can represent the operator and states as

(7.16)

With

being the adjoint of

, one has

(7.17) which leads to

(7.18) The properties of the spin matrices can be specified in the form

(7.19) with summation over repeated index , where the Pauli matrices are

(7.20)

Electrons and protons, neutrons are particles with intrinsic spin angular momentum

7.2 Charged particle in an electromagnetic field We now consider the properties of a particle of mass For this, we begin with the appropriate Lagrangian (7.21) where we have used cgs units. This leads to the correct force and charge , in an electromagnetic field.

(7.22)

The corresponding canonical momentum and Hamiltonian are

(7.23) Now for a free particle with spin , one can write the Hamiltonian as

(7.24) with Pauli matrices in Eqs.(7.19),(7.20). It is then generalised to the Pauli Hamiltonian for a spin particle in the presence of an electromagnetic field,

(7.25)

This leads to

(7.26)

where we have used

and

. With the appropriate choice of the gauge,

(7.27)

(7.28)

where

, and

is the component of

perpendicular to

This has some important implications. Magnetic dipole moment: For a magnetic dipole by the potential (7.29) Therefore the Hamiltonian in Eq.(7.28) implies that the charged particle with angular momentum and spin has a magnetic dipole moment (7.30) in a magnetic field , the interaction is described

For a charged particle moving around a circle with radius

, one has

(7.31) which is consistent with the first term in Eq.(7.30). A very important implication is that for a charged particle with intrinsic half integral spin there is an associated magnetic dipole moment ,

(7.32) with a profound difference of a factor of compared with the rotational magnetic dipole moment in Eq.(7.31). The Hamiltonian in Eq.(7.28) implies shifts in the energy levels whenthe particle is subjected to a magnetic field, leading to Zeeman effect observed in Stern-Gerlach experiment. The term in Eq.(7.28) implies quadratic Zeeman effect. It also leads to additionalinteraction in atoms leading to fine structure and hyperfine structure in atomic energy levels.