Phys 622: Mid-term

Jay Sau
November 14, 2013
Problem (1)(20 points) Spin echo and a time-dependent magnetic field.
(a) (5 points) Consider the Hamiltonian for the two level system
H = gBx Sx ,

(1)

where Sx = ~2 [|+ih| + |ih+|]. Calculate a complete set of eigenkets and

eigenenergies for the Hamiltonian H.
(b)( 5 points) Consider the Hamiltonian
H0 = gBz Sz ,

(2)

by defining the states |i so that Sz |i = ~2 |i. Calculate the unitary timeevolution operator in the |i basis i.e. the coefficients u, (t) in the expansion
X
eit0 H0 /~ =
us,s0 |sihs0 |.
(3)
s=,s0 =

(c)(10 points) -pulse: Define the -pulse as

U () = exp(it0 H0 /~)

(4)

where t0 = /gBz and the reverse pulse as

U () = exp(it0 H0 /~).

(5)

Consider the time-evolution of the state |i(t) in a time-dependent magnetic

field Bx , with a time-dependent Hamiltonian given by
H(t) = gBx Sx for 0 < t < t1

(6)

= gBz Sz for t1 < t < (t1 + t0 )

(7)

= gBx Sx for (t1 + t0 ) < t < (2t1 + t0 )

(8)

= gBz Sz for (2t1 + t0 ) < t < (2t1 + 2t0 ).

(9)

Calculate the final state |i(2(t1 + t0 )) in terms of |i(0). Hint: Use the results
of (a) to calculate the time-evolution under Sx in the diagonal basis.
One should find that the time-evolution under Sx is completely cancelled
because of the application of the -pulse.
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Problem (2)(15 points)Coupled Harmonic oscillator.

(a)(7 points) Consider a Hamiltonian for a pair of particles with mass m,
p21 + p22
K(x21 + x22 ) + k(x1 x2 )2
+
,
(10)
2m
2
where p1,2 are the momenta and x1,2 are the positions of the two particles.
Use an appropriate canonical transformation (i.e. a linear transfomation that
preserves the commutation relations) of x1,2 and p1,2 to another pair of variables
to separate H into a pair of Harmonic oscillator Hamiltonians to show that the
eigenstates of H are labelled by a pair of quantum numbers n1,2 0 with energy
eigenvalues
H=

E(n1 , n2 ) = ~(1 (n1 + 1/2) + 2 (n2 + 1/2)),

(11)

where 1,2 are appropriate frequencies.

(b)(8 points) Suppose we place the Harmonic oscillator at finite temperature
T with a density matrix
= eH/kB T /T r[eH/kB T ].

(12)

hx1 x2 i = T r[x1 x2 ]

(13)

Calculate the correlation

as a function of T . In the above note that for any operator A

X
T r[A] =
hn|A|ni,

(14)

where |ni are eigenstates.

Problem (3)(15 points)WKB and 1D potential problems.
(a)( 5 points) Consider a particle of mass m trapped in a potential
V (x) = V0 ((x/L)2p ) for |x| < L
= otherwise,

(15)
2

~
where p > 0 is an integer. Assuming V0  2mL
2 , using the WKB approximation calculate the energy spectrum En for n such that En < V0 in terms of a
coefficient
Z 1 p
Cp =
dy 1 y 2p .
(16)
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Note C1 = /2, C2 = 1.784 etc.

(b) (5 points) For p = 1, compare the obtained result to the energy spectrum
of a harmonic oscillator.
(c) (5 points) For En  V0 one can approximate V (x) by
V (x) = 0 for |x| < L
= otherwise.

(17)

Calculate the uncertainties x, p for such an energy eigenstate and compare

with the expectation from the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
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