Phys 468/636:Condensed Matter Physics, Winter 2017

Problem Set #1, Many-body quantum states and the interacting electron gas
Due date: anytime on January 24th

Grading: Out of 20 points, each problems weight is indicated. Assignments that are late will be penalized
10% per day that they are late. Late assignments can be slipped under my office door. No homework
should be identical, collaborating does not mean copying.

Please keep up with your pre-lecture reading, as per the syllabus.

Problem 1 (3 points) Wave function for N-particles in first quantization

Consider 3 free electrons in a 3-D box whose side is of length L. Neglect spin (but still respect the Pauli
exclusion principle for electrons).

(a) What are the single-particle states available for these electrons? (write the normalized wavefuntions)

(b) Construct the ground-state wave function for the 3 electrons from these single particle states.
Meaning the wave function that describes all 3 electrons at the same time.

(c) How would you write this state in the 2nd quantization notation?

Problem 2 (4 points) Intro to Hartree-Fock

In the Hartree-Fock approximation, the Hamiltonian of the system is

= + (
+ ) +

(a) Consider 2 electrons with a complete single particle state basis simply given by u1 and u2 (two possible
eigenstates for the electrons). Lets assume that there is no ion around, so we only consider the 2
electrons. (1) Write down explicitly the direct (Hartree) and exchange (Fock) terms in the above equation
in the first quantization notation. (2) Write these 2 terms out in the 2nd quantization notation.

(b) (1-2 sentence answer) What causes the exchange interaction (read on it)? Why is the energy of the
system lower than you would think by calculating only the direct interaction?

(c) (1-2 sentence answer) Explain how if we completely neglect magnetic interactions, the exchange
interaction can magnetize a ferromagnet? This is in fact why many electronic systems are spin polarized.
This is a purely quantum mechanical effect. (hint: so far we did not consider spin, but remember that in
fact the total wavefunction = orbital X spin, and is anti-symmetric for fermions)
Problem 3 (3 points) Exchange energy

Consider again 3 electrons inside a 3D box. Using their 3-particle wave function for the non-interacting
case (problem 1(b),(c)),

Using the Hartree-Fock approximation, calculate the Exchange energy of the 3 electrons.

Problem 4 (3 points) Field operators

Re-write the Hartree-Fock Hamiltonian discussed in class using the field operators defined in Eqs. 2.6.2
and 2.6.3 of T&H. [short answer]

Problem 5 (4 points) Density of states in 2-dimensional electron gases

(a) Derive the density of state D(E) per unit area (i.e. divided by area) for a free-electron gas that is
confined to 2-dimensions. This happens in semiconducting heterostructures where electrons can get
trapped at the interface between 2 different materials (e.g. GaAs/AlGaAs).

(b) Consider the electron gas in graphene (one sheet of graphite) which is also 2-dimensional. The
electrons are still free, but they now are relativistic-like particles. So = where vF is a constant
(Fermi velocity = 106 m/s), and not the usual = 2 2 /2. Derive D(E) per unit area for graphene.

Problem 6 (3 points) Screening

Do problem # 3 of Chapter 17 in A&M, page 351-352. (Hint: start by looking at the beginning of section
2.4 in T&H and go from there)