Maggie Regan

Physics 113
Zettili 3-16
In this problem we are considering a system whose Hamiltonian H and an operator A
are given by the matrices

 
0 −i 0
H = 0  i 0 2i  ,
0 −2i 0
 
0 −i 0
A = a0  i 1 1  .
0 1 0
For part (a) we are want to see what values we would obtain if we measured the energy
of the system.
√ To do this, we
√ take find the eigenvalues of the matrix H. These are λ1 =
0, λ2 = 0 5, and λ3 = −0 5. The eigenvectors corresponding to these possible energy
values are  
−2
1
v~1 = √  0  ,
5 1
 
√1
1
v~2 = √  i 5  , and
10 2
 
1√
1
v~3 = √  −i 5  .
10 2
√
Then, in part (b) we measure the energy and get a value of 0 5. Immediately after this
measurement, we measure A. We want to find the values we could obtain for A and the
probabilities corresponding to each value. So, we first find the eigenvalues of the matrix A.
These are found to be a1 = 0, a2 = 2a0 , and a3 = −a0 .√
Now, if we measure the energy first to be epsilon0 5, then we are left in the state of v~2
found in part (a). Therefore, the probabilities are calculated in the state of v~2 . Then,

P (a1 ) = |ha1 |v2 i|2

1 1
= | √ ( √ )(1 0 i) · v~2 |2
10 2
1
= |1 − 2i|2
20
1
=
4

1
 P (a2 ) = |ha2 |v2 i|2
1 1
= | √ ( √ )(−i 2 1) · v~2 |2
10 6
1 √
= |i(1 + 2 5) + 2|2
60 √
6− 5
=
15

P (a3 ) = |ha3 |v2 i|2

1 1
= | √ ( √ )(i 1 − 1) · v~2 |2
10 3
1 √
= |i(1 + 5) − 2|2
30
5√
= 515
+

√
6
Then, for part (c) we have that hAi = P1 E1 +P2 E2 +P3 E3 = 0+2a0 ( 15 − 155 )+(−a0 )( 15
5
+
√
5 a0
√
15
) = − 15 (3 5 + 7).

2
 Maggie Regan
Physics 113
Zettili 3-17

For this problem we are considering a physical system whose Hamiltonian and initial
state are given by

 
1 −1 0
H = 0  −1 1 0 ,
0 0 −1


1
1
|ψ0 i = √  1  ,
6 2

where 0 has the dimensions of energy. To get the values that will be obtained when
measuring the energy, we find the eigenvalues of the matrix H. These are λ1 = 0, λ2 = 20 ,
and λ3 = −0 . The eigenvalues give respective eigenvectors of
 
1
1  
v~1 = √ 1 ,
2 0
 
−1
1
v~2 = √  1  , and
2 0
 
0
v~3 =  0 .
1
Then, we can write the initial state in terms of these vectors. So,


1
1
|ψ0 i = √  1  ,
6 2

= √1 |v1 i + √2 |v3 i.
3 6

The probabilities for measuring each energy value is then the square of each coefficient in
the new representation of the initial state. Therefore, P (E1 ) = 31 , P (E2 ) = 0, and P (E3 ) = 32 .
For part (b) we are asked to calculate the expectation value of the Hamiltonian, hĤi.
Since hψ0 |ψ0 i = 1, the expectation value is just hĤi = P1 E1 + P2 E2 + P3 E3 . Thus, hĤi =
1
3
· 0 + 0 · (20 ) + 23 · (−0 ) = − 32 0 .

1
Prob. 3-17-b-again (solution by Michael Fisher) 1

We are asked to repeat 3-17-b using the density operator method. We want to find the
expectation value hĤi using the trace of the density matrix times the operator Ĥ. From
before, we know that we are in the state

 
1
1  
|φo i = √ 1 (1)
6
2

and the operator matrix

1 −1 0
 

H = o −1 1 0 (2)
0 0 −1

We begin by computing the density operator from the state |φo i

   
1 1 1 2
1

W = |φo i hφo | = 1 1 1 2 = 1 1 2 (3)
6
2 2 2 4

Now we multiply the matrices

1 −1 0 0 0 −2
    
1 1 2
o o
W H = 1 1 2 −1 1 0  = 0 0 −2 (4)
6 6
2 2 4 0 0 −1 0 0 −4

Therefore the trace is

−2
T r(W H) = o (5)
3
This means that

−2
hĤi = T r(W H) = o (6)
3
which agrees with the previous attempt.
Prob. 3-18 (solution by Alexandra Werth) 1

Given two observables,

   
2 0 0 1 0 0
A = √12 0 1 1 B = 0 0 1
0 1 1 0 1 0

√
(a) To find the probability of obtaining the A = 2 and B = −1 we first find the
√
eigenvalues and eigenvectors cooresponding to 2 and −1 for A and B respectively.
√ √
Eigenvalues of A: 2, 2, 0

   
 √ E 0  √ E 1
A = 2 = 1 , A = 2 = 0 (1)
   
1 0

Eigenvalues of B: −1, 1, 1

 
0
|B = −1i = −1 (2)
−1

(b) Next, we can measure the probability of B then A.

 √ E 2
| hB = −1| A = 2 | = 0 (3)


And we can measure the probability of A then B.

D √ 
| A = 2 |B = −1i |2 = 0 (4)

(c) The probability of A then B and B then A are both zero. Therefore, A and B commute.
Z.3.19 (solution by Anthony Yoshimura) 1

Measuring Energies: Measuring Two Observables

Consider a system whose state |ψ(t)i and two observables A and B are given by

−i
     
1 i 1 3 0 0
1
|ψ(t)i = √  2  , A = −i 0 0 , B = 0 1 i  .
5
0 1 0 0 0 −1 0

(a) Are A and B compatible? Which among the sets of operators {Â}, {B̂}, and {Â, B̂}
form a complete set of commuting operators?

(b) Measuring A first and then B immediately afterwards, find the probability of obtaining
a value of −1 for A and a value of 3 for B.

(c) Now, measuring B and then A immediately afterwards, find the probability of obtaining
3 for B and −1 for A. Compare this result with the probability obtained in (b).

Solution
A and B are compatible if their matrices commute. Since

     
1 i 1 3 0 0 3 0 0 1 i 1
AB − BA = −i 0 0 0 a i  − 0 a i  −i 0 0 (1)
1 0 0 0 −1 0 0 −1 0 1 0 0
−3i −4
 
0
= −3i 0 0
4 0 0
6= 0,

and so A and B are not compatible. The eigenvalues of A are

λa = −1, 0, 1 (2)

and so its eigenvectors form a nondegenerate basis. Similaraly, the eigenvalues for B are

1 √
λb = 3, (1 ± 5) (3)
2
Z.3.19 (solution by Anthony Yoshimura) 2

and so it’s eigenvectors are nondegenerate as well. Thus {A} and {B} form complete sets
of commutating operators. However, {A, B} does not form a CSCO since A and B do not
commute.
Solution.b
The eigenvector of A corresponding to the eigenvalue −1

−1

1
|a−1 i = √  −i  (4)
3
1

And the eigenvector of B corresponding to the eigenvalue 3 is

 
1
|b3 i = 0 .
 (5)
0

The probability of first measuring −1 for A is

 2
2
 1 1  3
P (A = −1|ψ) = |ha−1 |ψi| =  √ √ (−i − 2i) = .
 (6)
5 3 5

The probability of then measuring 3 for B is.

1
P (B = 3|A = −1) = |hb3 |a−1 i|2 = (7)
3
Thus the probability of both events occurring in sequence is

1
P (A = −1 then B = 3) = P (A = −1)P (B = 3|A = −1) = (8)
5

Solution.c
Now suppose we measure B first. The The probability of first measuring 3 for B is

 2
2
 1  1
P (B = 3|ψ) = |hb3 |ψi| =  √ (−i) = .
 (9)
5 5

The probability of then measuring -1 for A is.

Z.3.19 (solution by Anthony Yoshimura) 3

1
P (A = −1|B = 3) = |ha−1 |b3 i|2 = (10)
3
And finally, the probability of both events occurring in sequence is

1
P (B = 3 then A = −1) = P (B = 3)P (B = 3|A = −1) = (11)
15
As expected, these probabilities are not equal since A and B don’t commute.
Prob. 1-1 (solution by Michael Fisher) 1

We are given that the fixed mean is $2.50 and that the price of tofu is $8.00. Let qi be the
price of item i. Then we can define the following functions

4
X
f (pi ) = qi pi − 2.5 = 0 (1)
i=1
4
X
g(pi ) = pi − 1 = 0 (2)
i=1

The first constraint equation f gives that the fixed mean is $2.50 and the second constraint
equation g gives that the total probability is 1. Now we can write

∂S ∂f ∂g
+ λf + λg =0 (3)
∂pi ∂pi ∂pi

Taking the derivatives, like in the previous problem, gives

−(log(pi ) + 1) + λf qi + λg = 0 = −(log(pi+1 ) + 1) + λf qi+1 + λg (4)

So we can cancel and rearrange to get

pi+1
log( ) = λf (qi+1 − qi ) (5)
pi
so

log( pi+1
pi
)
= λf (6)
qi+1 − qi

where λf is constant. Now we let

p2 p3
α= = (7)
p1 p2
p4
β= (8)
p3

This implies that

log(β)
log(α) = (9)
5
Prob. 1-1 (solution by Michael Fisher) 2

so

β = α5 (10)

Now we can compute

P4
i=1 qi pi p1 1 + 2α + 3α2 + 8α7
P4 = 2.5 = (11)
i=1 pi
p1 1 + α + α 2 + α 7

so

5.5α7 + 0.5α2 − 0.5α − 1.5 = 0 (12)

Solving numerically gives

α = 0.836 (13)

So

1
p1 = = 0.355 = P (B) (14)
1 + α + α2 + α7

and

p2 = αp1 = 0.296 = P (C) (15)

p3 = αp2 = 0.248 = P (F ) (16)
p4 = α5 p3 = 0.101 = P (T ) (17)
Prob. 5.6.9 (solution by Alexandra Werth) 1

(a) The expectation value is equal to the price of the food times the probability of the food
being ordered, 1.75 = P (B) + 2P (C) + 3P (F ).
(b) The sum of the probabilities of ordering the food will sum to one, P (B)+P (C)+P (F ) =
1. To find the ranges of each of the probabilities I first set P (F ) = 0. In this case, P (C) will
be at a maximum and P (B) will be at its minimum value.

1.75 = P (B) + 2P (C) (1)

1 = P (B) + P (C) (2)

1.75 = 1 − P (C) + 2P (C) (3)
P (C) = 0.75 (4)
P (B) = 0.25 (5)
To find the range of the probability of P (F ), I set P (C) = 0. In this case, both P (B) and
P (F ) will be at a maximum value.

1.75 = P (B) + 3P (F ) (6)

1 = P (B) + P (F ) (7)
1.75 = 1 − P (F ) + 3P (F ) (8)
P (C) = 0.375 (9)
P (B) = 0.625 (10)
Therefore, we have
0.25 ≤ P (B) ≤ 0.625
0 ≤ P (C) ≤ 0.75
0 ≤ P (F ) ≤ 0.375

(c) We can now solve for P (C) and P (B) in terms of P (F ). We get...

P (C) = 0.75 − 2P (F ) (11)

P (B) = 0.25 + P (F ) (12)

To solve for the value P (B), P (C), and P (F ) which maximize the entropy we use the
equation,
X 1
S= P (Ai )log2 (13)
i
P (A i )
Prob. 5.6.9 (solution by Alexandra Werth) 2

1 1
S = (0.25 + P (F ))log2 ( ) +(0.75 +2P (F ))log2 ( ) + P (F )log2 (P (F ))
0.25 + P (F ) 0.75 − 2P (F )
(14)
To solve for P (F ) which maximizes the entropy, we take the derivative of S and then set it
equal to zero. The result is P (F ) = 0.216, P (B) = 0.466, and P (C) = 0.318.
(d) To solve for the expectation value of the calories and cold food, we just multiply the
number of calories or the probability of the food being cold by the probability of the food
being ordered.

hcaloriesi = (0.466)(1000) + (0.318)(600) + (0.216)(400) = 743 (15)

hcoldi = (0.466)(0.5) + (0.318)(0.2) + (0.216)(0.1) = 0.318 (16)

B.6.19.2 (solution by Anthony Yoshimura) 1

Pure and Nonpure States

Consider an observable σ that can only take on two values +1 and −1. The eigenvectors of
the corresponding operator are denoted by |+i and |−i. Now consider the following states.

(a) The one-parameter family of pure states that are represented by the vectors

1 eiθ
|θi = √ |+i + √ |−i
2 2
(b) The nonpure state

1 1
ρ = |+ih+| + |−ih−|
2 2

Show that hσi = 0 for both of these states. What, if any, are the the physical differences
between these various states, and how could they be measured?
Solution
The expectation value for |θi is

eiθ eiθ
   
1 1
hθ|σ̂|θi = √ h+| + √ h−| σ̂ √ |+i + √ |−i (1)
2 2 2 2
1 1
= h+|+i + h−|−i
2 2
= 0,

where I have used the fact that |+i and |−i are orthonormal. Meanwhile, for ρ we have

hσ̂i = Tr(ρ̂σ̂) (2)

 
1 1 
= Tr |+ih+| + |−ih−| |+ih+| − |−ih−|
2 2
 
1 1
= Tr |+ih+| − |−ih−|
2 2
1 1
= h+|+ih+|+i − h−|−ih−|−i
2 2
=0
B.6.19.2 (solution by Anthony Yoshimura) 2

Although both expectation values of σ are zero, these states are physically different. We can
measure their physical differences by measuring another observable in these states.
Prob. 6.19.3 (solution by Alexandra Werth) 1

Given the operator

 
0 1 0
M = 1 0 1
0 1 0

I can calculate the probability, P rob(M = 0|ρ) for the state operators,
1 1
0 12
  1 
2
0 0 2 2
0 0
ρ =  0 14 0  ρ =  0 0 0 ρ = 0 0 0
0 0 14 1
2
0 12 0 0 21

First, we begin by finding the eigenvector which cooresponds to the eigenvalue where λ = 0.

−1
 
1
v=√  0  (1)
2
1

Therefore, the P (M = 0) is

1 0 −1
 
1
P (M = 0) =  0 0 0  (2)
2
−1 0 1

To find the probability of M = 0 given ρ is T r(P (M = 0)ρ).

(a)
 1  1 1
1 0 −1 −
 
2
0 0 0
1 1 2 4
0 0 0   0 41 0  =  0 0 0  (3)
2 2
−1 0 1 0 0 14 − 12 0 41

The trace of this matrix is 38 .

(b)
 1
1 0 −1 0 21
   
2
0 0 0
1 1
0 0 0   0 0 0  = 0 0 0 (4)
2 1 2
−1 0 1 2
0 21 0 0 0

The trace of this matrix is 0.

Prob. 6.19.3 (solution by Alexandra Werth) 2

(c)
 1  1
1 0 −1 0 − 12
  
2
0 0 2
1 1
0 0 0  0 0 0 =  0 0 0  (5)
2 2
−1 0 1 0 0 21 − 12 0 12

The trace of this matrix is 12 .

Prob. 16.19.4 (solution by Michael Fisher) 1

To determine whether the given matrices are valid density operators, we check if the trace
equals 1 and the determinant is greater than or equal to zero. Then, to see if it represents
a pure state we look to see if the square trace is equal to one as well.
−3
T r(p1 ) = 1 but det(p1 ) = 2
so p1 is not a density operator.
T r(p2 ) = 1, det(p2 ) = 0, and T r(p22 ) = 1 so p2 is a pure state density operator. By trial and
error it is easy to find that

 
1 3 1

p2 = 3 4 (1)
5 4 5

T r(p3 ) = 1 but det(p3 ) = −2 so p3 is not a density operator.

T r(p4 ) = 1, det(p4 ) = 14 , and T r(p24 ) = 7
16
so p4 is a density operator and a mixed state.
T r(p5 ) = 1, det(p5 ) = 0, and T r(p25 ) = 1 so p5 is a pure state density operator. From trial
and error we can find that

√

 
1 1 1
√ √ √ 1 2 (2)
3 2 3
B.6.19.7 (solution by Anthony Yoshimura) 1

More Density Matrices

Suppose we have a system with total angular momentum 1. Pick a basis corresponding to
the three eigenvectors of the z-component of the angular momentum, Jz , with eigenvalues
+1, 0, −1, respectively. We are given an ensemble of such systems described by the density
matrix

 
2 1 1
1
ρ = 1 1 0
4
1 0 1

(a) Is ρ a permissible density matrix? Give your reasoning. For the remainder of this
problem, assume that it is permissible. Does it describe a pure or mixed state? Give
your reasoning.

(b) Given the ensemble described by ρ, what is the average value of Jz ?

(c) What is the spread (standard deviation) in the measured values of Jz ?

Solution

(a) ρ is a permissible density matrix since its trace is 1, and its eigenvalues, 0, 1/4, and 3/4,
P
fit the requirements λk = 1 and 0 ≥ λ ≥ 1. A pure state has eigenvalues only equal
to 0 or 1, so ρ is a mixed state.

(b) Consider the basis vectors |+i, |0i and |−i such that

Jˆz |+i = |+i Jˆz |0i = 0 Jˆz |−i = −|−i. (1)

We can write the matrix form of Jˆz in this basis

 
1 0 0
Jˆz = 0 0 0  . (2)
0 0 −1

The expectation value of Jˆz is then

2 0 −1
 
1 1
Tr(ρ̂Jˆz ) = Tr 1 0 0  = (3)
4 4
1 0 −1
B.6.19.7 (solution by Anthony Yoshimura) 2

(c) The expectation value of Jz2 is

 
2 0 1
1 3
Tr(ρ̂Jˆz2 ) = Tr 1 0 0 = (4)
4 4
1 0 1

The standard deviation in the measurement of Jz is therefore

√
11
δ= hJz2 i 2
+ hJz i = . (5)
16
 Maggie Regan
Physics 113
Boccio 6.19.9

For part (a) of this problem we have that Ĥ is a Hermitian operator. We want to show
that U = eiH is a unitary operator.
t
So, if U = eiH , then U t = e−iH = e−iH . Thus, U t U = e−iH · U iH = 1. Therefore, U is a
unitary operator.
Then, in part (b) we want to show that det(U ) = eitr(H) . So, first we choose a basis where
H is diagonal. So,
···
 
λ1 0 0
.. .. .. 
 0
 . . . 
H= . . ,
 .. . . λn−1 0 
0 ··· 0 λn
. Therefore,
eiλ1 ···
 
0 0
.. .. ..
 0
 . . .

U = . ,

 .. .. iλ
. e n−1 0 
0 ··· 0 eiλn
.
This means that det(U ) = eiλ1 eiλ2 · · · eiλn = ei(λ1 +···+λn ) = eitr(H) .