PHAS2222 Revision Lecture

The plan:
First hour:
Summary of main points and equations of course
Opportunity to request particular topics

Second hour:
Specially requested topics
The 2007 exam paper (mainly Section B)

Note: model answers to exams not available on

website, but I am happy to give feedback on
attempts at past examination papers
PHAS2222 Revision Lecture 2008

Photo-electric effect, Compton

scattering

E h
p

Particle nature of light in

quantum mechanics

Davisson-Germer experiment,
double-slit experiment
Wave nature of matter in
quantum mechanics

Wave-particle duality
Postulates:
Time-dependent Schrdinger
Operators,eigenvalues and
equation, Born interpretation
eigenfunctions, expansions
2246 Maths
Separation of
in complete sets,
Methods III
variables
Time-independent Schrdinger
commutators, expectation
Frobenius
equation
values, time evolution
method
Quantum simple
Legendre
harmonic oscillator
Hydrogenic atom
1D problems
equation 2246

En (n 12 )h0
Radial solution

Rnl , E

1Z
2 n2

Angular solution

Yl m ( , )

Angular momentum
operators

Lz , L2

Section 1 Failure of classical

mechanics
The photoelectric effect:

E h (1.1)
K max h W (1.2)
De Broglies relationship for matter
waves:
h
p

Compton scattering: when photon deflected through

angle , new wavelength is

'

h
(1 cos ) (1.4)
me c

Diffraction from crystal surfaces and double-slit experiments:

Maximum scattering when path difference = n

Verifies

Section 2 A wave equation for

matter waves
Time-dependent Schrdinger equation:

h2 2
ih

(2.2)
t
2m x 2
(for matter waves in free space)
ih

Hamiltonian operator (represents energy of

particle):
h d

h2 2

V ( x, t ) (2.3)
t
2m x 2

(generally)

2m dx 2 V ( x, t ) H (2.4)

Born interpretation: probability of finding particle in a small length x at

position x and time t is equal to
2
( x, t ) x (2.6)
If Hamiltonian is independent of time,
can try solution
( x, t ) ( x)T (t ) (2.9)
(timeindependent
Find

T (t ) exp( iEt / h)
H E (2.13)
SE)
Uncertainty principle:

xp

h
(strict version)
2

Section 3 Examples of the timeindependent SE in 1 dimension

Free particle

3. Have a finite normalization

integral.
Rectangular barrier

V(x)
I

-a

2. Have a continuous first derivative

(unless the potential goes to infinity)

Infinite square well

V(
V 0 x)

Finite square well

The wavefunction must:

1. Be a continuous and singlevalued function of both x and t

Travelling waves,
arbitrary value of
energy

h2 d 2
V ( x) E (2.12)
2m dx 2

II

Quantization of energy

V0

Tunnelling

III

II

V(x
)

III

V0
Matching of solutions: a
travelling waves (sines or
cosines) in well, exponentials
in barriers

Potential step
V(x)
V0
Transmission
and reflection
x

Section 3 contd
Particle flux at position x

Particle flux (flow of

probability):

ih *
*
( x)

2m
x
x

Simple harmonic oscillator:

m0
y

1/ 2

2
2
h
d
2 2
1
Hamiltonian H

0x
2
2
2m dx

Substitute ( y ) H ( y ) exp( y 2 / 2)

Series solution for H(y) must

terminate, so H is a finite power
series (polynomial) called a Hermite
polynomial.
Termination condition

1
Energy E (n ) h0
2

Section 4 Postulates of quantum

mechanics
Postulate 4.1: Existence of wavefunction, related to probability
density by Born interpretation.
Postulate 4.2: to each observable quantity is associated a linear, Hermitian
operator (LHO). The eigenvalues of the operator represent the possible results
of carrying out a measurement of the corresponding quantity. Immediately
after making a measurement, the wavefunction is identical to an eigenfunction
of the operator corresponding to the eigenvalue just obtained as the
measurement result.

Eigenfunction: On ( x) onn ( x)

Hermitian operator:

Postulate 4.3: the operators representing the position

and momentum of a particle are

x x

p x ih

*
)dx
f * (Og
g (Of )dx

(4.2)

Section 4 - contd
The eigenfunctions of a Hermitian operator belonging to
different eigenvalues are orthogonal.
If

Qn qnn ; Qm qmm with qn qm

then

The eigenfunctions n of a Hermitian operator

form a complete set, meaning that any other
function satisfying the same boundary
conditions can be expanded as
Note that

an 1
2

( x) ann ( x)

Postulate 4.4: suppose a measurement of the quantity Q is made,

and that the (normalized) wavefunction can be expanded in terms of
the (normalized) eigenfunctions n of the corresponding operator as

( x) ann ( x).
Then the probability of obtaining the eigenvalue qn as the
measurement result is a
2

if normalized, orthonormal.

n
mdx 0

Section 4 - contd
RQ

Q , R QR

Commutator:

Commuting operators have same eigenfunctions,

can have well-defined values simultaneously
(compatible)
Expectation value:

Q an qn .
2

Postulate 4.5: Between measurements (i.e. when it is not disturbed by

external influences) the wave-function evolves with time according to
the time-dependent Schrdinger equation.
Time development in terms of eigenfunctions of Hamiltonian:
If

H n En n

and

( x, 0) an n ( x)
n

then

( x, t ) an exp(iEnt / h) n ( x)
n

Section 5 Angular momentum

Different components do not commute:

[ Lx , L y ] ihLz but

L2 , L z 0

In spherical polar coordinates:

Lz ih

1 2
sin

sin 2 2
sin

L2 h2

Their simultaneous eigenfunctions

are spherical harmonics:

Lz

Ly

LzYl m ( , ) mhYl m ( , ), l m l

L2 Yl m ( , ) l (l 1)h2Yl m ( , )
Conserved for problems with
spherical symmetry

Lx

Section 6 The hydrogen atom

2
2

h
Ze
2
H

2me
4 0 r

Now look for solutions in the form

(r , , ) R(r )Y ( , )
Angular parts are spherical harmonics
Radial part:

R(r )

(r )
r

Y ( , ) Yl m ( , )
h2 d 2
2me dr
with

Atomic units:

Veff (r ) E

Ze 2 l (l 1) h2
Veff (r )

4 0 r
2me r 2

Planck constant h 1 (dimensions [ ML2T 1 ])

Electron mass me 1 (dimensions [ M ])
e2
Constant apearing in Coulomb's law
1 (dimensions [ ML3T 2 ])
4 0

Section 6 - contd
Put

(r ) F (r ) exp( r )

2
with E
2

Series solution for F must terminate:

possible only if
Z
n where n is an integer l : n l 1, l 2K

Z2
En 2 (in atomic units)
2n

Z2
E in units
Eh
2

n is principal quantum number

l=0,1,2,,n-1

m l , (l 1),K 0,K (l 1), l

-1

l=0 l=1 l=2 l=3

Section 7 - Spin
Interaction with magnetic field:

eh
(the Bohr magneton).
2me

Stern-Gerlach experiment: atoms

with single outer electron divide into
two groups with opposite magnetic
moments.

H H 0 B B (L gS )
h
g 2 (Dirac's relativistic theory)
g 2.00231930437 (Quantum Electrodynamics)

Coupling of spin to orbital

angular momentum:

Lz

|L-S|
S
Ly

Quantum numbers describing spin:

1
(for electron); like l in ordinary angular momentum
2
1
L+S
ms s K s (for electron); like m in ordinary angular momentum
2
s

Lx

Section 7 - contd
Total angular momentum (orbital +
spin)

J LS
L

Described by two quantum numbers:

j (determining quantity of total angular momentum
present); ranges from |l-s| to l+s in integer steps
mj (determining projection of total angular
momentum along z), ranges from j to +j in integer
steps