PH425 Spins Homework 6

Due 2/1/13 at 4 pm

REQUIRED:

1. Consider a spin-1/2 particle with a magnetic moment. At time t = 0, the state of the
particle is |(t = 0)i = |+i.

(a) If the observable Sx is measured at time t = 0, what are the possible results and
the probabilities of those results?
Solution:
The question what are the possible results of a measurement is always a question
asking us to find the eigenvalues of the relevant observable. In this case, the
observable is Sx . We have found the eigenvalues of the spin operators numerous
times, so we know the possible results of the measurement are h2 .
The calculation of a probability is always of the form |hout|ini|2 . In this case, the
in-state is |(0)i which is just |+i and the out-states are |+ix and |ix . So these
two probabilities are given by:

P|+ix = |hout|ini|2 (1)

= |x h+|+i|2 (2)
1
= (3)
2
where I have used the Spins Reference sheet (or my memory) for the value of
this particular projection in the last line. In a more general case, if we had not
already found this projection many times, I would need either to change |+i to
the x-basis or |+ix to the z-basis, explicitly.
Similarly, P|+ix = |x h|+i|2 = 12 .
(b) Instead of performing the above measurement, the system is allowed to evolve in
~ = B0 y. Calculate the state of the system after a time
a uniform magnetic field B
t using the Sz basis.
Solution:
To find the state at the later time t, we follow the prescription at the end of
section 3.1.
Diagonalize the Hamiltionian, i.e. find its eigenvalues and eigenvectors.
The Hamiltonian for a system in a uniform magnetic field B ~ = B0 y is H =
0 Sy , i.e. it is proportional to Sy . Here, we have introduced a standard
notation, 0 eB o
me
. Therefore the eigenvectors of H are |iy with eigenvalues
h0

2 .

1
 To calculate the state of the system after a time t, we need to switch to the
basis of the Hamiltonian. Again, since we are are using the eigenbases of the
spin components, we can read this relationship off the Spins Reference sheet.
By adding the two equations from the Spins Reference sheet for the kets |iy ,
and simplifying, we find that:
1 1
|+i = |+iy + |iy (4)
2 2
En
Now we multiply each eigenstate coefficient by the phase factor ei h t , where
En is the eigenvalue of the Hamiltonian corresponding to that eigenstate.
1 h
0 1 h 0
|(t)i = ei 2 t |+iy + ei 2 t |iy (5)
2 2
Now we are asked explicitly to switch back to the z-basis. Again using the Spins
Reference sheet, we find:
1 0 1 0
|(t)i = ei 2 t |+iy + ei 2 t |iy (6)
2 2
 
1 i 0 t 1 1
= e 2 |+i + i |i (7)
2 2 2
 
1 i 0 t 1 1
+ e 2 |+i i |i (8)
2 2 2
   
0 t 0 t
= cos |+i + sin |i (9)
2 2

(c) At time t, the observable Sx is measured. What is the probability that a value
h
/2 will be found?
Solution:
Again, the calculation of a probability is always of the form |hout|ini|2 . In this
case, the in-state is |(t)i which we found in the previous part and the out-state
is the |+ix which corresponds to the eigenvalue h2 0 of Sx . Since we found |(t)i
in the z-basis, we use the Spins Reference sheet to write the out-state also in the
z-basis.

P|+ix = |hout|ini|2 (10)

= |x h+|(t)i|2 (11)
 
 1 1
=  h+| + h|
 (12)
2 2
     2
0 t 0 t 
cos |+i + sin |i  (13)
2 2

2
 ,(8$34)($)9&#)%%)8$'($14)$ !" $'%$
! !! " # !
"
""## #! "
! !
"
$ $# !
" "
" !$! !
"
"$## #! "
! !
"
$ "# !
"
" "
$ # !
" !" "## # ! "
" !
$ "$## #! " $ !$!# !" ""## #! " " "$## #! " " $ "
# $%& !# #! " " $ !$!&'( !# #! "0"t" + sin 0t 
     2
1
=  cos (14)
2 2 2 
C*D$$E4)$&#";,;'2'1<$"+$5),%7#'(6$ !" $1"$;)$!! ! ! $'%$
    
1 0 t 0 t
# $
= 1 + 2 cos sin (15)
P! ! " ! ! ! # " $ " "! ! 2! "! " # #$% ## &2" ! $ ! !!!%'( 2 ## " ! $ " $
! !
&
1
2 ## &" ! $ " "! #" ! ! #$% ## &" ! $ %'( ## &" ! $$ $
=" (1 + sin !(0 t)) (16)
$ " ! #$% ## &" ! $!!! ! %'(
"

! #" ! %'( # & "diagram

(d) Draw "a schematic $
"
of this experiment, similar to Fig. 3.2.
Solution:
C8D$$!'67#)G$

?
Z Y 42 X

? $

2. Consider a two-state quantum system with a Hamiltonian

!"#"$#!!% %  &'(%
. E1 0
H= (17)
0 E2

Another physical observable A is described by the operator

 
. 0 a
A= (18)
a 0

where a is real and positive. Let the initial state of the system be |(0)i = |a1 i, where
|a1 i is the eigenstate corresponding to the larger of the two possible eigenvalues of
A. What is the frequency of oscillation of the expectation value of A? Compare this
frequency to the Bohr frequency.
Solution:
Our first job is to find the state |(t)i at a time t later than zero. We follow the
prescription at the end of section 3.1.

The Hamiltionian is already diagonal, so we know its eigenvalues are just the
diagonal elements E1 and E2 and its basis is the standard basis:
   
. 1 . 0
|E1 i = |E2 i = (19)
0 1

To calculate the state of the system after a time t, we need to write the state |a1 i
in the basis of the Hamiltonian. Since we have a matrix representation for the

3
 observable A in this Hamiltonian basis, all we have to do is find the eigenvectors
and eigenvalues of A and we can read off the coefficients of |a1 i.
To find the eigenvalues, we solve the characteristic equation:
 
 a 
0 =    (20)
a 
= 2 a2 (21)
= a (22)
The eigenvector corresponding to = a is found by:
    
0 a x x
=a (23)
a 0 y y
This implies ay = ax. If we set x = 1, then y = 1. And the state we want is given
by:  
. 1
|a1 i = C (24)
1
The state is normalized if we choose C = 1 . In bra-ket language, we have:
2

1 1
|(0)i = |a1 i = |E1 i + |E2 i (25)
2 2
En
Now we multiply each eigenstate coefficient by the phase factor ei h t , where En
is the eigenvalue of the Hamiltonian corresponding to that eigenstate.
1 E1 1 E2
|(t)i = ei h t |E1 i + ei h t |E2 i (26)
2 2
The expectation value of the operator A is given by h(t)|A|(t)i where to calculate this
quantity both the state and the matrix need to be written in the same representation.
Here, I will choose to use the basis of the Hamiltonian (since I already have everything
written in that basis) and I will choose to use matrix notation. It is equally easy to
compute this solution in bra-ket language.
hAi = h(t)|A|(t)i (27)
   E1 
1 0 a 1 i h t
E1 E2
e
= i
e h t i
e h t E2 (28)
2 a 0 2 ei h t
a i E1 t i E2 t
 E2 E1

= e h e h + ei h t ei h t (29)
2
a  i E2 E1 t E E1
i 2h t

= e h
+e (30)
2  
(E2 E1 )t
= a cos (31)
h

E2 E1
The frequency of this oscillation is = h

, which is (unsurprisingly) just the Bohr
frequency.

4
CHALLENGE:
3. A quantum mechanical system starts out in the state:
|(0)i = C (3|a1 i + 4|a2 i) (32)
where |ai i are the normalized eigenstates of the operator A corresponding to the eigen-
values ai . In this |ai i basis, the Hamiltonian of this system is represented by the
matrix:  
. 2 1
H = E0 (33)
1 2
(a) If you measure the energy of this system, what values are possible, and what are
the probabilities of measuring those values?
Solution:
This first question asks us to find what values of the energy are possible results
of a measurement. This question is always asking to find the eigenvalues of the
relevant observable, in this case, the Hamiltonian. Since the Hamiltonian is not
diagonal, we must solve for its eigenvalues.
To find the eigenvalues, we solve the characteristic equation:
 
 2E0 E0 
0 =   (34)
E0 2E0 
= (2E0 )2 E02 (35)
2 2E0 + 3E02 = 0 (36)
= 3E0 , E0 (37)
The eigenvector corresponding to = 3E0 is found by:
    
2 1 x x
E0 = 3E0 (38)
1 2 y y
This implies 2E0 x + E0 y = 3E0 x. If we set x = 1, then y = 1. And the state we
want is given by:  
. 1
|3E0 (0)i = D (39)
1
The state is normalized if we choose D = 1 . In bra-ket language, we have:
2
1 1
|3E0 (0)i = |a1 i + |a2 i (40)
2 2
Notice from this last equation that we have the following projections (which we
will use in the next part of the problem):
1
ha1 |3E0 i = (41)
2
1
ha2 |3E0 i = (42)
2

5
Similarly, the eigenvector corresponding to = E0 is found by:
    
2 1 x x
E0 = E0 (43)
1 2 y y
This implies 2E0 x + E0 y = E0 x. If we set x = 1, then y = 1. And the state
we want is given by:  
. 1
|E0 (0)i = D (44)
1
The state is normalized if we choose D = 1 . In bra-ket language, we have:
2

1 1
|E0 (0)i = |a1 i |a2 i (45)
2 2
Notice from this last equation that we have the following projections (which we
will use in the next part of the problem):
1
ha1 |E0 i = (46)
2
1
ha2 |E0 i = (47)
2
The calculation of a probability is always of the form |hout|ini|2 . In this case, the
in-state is given as |(0)i = C (3|a1 i + 4|a2 i) and the out-states are the kets |Ei i
corresponding to the two possible values of the energy.
First, we must normalize the in-state by finding the value of C.
1 = h(0)|(0)i (48)
= C C (3ha1 | + 4ha2 |) (3|a1 i + 4|a2 i) (49)
= |C|2 (9 + 16) (50)
1
C= (51)
5
Since we know all of the kets in the |aj i basis, it is easy to compute the probabilities
in this basis in bra-ket language:
For the probability of measuring the energy 3E0 is given by:
P|3E0 i = |hout|ini|2 (52)
= |h3E0 |(0)i|2 (53)
  2
 1 1 3 4 
=  ha1 | + ha2 |
 |a1 i + |a2 i  (54)
2 2 5 5
   2
 1 7 
=  (55)
2 5 
49
= (56)
50
6
 Similarly, the probability of measuring the energy E0 is given by:

P|E0 i = |hout|ini|2 (57)

= |hE0 |(0)i|2 (58)
  2
 1 1 3 4 
=  ha1 | ha2 | |a1 i + |a2 i  (59)
2 2 5 5
   2
 1 1 
=  (60)
2 5 
1
= (61)
50
(b) Calculate the expectation value hAi of the observable A as a function of time.
Solution:
Our first job is to find the state |(t)i at a time t later than zero. We follow the
prescription at the end of section 3.1.
To calculate the state of the system after a time t, we need to write the state
|a1 i in the basis of the Hamiltonian.
The easiest way to do this is using the completeness relation:

1 = |3E0 ih3E0 | + |E0 ihE0 | (62)

We can always multiply the ket |(0)i by one, even in this complicated form:

|(0)i = (|3E0 ih3E0 | + |E0 ihE0 |) |(0)i (63)

= (|3E0 ih3E0 | + |E0 ihE0 |) (64)
 
3 4
|a1 i + |a2 i (65)
5 5
 
3 4
= |3E0 i h3E0 |a1 i + h3E0 |a2 i (66)
5 5
 
3 4
+|E0 i hE0 |a1 i + hE0 |a2 i (67)
5 5
   
7 1
= |3E0 i |E0 i (68)
5 2 5 2
where we have used projections that we calculated in the previous part to get
to the last equation.
Now that we have our state written in the Hamiltonian basis, we multiply
En
each Hamiltonian eigenstate coefficient by the phase factor ei h t , where En
is the eigenvalue of the Hamiltonian corresponding to that eigenstate.
7 3E0 1 E0
|(t)i = ei h t |3E0 i ei h t |E0 i (69)
5 2 5 2

7
The expectation value of the operator A is given by h(t)|A|(t)i where to cal-
culate this quantity both the state and the operator need to be written in the
same representation. In this case, we do not know how the operator A acts on the
eigenbasis of the Hamiltonian, so we will change basis on our state |(t)i back to
the eigenbasis of A.
Again, it will be useful to use a completeness relation:
1 = |a1 iha1 | + |a2 iha2 | (70)
Using this completeness relation, we have:
|(t)i = 1 |(t)i (71)
= (|a1 iha1 | + |a2 iha2 |) (72)
 
7 i 3E0 t 1 i E0 t
e h |3E0 i e h |E0 i (73)
5 2 5 2
7 i 3E0 t
= e h (|a1 iha1 |3E0 i + |a2 iha2 |3E0 i) (74)
5 2
1 E0
ei h t (|a1 iha1 |E0 i + |a2 iha2 |E0 i) (75)
5 2
 
7 i 3E0 t 1 i E0 t
= e h
e h
|a1 i (76)
10 10
 
7 i 3E0 t 1 i E0 t
+ e h + e h |a2 i (77)
10 10
I will choose to use bra-ket notation.
hAi = h(t)|A|(t)i (78)
 
7 i 3E0 t 1 i E0 t
= e h e h ha1 | (79)
10 10
  
7 i 3E0 t 1 i E0 t
+ e h + e h ha2 | (80)
10 10
 
7 i 3E0 t 1 i E0 t
A e h e h |a1 i (81)
10 10
  
7 i 3E0 t 1 i E0 t
+ e h + e h |a2 i (82)
10 10
We know how the operator A acts on its own kets, i.e. using the eigenvalue
equation. Therefore:
 
7 i 3E0 t 1 i E0 t
hAi = e h e h ha1 | (83)
10 10
  
7 i 3E0 t 1 i E0 t
+ e h + e h ha2 | (84)
10 10

8
  
7 i 3E0 t 1 i E0 t
e h
e h
a1 |a1 i (85)
10 10
  
7 i 3E0 t 1 i E0 t
+ e h + e h a2 |a2 i (86)
10 10
 2
 7 i 3E0 t 1 i
E0
t

= 
 10 e h
e h
 a1 (87)
10 
 2
 7 i 3E0 t 1 i
E0
t

+  e h + e h  a2 (88)
10 10
 
1 7  2E0
i h t i
2E0
t
= e + e h a1 (89)
2 100
 
1 7  i 2E0 t 2E0
i h t

+ e h
+e a2 (90)
2 100
     
1 7 2E0 t 1 7 2E0 t
= cos a1 + + cos a2 (91)
2 50 h 2 50 h

 
1 7 2E0 t
= (a1 + a2 ) cos (a1 a2 ) (92)
2 50 h

Whew!!! If you can do this one, you can do anything!