1

Lecture 21.


Time-Dependent Spin Problem from Midterm.
WKB Revisited.


Problem: A spin particle is initially in the
+
z state (the
z
S

eigenstate with the

eigenvalue 2 / h + ). It is placed in a magnetic field that points in the x direction, until 0 =
z
S .
Show that the particle is now in
y
S

eigenstate.
Solution: First of all, let me write the Hamiltonian of the system: B S B S H
x

= =
r r
,
where
mc
eh
= . As a result, the time-dependent Schrdinger equation takes the form
=

x
S B
t
ih

. (21.1)
As usual, we can solve the stationary problem first, i.e. find the eigenstates and eigenvalues of
the Hamiltonian
= E S B
x

. (21.2)
Since the operators H

and
x
S

commute, the eigenstates

+
x ,

x of the operator
x
S

(remember that ( )

= x x S
x
2 /

h ) are simultaneously the eigenstates of the operator H

.
Therefore,
+ + +
= x E x B
2
h
,

=
|
.
|

\
|
x E x B
2
h

2
h
m
B
E

=

.
As a result, a general solution of the equation (21.1) is
( )

+
+ = x e b x e a t
t iE t iE h h / /
, 1
2 2
= + b a . (21.3)
According to the initial condition ( )
+
= z 0 . We know that
+ +
+ = x x z
2
1
2
1
. Then,
( )

+
+ = x e x e t
t iE t iE h h / /
2
1
2
1
. (21.4)
2
Notice that we didnt use any particular representation till this point. We were able to work out
the solution (21.4) in Dirac ket space!
At some moment
1
t t = , the expectation 0 =
z
S , i.e. ( ) ( ) 0

1 1
= t S t
z
.
In
z
S matrix representation ( )
( )
( )
|
|
.
|

\
|

=
|
|
.
|

\
|

+
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
+

t i
t
e e t
t iE t iE

sin
cos
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
1
/ / h h
, where
0
2
2 / > = =
mc
B e
B
h
; ( ) ( ) ( )
( )
( )
0
sin
cos
1 0
0 1
2
sin cos
1
1
1
=
|
|
.
|

\
|

|
|
.
|

\
|
t i
t
t i t

h

( ) ( ) 0 sin cos
1
2
1
2
= t t . As a result,
4
1

= t , and at
1
t t =
( )
|
|
.
|

\
|

=
i
t
1
2
1
1
, (21.5)
which is the eigenstate of
y
S

.
Problem: This problem is about tunneling of the electron through the barrier:

>
< <
<
=
b x
b x
b
x
U
x
x V
, 0
0 ,
0 , 0
) (
0
.
(a) Write down the exact wave function for the electron in the region 0 < x in terms of the
incoming and reflected waves.
(b) Write down the exact wave function for the electron in the region b x > in terms of
the transmitted wave.
(c) It is obvious that b x = is the second turning point. Find the position of the first
turning point.
(d) Find the exponential factor of the transmission coefficient for the case
0
U E <
(transmission coefficient in pure WKB approximation).
(e) Write down the WKB wave function for the electron in the region a x < , where a is
the first turning point. Write down the derivative of this function in WKB
approximation.
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(f) Write down the WKB wave function for the electron in the region b x a < < . Write
down the derivative of this function in WKB approximation.
(g) Try to pick up the right connection formula for the WKB wave functions between the
regions b x a < < and a x < .
(h) Discuss how you can derive the expression for the transmission coefficient (still in
WKB approximation) that takes into account rectangular wall at b x = . Note: you
dont need to actually derive this expression.
Solution: (a) ( ) ( ) x ik B x ik A
0 0 exact
exp + = ,
h
mE
k
2
0
= ; 0 < x .
(b) ( ) x ik F
0 exact
exp = ,
h
mE
k
2
0
= ; b x > .
(c)
0
U
E
b a = .
(d)
( )

b
a
dx x
e T
2
~ , ( )
( )
h
E x V m
x

=
) ( 2
;
(
(

|
|
.
|

\
|

2 / 3
0
0
1
3
2 4
exp ~
U
E
mU b
T
h

(e)
( )
( )
( )
( )
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
=

x
a
x
a
dx x k i
x k
B
dx x k i
x k
A
' ' exp ' ' exp
WKB
, ( )
( ) ( )
h
x V E m
x k

=
2
;
a x < .
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
|
|
.
|

\
|

|
|
.
|

\
|
=

x
a
x
a
dx x k i x k B i dx x k i x k A i
dx
d
' ' exp ' ' exp
WKB
.
(f)
( )
( )
( )
( )
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
=

b
x
b
x
dx x
x
H
dx x
x
D
' ' exp ' ' exp
WKB

, ( )
( ) ( )
h
E x V m
x

=
2
;
b x a < < .
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
=

b
x
b
x
dx x x k H dx x x D
dx
d
' ' exp ' ' exp
WKB
.
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Of course, we can use another form:
( )
( )
( )
( )
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
=

x
a
x
a
dx x
x
N
dx x
x
M
' ' exp ' ' exp
WKB

as well.
(g) The appropriate connection formula takes the form (see the end of the lecture 5 and the
formula (3.2) at the third lecture):

< <
|
|
.
|

\
|

<
|
|
.
|

\
|
+

. , ' ) ' ( exp

) (
; ,
4
' ) ' ( sin
) (
2
) (
WKB
b x a dx x
x
N
a x dx x k
x k
N
x
x
a
a
x

The main assumption to derive this formula is to keep only decaying exponential function as
b x in the region b x a < < .
(h) To take into account a rectangular wall at b x = we need to use boundary conditions
( ) ( )
( ) ( ), 0 0
, 0 0

= +

= +
b
dx
d
b
x d
d
b b

instead of using the connection formula

< <
>
=

|
.
|

\
|

+
. ,
) (
, ,
) (
) (
' ) ' (
4 / ' ) ' (
b x a e
x
D
b x e
x k
D
x
b
x
x
b
dx x
dx x k i

As a result, the connection formula in (g) will take an absolutely different form.