Michael Reilly

Quantum Mech (TR 9:30AM, [S204]): Homework #02

Problem 1


X
x N
xn
1+
=
N
N
n!
n=0

lim

2.1. Show that

lim

1+

x N
= ex
N

Therefore ex and the compound interest formula are equivalent.

Problem 2

by comparing the Taylor series expansion for the two functions.

....................................................................................
The Taylor series expansion t (a, x) for any function f (x) is given by
t (a, x) =

X
f (n) (a)
(x a)n
n!
n=0

2.2. Use Dirac notation (the properties of kets, bras, and inner products) directly
without explicitly using matrix representations to establish that the projection operator P+ is Hermitian. Use the fact that P+2 = P+ to establish that the eigenvalues of
the projection operator are 1 and 0.
....................................................................................
 E D 
 E
D 
?




 P+  =  P+ 

For simplicity we are considering a = 0 to obtain a Maclaurin series expansion m (x)

t (0, x) = m (x) =

X
f (n) (0) xn
n!
n=0

h | +zi h+z | i = (h | +zi h+z | i)

(1)

From ex and (1) we get

h | +zi h+z | i = h | +zi h+z | i

ex =

....................................................................................

X
e0 xn
n!
n=0

ex =

X
n=0

P+2 |+zi = P+ |+zi = |+zi

x
n!

2 =

For the compound interest formula we first need to determine the nth derivative formula:



x N
d
lim 1 +
dx N
N


d  N
lim
N
(N + x)N
N
dx


lim N (N 1) (N + x)N 1
N

lim

dn
dxn

1+

= { 1, 0 }

Problem 3
 
~k using the
2.3. Determine the matrix representation of the rotation operator R
states |+zi and |zi as a basis. Using your matrix
verify that the
 representation,
  
~k R
~k =
rotation operator is unitary, that is, it satisfies R
1.
....................................................................................
From:

x N
N




x N
x N
1+
= lim 1 +
N
N
N
N

 
~k = eiJz ~
R
And:

lim

eiJz ~ |zi = ei/2 |zi

And from that and (1) we get

We find:

Problem 3 continued on next page. . .

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Page 1 of 5

Michael Reilly

Quantum Mech (TR 9:30AM, [S204]): Homework #02

 i/2
 
e
~k
R
Sz basis
0

0
e

Problem 3 (continued)

i/2

h+y | +xi
hy | +xi

h+y | xi
hy | xi

|+xi
Sy basis

|xi

 i/2
 
e
~k
R
Sz basis
0


ei/2
0

e
0

0
1

Sy basis

1+i
1i

....................................................................................

....................................................................................

|xi

1
2

2.5. What is the matrix representation of Jz using the states |+yi and |yi as a
basis? Use this representation to evaluate the expectation value of Sz for a collection
of particles each in the state |yi.

Jz S Jz S
Sy basis

2.4. Determine the column vectors representing the states |+xi and |xi using the
states |+yi and |yi as a basis.

h+y | +xi
hy | +xi

h+y | xi
hy | xi

Sy basis

Problem 5

Problem 4

|+xi

1i
1+i

 
ei/2
0
1
?
=
i/2
0
0
e
 

0
1 0
X
=
0
0 1
e

Sy basis

i/2



0
i/2

1
=
2

h+y | +xi =

1
2

12 i

h+y | xi =

1
2

12 i

hy | +xi =

1
2

+ 12 i

hy | xi =

1
2

+ 12 i

1
Jz
Sy basis
2
1

2
1

2
1

1
1

i
i



~
2

!
~
Jz
Sy basis 2

1
2
12

h+z | +yi h+z | yi

hz | +yi hz | yi


1
1 i
S = S =
1
i
2
S=

0
1

1
i

1
=
2

0
~2

1
0

1
i

1
i

1
i

!
....................................................................................

1
2
12

D   E
 
hSz i =  Jz 
 
E
D
 
hSz i = y  Jz  y

hSz i =
1i
2
1+i
h+y | xi =
2
1+i
hy | +xi =
2
1i
hy | xi =
2

~
( 0
2


1 )

0
1

1
0



0
1

h+y | +xi =

hSz i = 0

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Page 2 of 5

Michael Reilly

Quantum Mech (TR 9:30AM, [S204]): Homework #02

Problem 6

Problem 5

Problem 7
iJy /~

(~) |+zi, where R

(~) = e
2.6. Evaluate R
is the operator that rotates kets


~ |+zi = |+xi Sugcounterclockwise by angle about the y-axis. Show that R
2
gestion: Express the ket |+zi as a superposition of the kets |+yi and |yi and take
advantage of the fact that Jy |yi = ~2 |yi; then switch back to the |+zi-|zi basis.
....................................................................................

2.7. Work out the matrix representation of the projection operators P+ = |+zi h+z|
and P = |zi hz| using the states |+yi and |yi of a spin- 12 particle as a basis.
Check that the results (2.51) and (2.52) are satisfied using these matrix representations.
....................................................................................
Using H (x) to denote the unit step function:

|+zi = |+yi h+y | +zi + |yi hy | +zi

1
|+zi = (|+yi + |yi)
2


H (x) =

0,
1,

n < 0,
n 0,

We have:
(~) |+zi = R
(~) 1 (|+yi + |yi)
R
2
1 iJy /~

R (~) |+zi = e
(|+yi + |yi)
2


(~) |+zi = 1 ei/2 |+yi + ei/2 |yi
R
2
1 i/2

R (~) |+zi = e
(|+yi + i |yi)
2


(~) |+zi = 1 ei/2 1 (|+zi + i |+zi) + i 1 (|+zi i |+zi)
R
2
2
2
1
i/2
(~) |+zi = e
(|+zi + i |zi + i |+zi + |zi)
R
2

P S P S
Sy basis

h+z | +yi h+z | yi

hz | +yi hz | yi


1
1 i
S = S =
1
i
2

S=

1
P
Sy basis
2

(~) |+zi = 1 ei/2 ((1 + i) |+zi + (1 + i) |zi)

R
2

1
1

i
i



H (1)
0

1
P+
Sy basis 2

1
1

1
P
Sy basis 2

1
1

1
=
2

0
H (1)

1
i

1
i

1
i

1
i

1
1

1
1

....................................................................................
....................................................................................
 
?
~ |+zi =
R
|+xi
2
1 i/4
1
?
e
((1 + i) |+zi + (1 + i) |zi) = (|+zi + |zi)
2
2
1 1
1
?
(1 i) ((1 + i) |+zi + (1 + i) |zi) = (|+zi + |zi)
2 2
2

1
P+2 =
4

1
1

1
1



1
P+2 =
2

1
1

1
1

1
1

1
1

X
P+2 = P+

1
X 1
(|+zi + |zi) = (|+zi + |zi)
2
2

Problem 7 continued on next page. . .

Georgia Tech, gtg532g@gatech.edu

Page 3 of 5

Michael Reilly

Quantum Mech (TR 9:30AM, [S204]): Homework #02

1
P2 =
4

1
1

1
1



1
P2 =
2

1
1

1
1

1
1

1
1

1
1

Problem 7 (continued)

1
1
h+x | i = ( 1 1 )
2
5
1
h+x | i = (2 + i)
10

i
2

X
P2 = P

|h+x | i|2 =
1
P+ P =
4

1
1

1
1



1
P+ P =
4

0
0

0
0

1
1

....................................................................................
1
1
h+y | i = ( 1 i )
2
5
1
h+y | i = i
10

X
P+ P = 0

1
P P+ =
4

1
1

1
P P+ =
4

0
0

0
0

1
1




1
1

1
1

1
2

|h+y | i|2 =

i
2

1
10

X
P P+ = 0

Problem 9

Problem 8

are repre2.9. Suppose that in a two-dimensional basis that the operators A and B
sented by the 2 2 matricies

2.8. The column vector representing the state |i is given by:

1
|i
Sz basis
5

i
2


A

Using matrix mechanics, show that |i is properly normalized and calculate the probability that a measurement of Sx yields ~/2. Also determine the probability that a
measurement of Sy yields ~/2.

1
3

2
4

5
7

6
8



=B
A .
Show that AB
....................................................................................

....................................................................................

?
=
AB
B A

 
2
5 6
5
?
=
4
7 8
7

 
19 22
5
?
=
43 50
6


1 p 2
?

|i | + |22 | = 1
5
1 X

5=1
5



....................................................................................

1
3

Georgia Tech, gtg532g@gatech.edu

19
22

43
50

19
22

6
8

 

7
8



43
50

1
3
1
2

2
4
3
4




Page 4 of 5

Michael Reilly

Quantum Mech (TR 9:30AM, [S204]): Homework #02

Problem 9

Problem 10

1
1

Sx Sx =
1
Sz basis
2

1
1
Sx =
1
2

2.10. Determine the matrix representation of Jx in the Sz basis. Suggestion: Start

with the matrix representation of the operator Sx using the states:
1
1
|+xi = |+zi + |zi
2
2

1
1
|xi = |+zi |zi
2
2

as a basis and then transform to the Sz basis.

....................................................................................

1
Sx Jx Sx =
2

1
1

1
1

~
2

~
Jx
Sz basis 2

Georgia Tech, gtg532g@gatech.edu

1
0

1
0

0
1

0
1

1
1

1
1

1
1

1
1

Page 5 of 5