PH 514 take-home

You are expected to work on the problems alone without discussing them
with anyone. Please communicate your results clearly and concisely, this is
an important part of your assignment. The exam is due by noon tomorrow.
Problem 1
Let P1 be the projector (P12 = P1 ) onto the subspace V1 and P2 the
projector (P22 = P2 ) onto the subspace V2 . Show that, for the product
P1 P2 to be a projector as well, it is necessary and sucient that P1 and P2
commute. In this case, what is the subspace onto which P1 P2 projects?
Problem 2
Consider a system of two particles (1) and (2) characterized by the wave
function (x1 , x2 ) (you can not assume that the wave function is separable
or has any symmetries).
(a) What is the probability of nding, in a measurement of the positions
X1 and X2 of the particles, a result such that x < x1 < x + dx and a <
x2 < b?
(b) What is the probability of nding particle (1) between x and x + dx
(when no observations are made on particle (2))?
(c) Give the probability of nding at least one of the particles between
a and b.
(d) Give the probability of nding one and only one particle between a
and b.
(e) The algebraic distance X1 X2 between the two particles is measured.
What is the probability of nding the result between d and +d? What is
the mean value of this distance?
Problem 3
Consider a pure ensemble of identically prepared spin 1/2 systems. Sup-
pose the expectation values Sx and Sz and the sign of Sy are known.
Show how we may determine the state vector. Why is it not necessary to
know the magnitude of Sy ?
Problem 4
Let L be the orbital angular momentum and P the parity operator ef-
fecting a reection in the origin. Its action on any function of coordinates
f (r) is dened by P f (r) = f (r).
Show that [P, L] = 0, and from this that the spherical harmonics have
a well-dened parity depending only on the quantum number l. Determine
it.
Problem 5

1
 Consider a particle (a) of spin 3/2 which can disintegrate into two parti-
cles: (b) of spin 1/2 and (c) of spin 0. We place ourselves in the rest frame
of (a). Total angular momentum is conserved in the disintegration.

1. What values can be taken on by the relative orbital angular momentum

of the two nal particles? Show that there is only one possible value
if the parity of the relative orbital state is xed. Would this result
remain valid if the spin of particle (a) were greater than 3/2?

2. Assume that particle (a) is initially in the spin state characterized by

the eigenvalue ma h of its spin component along Oz. We know that the
nal orbital state has a denite parity. Is it possible to determine this
parity by measuring the probabilities of nding particle (b) either in
the state |+ or in the state |?