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Eigenstates in Quantum Mechanics

http://physics.oregonstate.edu/portfolioswiki

Corinne Manogue
Tevian Dray

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu
8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu
Outline
• Geometric Interpretation of Eigenvectors
• Eigenstates on the Ring
• Spherical Harmonics
• Spins

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


Schrödinger’s Equation
ˆ
H  i 

t

• The Hamiltonian is an operator representing


the energy.
• In undergraduate courses, it will always be
given to you.
8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu
Separation of Variables
Hˆ   i 
t

Hˆ   T (t )   i 
t  T (t ) 
 
H  T (t )  i   t T (t ) 
ˆ 

 Hˆ    T 

 i 
t
 
    T 
8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu
Eigenvalue of the Hamiltonian
Hˆ   E

t
T   ET
i

• In undergraduate courses, the professor will


always show you how to find eigenstates of
the Hamiltonian.

Hˆ n  En n
8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu
Superpositions of Eigenstates
• Today, I will show you several quantum
systems and tell you the eigenstates.
• We will explore together what you can learn
once you know these eigenstates.

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


Eigenstates on the Ring
Hˆ  
2 2
2  r02  2

m m  1
2 r0
e im

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


Time Dependence


t
T   En T
i

T  ??

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


Time Dependence


t
T   ET
i

i
 Et
T e

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


Eigenstates on the Ring
Hˆ  
2 2
2  r0  2
2
i 2  r 2 m 2t
m  im 
1
m 2 r0
e e 0

2
   n r0d   m ,n
*
mn m
0
8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu
Eigenstates on the Sphere

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


Spins

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


Ket Function Matrix

Hamil- 2 2  E1 0 0 
d 0 E 
tonian Ĥ   2 0 
2m dx 2  0 0 E3 
 
 
Eigen- 1  0
 0 1
state n  n  x  2
sin  nL x   ,  ,
L
 0  0
   
   0
Coeff- L  c1 
cn   2  n 
  x  dx  
cn  n 
sin  x 

0  
L  L 

icient 0
1
 cn 
 
 
8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu
Early Quantum Mechanics
• Spin & Quantum Measurement
– Successive Stern-Gerlach Measurements
• 1-D Waves
– cf. classical waves on string
– 1-d Schrödinger—particle-in-a-box
• Central Forces
– cf. classical orbits
– 3-d Schrödinger—the hydrogen atom
8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu
Eigenvectors Activity

• Draw the initial vectors below on a single graph


• Operate on the initial vectors with your group's
matrix and graph the transformed vectors
8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu
Eigenvectors Activity
• Note any differences between the initial and
transformed vectors. Are there any vectors
which are left unchanged by your
transformation?
• Sketch your transformed vectors on the
chalkboard.

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


Effective Activities
• Are short, containing approximately 3
questions.
• Ask different groups to apply the same
technique to different examples.
• Involve periodic lecture/discussion with the
instructor.

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


Spin & Quantum Measurement
• Uses sequential Stern-Gerlach experiments as a
concrete context for exploring the postulates of
quantum mechanics.
• Probability, eigenvalues, operators, measurement,
state reduction, Dirac notation, matrix mechanics,
time evolution, spin precession, spin resonance,
neutrino oscillations, the EPR experiment.

• J. S. Townsend, A Modern Approach to Quantum Mechanics


(McGraw-Hill, New York, 1992).
8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu
Spin & Quantum Measurement


 0
Z Z

 0

• Students infer wave function from “data.”


• Measurement based.
• D. V. Schroeder and T. A. Moore, "A computer-simulated Stern-
Gerlach laboratory," Am. J. Phys. 61, 798-805 (1993).
8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu
1-D Waves
• (Classical) Waves in electrical circuits,
waves on ropes.
• (Quantum) Matter waves of quantum
mechanics.
• (Math) Fourier analysis to begin the study
of eigenstates.

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


1-D Waves
• Coax Cable:
– Standing waves.
– Traveling waves.
– Wave packets.
– Dispersion.
– Energy.
– Reflection.
– Transmission.
– Impedance.
8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu
ODE’s vs. PDE’s
2
d r k
 2  2 rˆ
dt r

d  
2
i   U r 
2

dt  2 
8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu
Central Forces
• (Classical) Orbits.
• (Quantum) Unperturbed hydrogen atom.
• (Math) Special functions.

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


Central Forces
Classical Orbits & Quantum Hydrogen Atom
– Use reduced mass
– ODE’s PDE’s (interpretation of QM)
– Use spherical symmetry to simplify equations
– Conserved—Angular momentum & Energy
– Effective potential
– Symmetric potential but asymmetric solutions

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


Effective Potential

1  dr   1 l2 
2

     E  U (r )  2 
2  dt   2 r 

d 2 dR 2   2
l  l  1  2
r  2  E  U (r )  2 
r R0
dr dr  2 r 

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


Central Forces—Activities
• Students draw potentials for 2-d air table
• Interactive orbits in Maple
• Ring (1d) Sphere (2d) Hydrogen (3d)
• Use color for value of probability density
• Time dependent superpositions

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


Eigenstates on the Ring
2
i 2  r 2 m 2t
m  im 
1
m 2 r0
e e 0

2
   n r0 d   m ,n
*
mn m
0

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


Using Color to Visualize
Spherical Harmonics

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


Using Color

..\OSU\mathphys\mathphys\paradigm6\flatylm.mws

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


Active Engagement
• Effective but Slow
– Precious commodity
– Use wisely
• Special Needs of Upper-Division
• Easily Over-Scheduled
• Can Get Out-of-Synch
• Short Activities Mid-Lecture
• Moving Rooms: awkward but possible
8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu
Two Messages
I. Plan for a concept to build over time.
• Within a single course.
• Across several courses.

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


Eigenstates
• Preface
– 2-D eigenvectors in Bra-Ket notation
• Spin & Quantum Measurements
– 2 state systems
• 1-D Waves
– Fourier series and 1-D Schrödinger
• Central Forces
– Ring (1-D) Sphere (2-D) Hydrogen (3-D)
• Periodic Systems
– Band Structure
8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu
Two Messages

I. Plan for a concept to build over time.

II. Use an appropriate mixture of lecture and


active engagement.

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


Lecture vs. Activities
• The Instructor: • The Students:
– Paints big picture. – Focus on subtleties.
– Inspires. – Experience delight.
– Covers lots fast. – Slow, but in depth.
– Models speaking. – Practice speaking.
– Models problem- – Practice problem-
solving. solving.
– Controls questions. – Control questions.
– Makes connections. – Make connections.

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


Central Forces—Activities
• Students draw potentials for 2-d air table
• Interactive orbits in Maple
• Ring (1d) Sphere (2d) Hydrogen (3d)
• Use color for value of probability density
• Time dependent superpositions

8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu


Physicists can’t change the problem.
• Physics involves the creative synthesis of multiple
ideas.
• Physics problems may not be well-defined math
problems.
• Physics problems don’t fit templates.
• Physics involves the interplay of multiple
representations.
– Dot product.
– Words, graphs, symbols
8 October 2010 http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu

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