PH-105L
Introduction to Quantum Science and Technology
Department of Physics
Tutorial 3 - Measurements, Uncertainty, Commuting Operators
Programme: [Link]. 2nd Year Time: 50 minutes
1. Let the position and momentum operators in one & two dimensions be defined by
d d
x̂ = x, p̂x = −iℏ , ŷ = y p̂y = −iℏ ,
dx dy
and let the commutator of two operators be defined as
[Â, B̂] = ÂB̂ − B̂ Â.
(a) By allowing the operators to act on an arbitrary wavefunction ψ(x),
show that [x̂, p̂x ] = iℏ.
(b) show that [x̂, p̂2x ] = 2iℏp̂x .
(c) show that [x̂, p̂y ] = 0.
df
(d) Show that for a sufficiently differentiable function f (x), [p̂x , f (x)] = −iℏ dx . Use
this result to evaluate [p̂x , sin x].
(e) What do these commutation relations tell you about the difference between
treating x and px as ordinary numbers and treating them as quantum-mechanical
operators?
2. Let the operator  is defined by  = x̂p̂y − ŷ p̂x .
(a) Show that [Â, x̂] = iℏŷ.
(b) Using the result from part (a), explain whether  and x̂ can have simultaneous
eigenstates.
(c) Show that [Â, ŷ] = −iℏx̂.
(d) Hence, explain qualitatively what the commutation relations of  with x̂ and ŷ
tell you about the action of  on the position coordinates.
Hint: Use the commutator identity [Â, B̂ Ĉ] = [Â, B̂]Ĉ + B̂[Â, Ĉ], together with
[x̂, p̂x ] = iℏ, [x̂, p̂y ] = 0, [x̂, ŷ] = 0.
3. Consider the following two observables represented by the matrices
1 0 0 −i
 = , B̂ = .
0 −1 i 0
(a) Calculate the products ÂB̂ and B̂ Â.
(b) Hence, determine the commutator
[Â, B̂].
(c) Are the observables  and B̂ compatible?
(d) Without finding the eigenvectors explicitly, discuss what the non-zero commu-
tator suggests about the existence of common eigenstates of  and B̂.
4. Consider the following two observables represented in a two-dimensional Hilbert
space, in an orthonormal basis:
1 0 2 0
 = , B̂ = .
0 −1 0 3
(a) Calculate the commutator
[Â, B̂].
Are the observables  and B̂ compatible? Give a physical interpretation of your
answer.
(b) Find the eigenvalues and corresponding normalized eigenvectors of Â.
(c) Determine whether the eigenvectors of  are also eigenvectors of B̂. If so, find
the corresponding eigenvalues of B̂.
(d) Can  and B̂ be measured simultaneously in a state represented by one of these
common eigenvectors? Explain your answer.
5. Starting from Generalized Uncertainty Principle for two non-commuting Hermitian
operators A and B:
1
∆A ∆B ≥ |⟨[A, B]⟩|
2
derive the standard Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle for position x̂ and momentum
p̂x .
6. A particle of mass m bound in a 1D quantum harmonic oscillator with angular
frequency ω is described by the ground state wavefunction:
mωx2
mω 1/4
ψ0 (x) = exp −
πℏ 2ℏ
Calculate the expectation values ⟨x⟩, ⟨px ⟩, ⟨x2 ⟩, and ⟨p2x ⟩.
7. A particle of mass m is confined to a 1D infinite square well of width L with rigid
walls at x = 0 and x = L. The normalized ground state wavefunction (n = 1) inside
the box is: r
2 sin πx , 0 ≤ x ≤ L
ψ1 (x) = L L
0, otherwise
Calculate the expectation values ⟨x⟩, ⟨px ⟩, ⟨x2 ⟩, and ⟨p2x ⟩.
8. Using the results from Problems 5 and 6:
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p
(a) Determine thepposition uncertainty ∆x = ⟨x2 ⟩ − ⟨x⟩2 and momentum uncer-
tainty ∆px = ⟨p2x ⟩ − ⟨px ⟩2 for both systems.
(b) Verify that both ground states satisfy the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
(∆x∆px ≥ ℏ2 ), and explain physically why the harmonic oscillator saturates
the lower bound while the 1D box ground state strictly exceeds it.
9. A two-level quantum system is prepared in the state:
1 2
|ψ⟩ = √
5 1
An observable for this system is represented by the 2 × 2 matrix A:
1 2
A=
2 −1
(a) Calculate the expectation value ⟨A⟩ = ⟨ψ|A|ψ⟩.
(b) Calculate ⟨A2 ⟩.
p
(c) Find the uncertainty ∆A = ⟨A2 ⟩ − ⟨A⟩2 .
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