PH2101 Quantum Mechanics 1 (Solution) Tutorial # 8

Bra-Ket Notation

1.
(a) [AB, C] = ABC − CAB = ABC − ACB + ACB − CAB = A[B, C] + [A, C]B
(b) Introducing a test function g(x):
 
n n ℏ dg ℏ d n n ℏ dg ℏ n−1 n dg
[x , p] g = x − (x g) = x − nx g+x = iℏnxn−1 g. (1)
i dx i dx i dx i dx

So, dropping the test function, [xn , p] = iℏnx 

n−1 .

dg d dg df dg df df
(c) [f, p] g = f ℏi dx − ℏi dx (f g) = f ℏi dx − ℏi dx g + f dx = iℏ dx g ⇒ [f, p] = iℏ dx .

2. Notice that:
p2
 
1
x, +V = [x, p2 ] + [x, V ]. (2)
2m 2m
The term [x, p2 ] can be evaluated as such:

x, p2 = p[x, p] + [x, p]p = iℏp + iℏp = 2iℏp.

 
(3)
h i
p2 iℏp
Also, [x, V ] = 0, so x, 2m +V = m. Recall that the generalized uncertainty principle (between operators
A
b and B)b reads:
 2
2 2 1 D b bE
σA σB ≥ [A, B] . (4)
2i
Here, A b = H = p2 /(2m) + V . In our case, we have:
b = x, B
 2  2
1 iℏ ℏ ℏ
σx2 σH
2
≥ ⟨p⟩ = ⟨p⟩ ⇒ σx σH ≥ |⟨p⟩|. (5)
2i m 2m 2m

For stationary states, σH = 0 and ⟨p⟩ = 0, so it just says 0 ≥ 0.

3. Suppose ⟨h|Qh⟩
b = ⟨Qh|h⟩
b for all functions h(x). Let h(x) = f (x) + cg(x) for some arbitrary con-
stant c. Then:

⟨h|Qh⟩
b = ⟨(f + cg)|Q(f
b + cg)⟩ = ⟨f |Qf b + c∗ ⟨g|Qf
b ⟩ + c ⟨f |Qg⟩ b ⟩ + |c|2 ⟨g|Qg⟩
b ;
(6)
⟨Qh|h⟩
b = ⟨Q(f
b + cg)|(f + cg)⟩ = ⟨Qf b |g⟩ + c∗ ⟨Qg|f
b |f ⟩ + c ⟨Qf b ⟩ + |c|2 ⟨Qg|g⟩
b .

Equating the two and noting that ⟨f |Qf

b ⟩ = ⟨Qf
b |f ⟩ and ⟨g|Qg⟩
b = ⟨Qg|g⟩
b leaves
b + c∗ ⟨g|Qf
c ⟨f |Qg⟩ b |g⟩ + c∗ ⟨Qg|f
b ⟩ = c ⟨Qf b ⟩. (7)

In particular, choosing c = 1:
⟨f |Qg⟩
b + ⟨g|Qf
b ⟩ = ⟨Qf
b |g⟩ + ⟨Qg|f
b ⟩, (8)
whereas if c = i:
⟨f |Qg⟩
b − ⟨g|Qf
b ⟩ = ⟨Qf
b |g⟩ − ⟨Qg|f
b ⟩. (9)
Adding the last two equations:
⟨f |Qg⟩
b = ⟨Qf
b |g⟩ . (10)

1
4.
(a) Suppose a general state |ψ⟩ that is written in term of eigenbasis |En ⟩ of H:
b
X
|ψ⟩ = cn |En ⟩ . (11)
n

where cn = ⟨En |ψ⟩ is the coefficients. Then we apply H

b on this general state:
!
X X X X
b |ψ⟩ =
H b |En ⟩ =
cn H cn En |En ⟩ = ⟨En |ψ⟩ En |En ⟩ = En |En ⟩ ⟨En | |ψ⟩ (12)
n n n n
Hence, X
H
b = En |En ⟩ ⟨En | . (13)
n

(b) Consider the general state |ψ⟩ that is written in a general orthogonal basis (which might not be the
eigenstates of H):
b
X
|ψ⟩ = cα |α⟩ (14)
α

where cα = ⟨α|ψ⟩ is the coefficients. Apply Hb on this general state:

X X
b |ψ⟩ =
H b |α⟩ =
cα H b |α⟩
cα 1H
α α
X X
′ ′
= cα |α ⟩ ⟨α |H|α⟩
b = ⟨α|ψ⟩ |α′ ⟩ ⟨α′ |H|α⟩
b
α,α′ α,α′ (15)
   
X X
= ⟨α′ |H|α⟩
b |α′ ⟩ ⟨α| |ψ⟩ =  Hα′ α |α′ ⟩ ⟨α| |ψ⟩ ,
α,α′ α,α′

where we have used the resolution of identity 1 = α′ |α′ ⟩ ⟨α′ | in the second equality. Hence,
P
X
Hb = Hα′ α |α′ ⟩ ⟨α| , Hα′ α = ⟨α′ |H|α⟩
b (16)
α,α′

5. With the eigenvector as |ψ⟩ = c1 |1⟩ + c2 |2⟩, and call the eigenvalue E. The eigenvalue equation
is:   
Hb = ϵ |1⟩ ⟨1| − |2⟩ ⟨2| + |1⟩ ⟨2| + |2⟩ ⟨1| c1 |1⟩ + c2 |2⟩
 
= ϵ c1 |1⟩ + c1 |2⟩ − c2 |2⟩ + c2 |1⟩ (17)
h i  
= ϵ (c1 + c2 ) |1⟩ + (c1 − c2 ) |2⟩ = E |ψ⟩ = E c1 |1⟩ + c2 |2⟩ .
Notice that:
   
E E
ϵ(c1 + c2 ) = Ec1 ⇒ c2 = − 1 c1 ; ϵ(c1 − c2 ) = Ec2 ⇒ c1 = + 1 c2 . (18)
ϵ ϵ
 2
√
  
E E E
c2 = −1 + 1 c2 ⇒ − 1 = 1 ⇒ E = ± 2ϵ . (19)
ϵ ϵ ϵ
√ h √ i
The eigenvectors are: c2 = (± 2 − 1)c1 ⇒ |ψ± ⟩ = c1 |1⟩ + (± 2 − 1) |2⟩ . The Hamiltonian matrix in
basis {|1⟩, |2⟩} reads:  
1 1
H=ϵ . (20)
1 −1
The Hamiltonian matrix in basis of the energy eigenvectors reads:
√ 
2 0
√
H=ϵ . (21)
0 − 2