1 Commutation for angular momentum operators (20 points)

In this problem you will learn why angular momentum operators do not commute.

1. (5 points) Write the 3 × 3 rotation matrices (Rx [θ], Ry [θ] and Rz [θ]) corresponding
to rotation by an angle θ along x, y and z axes. By assuming θ small, expand the
matrices keeping terms of order θ2 .

2. (10 points) Show by explicit matrix multiplication that to first order in θ,

Rx [θ]Ry [θ] − Ry [θ]Rx [θ] = 0. (1)

By going to next order in θ i.e. θ2 , show that,

Rx [θ]Ry [θ] − Ry [θ]Rx [θ] = Rz [θ2 ] − 1. (2)

3. (5 points) Infinitesimal rotation operator in quantum mechanics is given as,

i 1
Dp (θ) = 1 − Jˆp θ − 2 Jˆp2 θ2 + . . . , (3)
ℏ ℏ

where p = x, y, z and Jˆp are the corresponding quantum angular momentum operators.
By assuming that Dp (θ) behave like Rp [θ] above, show that the angular momentum
operators satisfy,
[Jˆx , Jˆy ] = iJˆz , (4)
where ϵpqr is the Levi-Civita antisymmetric tensor.

2 Clebsch-Gordon coefficients (30 points)

This question explores the relation between reducible and irreducible representations of
total angular momentum states for a system of two spin-1 particles. Consider the two spin-
1 particles and the corresponding basis states in both the reducible {|j1 mj1 ⟩ ⊗ |j2 mj2 ⟩} and
irreducible {|j1 j2 jmj ⟩} representations (bases).

1. (5 points) What is the total dimension of the Hilbert space? What is the state with
the largest jz = j1z + j2z eigenvalue (“highest weight state”) in both bases? Assuming
that the highest weight state is unique, show that

|j1 j2 j = 2mj = 2⟩ = |j1 mj1 = 1⟩ ⊗ |j2 mj2 = 1⟩. (5)

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 2. (10 points) Write down the equation showing raising (j + ) and lowering (j − ) operator
action on a generic angular momentum state, |jmj ⟩ with correct normalization factor
(no need to derive it). Apply the total angular momentum lowering operator on
both sides of Eq.5 and find all the states possible with correct normalization for
j = j1 + j2 = 2. In the reducible basis (RHS of Eq.5), the lowering operator is,

j − = j1− ⊗ 1 + 1 ⊗ j2− . (6)

3. (10 points) Next, write down the expression for the highest weight state, |j1 j2 j =
1mj = 1⟩ in terms of reducible representations. Hint: this state is orthogonal to the
state |j1 j2 j = 2mj = 1⟩ obtained above. By applying the lowering operators find out
all the possible states for j = j1 + j2 = 1 with correct normalization.

4. (5 points) Write down the only remaining state |j1 j2 j = 0mj = 0⟩ by constructing
a vector othogonal to |j1 j2 j = 2mj = 0⟩ and |j1 j2 j = 1mj = 0⟩. Also show that,
applying lowering operator further gives zero and hence all the states have been ob-
tained. Gathering your results from the steps above, verify that the total Hilbert
space dimension if what you obtained in 1.

3 Semiclassical approximations (20 pts)

1. (10 pts) Consider a 1D potential V = α|x|q where q > 0, α > 0. Find the bound state
energies in terms of α, m, ℏ,q in the semiclassical approximation. Present some kind
of limiting case of your choosing to check whether your result makes sense. You may
denote simply by letter cq the number
√  
Z 1
√ πΓ 1 + 1q
dz 1 − z q =   ≡ cq (7)
0 2Γ 23 + 1q

(
0 r>a
2. (10 pts) Consider a rotationally symmetric scattering potential V (r) = r2
( a2 − 1)V0 0 ≤ r ≤ a
where V0 > 0. Find the bound state energies of s orbitals (l = 0 orbital angular mo-
mentum) in the semiclassical approximation. In the same approximation, estimate
the number of bound s-wave orbitals in terms of a, V0 , ℏ, m. Interpret
Rr your findings.
Hint: The Bohr-Sommerfeld quantization condition is now ℏ1 0 0 drp(r) = (n + 43 )π
because of the boundary condition that the wave function vanishes at r = 0.

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4 Scattering in Born approximation and beyond (30 pts)
In the lectures, we derived the elastic scattering amplitude from k to k′ = kr̂ in Born
approximation,
Z
(1) m ′ m
fk (r̂) = − d3 r′ e−iq·r V (r′ ) = − V (q) . (8)
2πℏ2 R3 2πℏ2

where q = k′ − k is the momentum transfer. (Superscript 1 reminds us that this is first

order in V .)

1. (5 pts) Express the momentum transfer wave number q = |q| in terms of the scattering
angle θ.

2. (10 pts) Derive an expression for the scattering amplitude in the Born approximation
for the special case of an arbitrary spherically symmetric potential V . Your final
formula should be an integral only over r.

3. (5 pts) By using the previous expression (from part 2) for the scattering amplitude,
what does optical theorem yield for the total cross section σ? Interpret/explain your
finding.

4. (10 pts) One may go beyond the Born approximation by expanding the scattering
amplitude in higher orders of the potential V ,
(1) (2)
fk = fk + fk + . . .

The 2nd order scattering amplitude is (no need to prove this)

(2)
 m 2 Z V (k′ − p)V (p − k)
fk (r̂) = − 2
d3 p (9)
2πℏ R3 2π 2 (p2 − k2 − iη)

where η denotes a positive infinitesimal. Evaluate the total cross section σ to second
order in V and show that the following two methods agree: (i) use the optical theorem,
dσ
(ii) use dΩ = |fk (r̂)|2 and integrate over angles. You do not need to assume that V is
spherically symmetric. Hint:
1 1
= P + iπδ(x) (10)
x − iη x