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Quantum mechanics

Eugen Merzbacher

Chapter 5

The Linear Harmonic Oscillator - all with Video Answers

Educators


Chapter Questions

23:12

Problem 1

Calculate the matrix elements of $p_x^2$ with respect to the energy eigenfunctions of the harmonic oscillator and write down the first few rows and columns of the matrix. Can the same result be obtained directly by matrix algebra from a knowledge of the matrix elements of $p_x$ ?

Dr. Rajveer Singh
Dr. Rajveer Singh
Numerade Educator
10:32

Problem 2

Calculate the expectation values of the potential and kinetic energies in any stationary state of the harmonic oscillator. Compare with the results of the virial theorem.

Nathan Silvano
Nathan Silvano
Numerade Educator
07:45

Problem 3

Calculate the expectation value of $x^4$ for the $n$-th energy eigenstate of the harmonic oscillator.

Nathan Silvano
Nathan Silvano
Numerade Educator
06:37

Problem 4

For the energy eigenstates with $n=0,1$, and 2 , compute the probability that the coordinate of a linear harmonic oscillator in its ground state has a value greater than the amplitude of a classical oscillator of the same energy.

Mirza  Aslam Beig
Mirza Aslam Beig
Numerade Educator
04:22

Problem 5

. Show that if an ensemble of linear harmonic oscillators is in thermal equilibrium, governed by the Boltzmann distribution, the probability per unit length of finding a particle with displacement of $x$ is a Gaussian distribution. Plot the width of the distribution as a function of temperature. Check the results in the classical and the lowtemperature limits. [Hint: Equation (5.43) may be used.]

Stanley Enemuo
Stanley Enemuo
Numerade Educator
21:28

Problem 6

Use the generating function for the Hermite polynomials to obtain the energy eigenfunction expansion of an initial wave function that has the same form as the oscillator ground state but that is centered at the coordinate $a$ rather than the coordinate origin:
$$
\psi(x, 0)=\left(\frac{m \omega}{\hbar \pi}\right)^{1 / 4} \exp \left(-\frac{m \omega(x-a)^2}{2 \hbar}\right) .
$$
(a) For this initial wave function, calculate the probability $P_n$ that the system is found to be in the $n$-th harmonic oscillator eigenstate, and check that the $P_n$ add up to unity.
(b) Plot $P_n$ for three typical values of $a$, illustrating the case where $a$ is less than, greater than, and equal to $\sqrt{\frac{\hbar}{m \omega}}$.
(c) If the particle moves in the field of the oscillator potential with angular frequency $\omega$ centered at the coordinate origin, again using the generating function derive a closed-form expression for $\psi(x, t)$.
(d) Calculate the probability density $|\psi(x, t)|^2$ and interpret the result.

Mirza  Aslam Beig
Mirza Aslam Beig
Numerade Educator