763313A QUANTUM MECHANICS II Solutions 1 Spring 2018

1. Let A and B be two matrices.

a) Assume that A and B are such matrices that the product AB is well-defined. Show
that (AB)† = B † A† .
b) Show that for 2 × 2 matrices det(AB) = det(A) det(B). Does this result hold for
all square matrices?

Solution:
a) In order to prove that two matrices are equal, one has to show that they have the
same dimensions and their corresponding elements are the same. Now
!∗
X X
[(AB)† ]ij = (AB)∗ij = Ajk Bki = A∗jk Bki
∗

k k
X X
† †
= (A )kj (B )ik = (B )ik (A† )kj = (B † A† )ij .
†

k k

b) Let us use the notation

   
a11 a12 b11 b12
A= , B= .
a21 a22 b21 b22

Direct calculation yields

  
 a11 a12 b11 b12 
det(AB) = 
a21 a22 b21 b22 
 
 a b + a12 b21 a11 b12 + a12 b22 
=  11 11
a21 b11 + a22 b21 a21 b12 + a22 b22 
= (a11 b11 + a12 b21 )(a21 b12 + a22 b22 )
− (a11 b12 + a12 b22 )(a21 b11 + a22 b21 )
= a11 a22 (b11 b22 − b12 b21 ) + a12 a21 (b12 b21 − b11 b22 )
= (a11 a22 − a12 a21 )(b11 b22 − b12 b21 )
= det(A) det B .

Actually, this result holds for all square matrices. For a proof, see e.g. Linear
Algebra and its Applications, Lay, David C.

2. Calculate the expectation values hα|σi |αi , i = 1, 2, for Pauli spin matrices σ1 and σ2 with
respect to an arbitrary state |αi = α1 |1i + α2 |2i. Here |1i and |2i are the eigenvectors of
σ3 .

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Solution:

The vector form for the given state is

 
α1
|αi = .
α2

To get the bra-vector hα| we take the hermitian conjugate of the above and obtain

|αi = α1∗ α2∗ .

The expectation values are then:

    
0 1 α1
α2
α1∗ α2∗ ∗ ∗


hα|σ1 |αi = = α1 α2
1 0 α2 α1
= α1∗ α2 + α2∗ α1 = 2<(α1∗ α2 )

and
    
0 −i α1
−iα2
α1∗ α2∗ ∗ ∗


hα|σ2 |αi = = α1 α2
i 0 α2 iα1
= −iα1∗ α2 + iα2∗ α1 = −2=(α1∗ α2 )

This problem can also be solved more elegantly by using the braket-notation. Let us do
that. We start by calculating the expectation value for σi :

hα|σi |αi = (α1∗ h1| + α2∗ h2|)σi (α1 |1i + α2 |2i)

= α1∗ α1 h1|σi |1i + α1∗ α2 h1|σi |2i + α2∗ α1 h2|σi |1i + α2∗ α2 h2|σi |2i

Next we have to find out how σ1 and σ2 operate on the states |1i and |2i. We can do this
by straight calculation:
    
0 1 1 0
σ1 |1i = = = |2i
1 0 0 1

    
0 1 0 1
σ1 |2i = = = |1i
1 0 1 0

    
0 −i 1 0
σ2 |1i = = = i|2i
i 0 0 i

    
0 −i 0 −i
σ2 |2i = = = −i|1i
i 0 1 0

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 Using the fact that the states |1i and |2i are orthonormal we are left with

hα|σi |αi = α1∗ α2 h1|σi |2i + α2∗ α1 h2|σi |1i

We then obtain

hα|σ1 |αi = α1∗ α2 + α2∗ α1 = 2<(α1∗ α2 )

and

hα|σ2 |αi = −iα1∗ α2 + iα2∗ α1 = −2=(α1∗ α2 )

3. Consider a three-dimensional vector space spanned by an orthonormal basis |1i, |2i, |3i.
Kets |αi and |βi are given by

|αi = i|1i − 2|2i − i|3i, |βi = i|1i + 2|3i .

Find all nine matrix elements of the operator  = |αihβ|, in this basis, and construct the
matrix representing Â. Is it hermitian?

Solution:
Let us first construct the operator  using the given states. The bra-vector corresponding
to |βi is
hβ| = −ih1| + 2h3|
The operator  is then

 = |αihβ| = (i|1i − 2|2i − i|3i)(−ih1| + 2h3|)

= |1ih1| + 2i|1ih3| + 2i|2ih1| − 4|2ih3| − |3ih1| − 2i|3ih3|

The matrix elements are Âij = hi|Â|ji. We obtain:

Â11 = 1 Â12 = 0 Â13 = 2i

Â21 = 2i Â22 = 0 Â23 = −4
Â31 = −1 Â32 = 0 Â33 = −2i

The matrix form for the operator  is then:

 
1 0 2i
 =  2i 0 −4 
−1 0 −2i

To check if the  is hermitian we take the hermitian conjugate

 
1 −2i −1
† =  0 0 0  6= Â
−2i −4 2i

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 Clearly  is NOT hermitian.

4. The Hamiltonian for a certain two-level system is

Ĥ = (|1ih1| − |2ih2| + |1ih2| + |2ih1|) ,
where |1i, |2i is an orthonormal basis and  is a number with the dimensions of energy.
Find its eigenvalues and eigenvectors (as linear combinations of |1i and |2i). What is the
matrix representing Ĥ with respect to this basis?

Solution:
The matrix form for the Hamiltonian is:
 
1 1
Ĥ = 
1 −1
The eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian are obtained from the characteristic equation:
√
 
 − λ  
det |H − λI| =   = 0 → λ2 − 2 = 0 → λ = ± 2
 − − λ
The corresponding eigenvectors are then:
    
1 1 x λx
 =
1 −1 y λy
√ x
   
x+y
→ =± 2
x−y y
√
For λ = + 2 we obtain √
x = (1 + 2)y, y ∈ C
√
and for λ = − 2 √
x = (1 − 2)y, y ∈ C
The (non-normalized) eigenvectors are then
h √ i
|λ+ i = y (1 + 2)|1i + |2i
h √ i
|λ− i = y (1 − 2)|1i + |2i

Next we must normalize the eigenvectors:

h √ i
√
|λ+ i y (1 + 2)|1i + |2i (1 + 2)|1i + |2i
|+i = p =r h i= q √ = A(a|1i + |2i)
hλ+ |λ+ i √
2 2
|y| (1 + 2) h1|1i + h2|2i 2(2 + 2)
√
|λ− i (1 − 2)|1i + |2i
|−i = p = q √ = B(b|1i + |2i)
hλ− |λ− i 2(2 − 2)

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 Now we can calculate the Hamiltonian matrix elements in the basis {|+i, |−i}:
 
2 2
Ĥ++ = h+|Ĥ|+i = A  a h1|Ĥ|1i + ah1|Ĥ|2i + ah2|Ĥ|1i + h2|Ĥ|2i
 √ √ i √
= A2 (a2 + 2a − 1) = √ (1 + 2)2 + 2(1 + 2) − 1 = 2

2(2 + 2)

 
Ĥ+− = h+|Ĥ|−i = AB abh1|Ĥ|1i + ah1|Ĥ|2i + bh2|Ĥ|1i + h2|Ĥ|2i
= AB(ab + a + b − 1) = 0 = Ĥ−+

 
2 2
Ĥ−− = h−|Ĥ|−i = B  b h1|Ĥ|1i + bh1|Ĥ|2i + bh2|Ĥ|1i + h2|Ĥ|2i
 √ √ i √
= B 2 (b2 + 2b − 1) = √ (1 − 2)2 + 2(1 − 2) − 1 = − 2

2(2 − 2)
In this basis the Hamiltonian is then
√ √
√   
2 √0 1 0
Ĥ = = 2 = 2σ3
0 − 2 0 −1

Hamiltonian has become a diagonal matrix with eigenvalues as diagonal elements.

5. Let us consider a two-state system. Let us say that the Hamiltonian operator H and an
observable A are represented in an orthonormal basis {|1i, |2i} by the matrices
   
1 0 0 1
H=λ , A= .
0 2 1 0

The state of the system at t = 0 is |ψ(0)i = √12 (|1i + |2i).

a) Based on the matrix representation of H, can we say what the states |1i and |2i
are?
b) The energy of the system is measured at t = 0. What values are the possible
outcomes of the measurement and with what probabilities?
c) Observable A is measured at t = 0. What values are the possible outcomes of the
measurement and with what probabilities? What is the state of the system right
after the measurement?
d) Find |ψ(t)i.
e) Calculate the expectation value of the observable A as a function of time. Comment
on the result.
f) What outcomes are possible if the observable A is measured at t?

Solution:
a) Because the matrix representation of Ĥ is diagonal in the basis {|1i, |2i}, the
states |1i and |2i are the eigenstates of Ĥ. To be more precise, |1i is an eigenstate

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 corresponding to eigenvalue λ and |2i is an eigenstate corresponding to eigenvalue
2λ. For the sake of exercise, let us examine this point in greater detail. By definition
of matrix representation, the matrix representation of Ĥ in the orthonormal basis
{|1i, |2i} is
 
h1|Ĥ|1i h1|Ĥ|2i
Ĥ = .
h2|Ĥ|1i h2|Ĥ|2i

When we compare this to the given matrix, we notice that:

h1|Ĥ|1i = λ, h1|Ĥ|2i = 0, h2|Ĥ|1i = 0, h2|Ĥ|2i = 2λ

b) According to the measurement postulate, the possible outcomes are the eigenvalues
of the Hamiltonian operator Ĥ. The probability to obtain λ is
 2
 1 1  1
2
P (λ) = |h1|ψ(0)i| =  √ h1|1i + √ h2|2i =
 
 2 2  2

and 2λ is
1
P (2λ) = 1 − P (λ) =
2
c) Again, according to the measurement postulate, the possible outcomes are the
eigenvalues oh Â. Right after the measurement the system is in the eigenstate
corresponding to the obtained eigenvalue.
We note that  = σˆ1 , so the eigenvalues and eigenvectors are
1
a1 = 1 : |a1 i = (|1i + |2i)
2
1
a2 = −1 : |a2 i = (|1i − |2i)
2
√
We note that ψ(0) = (|1i + |2i)/ 2 = |a1 i. That is, at t = 0 the system is in the
state |a1 i. Consequently, the measurement of  at t = 0 yields a1 = 1. Right after
the measurement the system is in the state |a1 i, i.e. in this case the measurement
does not change the state of the system.
d) The time evolution of the system is governed by the familiar Schroedinger equation

d
Ĥ|ψ(t)i = i~ |ψ(t)i.
dt
We write |ψ(t)i as a superposition of the Hamiltonian eigenstates |1i and |2i:

|ψ(t)i = c1 (t)|1i + c2 |2i

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 Since the Hamiltonian is time-independent, its eigenstates |1i and |2i are time-
independent. Consequently, the differentiation with respect to t affects only on the
coefficients c1 (t) and c2 (t). We obtain
c1 (t)λ|1i + c2 (t)2λ|2i = i~ċ1 (t)|1i + i~ċ2 (t)|2i
taking the innerproducts with |1i and |2i separately we obtain
c1 (t)λ = i~ċ1 (t)
c2 (t)2λ = i~ċ2 (t)
Solving for c1 (t) and c2 (t) we obtain
c1 (t) = c1 (0)e−iλt/~
c2 (t) = c2 (0)e−i2λt/~
Thus the state is
|ψ(t)i = c1 (0)e−iλt/~ |1i + c2 (0)e−i2λt/~ |2i
Coefficients c1 (0) and c2 (0) are determined by the initial condition |ψ(0)i = √1 (|1i+
2
|2i. Therefore we have
1  
|ψ(t)i = √ e−iλt/~ |1i + e−i2λt/~ |2i
2
e) By employing the matrix representation , we obtain
!
  0 1 √1 e−iλt/~
hψ(t)|Â|ψ(t)i = √12 eiλt/~ √12 ei2λt/~ 2
√1 e−i2λt/~
1 0 2
!
1 1 λ
= e−iλt/~ + eiλt/~ = cos t .
2 2 ~
We see that the expectation value oscillates in time between values 1 and −1 with
angular frequency λ/~.
f) The possible outcomes are the eigenvalues of Â, i.e. 1 and −1. The probability to
obtain 1 at time t is
P (a = 1) = |ha1 |ψ(t)i|2
 1 1 2
= ha1 | e−iλt/~ |1i + e−2iλt/~ |2i
  
2 2
1
 −iλt/~ 1 −i2λt/~ 2

= e + e
2 2

1 1
= + e−iλt/~ + eiλt/~


2 4
1  λ 
= 1 + cos t
2 ~
λ 
= cos2 t .
2~

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The probability to obtain −1 at time t is then
λ 
P (a = −1) = 1 − P (a = 1) = sin2 t .
2~