These are answers of Foundations of Quantum Mechanics Coursera Week 6 Quiz
Question 1 Pure and mixed spin states Use the following information for Questions 1-7:
Consider an electron in a pure spin state composed of an equal superposition of ∣sx+⟩ and ∣sy+⟩. That is, the spin state can be expressed as ∣χ⟩=a(∣sx+⟩+∣sy+⟩) where ∣sx+⟩ and ∣sy+⟩ are the eigenstates of Sx^ and Sy^ operators with eigenvalues +ℏ/2, respectively. First, normalize the vector and determine the constant a. Express your answer in terms of imaginary unit i, constant pi and reduced Planck’s constant, hbar. Note that your answer does not have to include all of these variables.
Answer: 1/sqrt(3)
Question 2 Pure and mixed spin states
For the state defined in Question 1, find the expectation value for the x-component of spin, ⟨Sx^⟩. This represents the average value you will obtain when measuring x-component of spin many times. Express your answer in terms of imaginary unit i, constant pi and reduced Planck’s constant, hbar. Note that your answer does not have to include all of these variables.
Answer: hbar/3
These are answers of Foundations of Quantum Mechanics Coursera Week 6 Quiz
Question 3 Pure and mixed spin states
For the state defined in Question 1, find the expectation value for the y-component of spin, ⟨Sy^⟩. Express your answer in terms of imaginary unit i, constant pi and reduced Planck’s constant, hbar. Note that your answer does not have to include all of these variables.
These are answers of Foundations of Quantum Mechanics Coursera Week 6 Quiz
Question 4 Pure and mixed spin states
For the state defined in Question 1, find the expectation value for the z-component of spin, ⟨Sz^⟩. Express your answer in terms of imaginary unit i, constant pi and reduced Planck’s constant, hbar. Note that your answer does not have to include all of these variables.
Answer: hbar/6
These are answers of Foundations of Quantum Mechanics Coursera Week 6 Quiz
Question 5 Pure and mixed spin states
This time, let us consider a maxed spin state in which the electrons have equal probabilities of being in the pure states ∣sx+⟩ and ∣sy+⟩. Find the ensemble average [Sx^] for the x-component of spin. This represents the average value you will obtain when measuring x-component of spin many times. Express your answer in terms of imaginary unit i, constant pi and reduced Planck’s constant, hbar. Note that your answer does not have to include all of these variables.
Answer: hbar/4
These are answers of Foundations of Quantum Mechanics Coursera Week 6 Quiz
Question 6 Pure and mixed spin states
For the mixed state defined in Question 5, find the ensemble average [Sy^] for the y-component of spin. Express your answer in terms of imaginary unit i, constant pi and reduced Planck’s constant, hbar. Note that your answer does not have to include all of these variables.
Answer: hbar/4
These are answers of Foundations of Quantum Mechanics Coursera Week 6 Quiz
Question 7 Pure and mixed spin states
For the mixed state defined in Question 5, find the ensemble average [Sz^] for the z-component of spin. Express your answer in terms of imaginary unit i, constant pi and reduced Planck’s constant, hbar. Note that your answer does not have to include all of these variables.
These are answers of Foundations of Quantum Mechanics Coursera Week 6 Quiz
Question 8 Two-electron system
Consider two electrons in the same spin state, interacting through a short range potential given by V(x1,x2)=V(∣x1−x2∣)={−V0,∣x1−x2∣<a 0,elsewhere where V0 is a real, positive number and a is also a real, positive number that specifies a range within which the two electrons interact with each other. You can solve this problem by writing down the full Schrödinger equation, (− ℏ2/2m1 * ∂2/∂x21 − ℏ2/2m2 * ∂2/∂x22+V(x1,x2))Ψ(x1,x2)=EΨ(x1,x2) and separate it into two uncoupled equations – one for the center of mass coordinate, X=m1x1+m2x2/m1+m2 and the other for the relative coordinate, x=x1−x2. Let us assume the center of mass momentum is zero and ignore the center of mass equation.
Calculate the lowest possible energy of this two-electron system for the case where V0=10eV and a=1nm. Give your answer in unit of eV. Answers within 5% errors will be considered correct. Hint: Note that the energy would have a negative value between −10eV and 0eV.
Answer: -9.0042
These are answers of Foundations of Quantum Mechanics Coursera Week 6 Quiz
Question 9 System of two particles Use the following information for Questions 9-11:
Consider a system of two non-interacting particles in an infinite potential well with a width of L. One particle is in the ground state (n=1) and the other particle is in the first excited state (n=2). First, suppose the two particles are distinguishable and calculate ⟨(x1−x2)2⟩, the expectation value of (x1−x2)2, where x1 and x2 are the positions of particle 1 and 2, respectively. Give your answer in unit of L2. Answers within 5% error will be considered correct.
These are answers of Foundations of Quantum Mechanics Coursera Week 6 Quiz
Question 10 Now suppose the two particles are indistinguishable bosons and calculate ⟨(x1−x2)2⟩, the expectation value of (x1−x2)2, where x1 and x2 are the positions of particle 1 and 2, respectively. Give your answer in unit of L2. Answers within 5% error will be considered correct.
Answer: 0.04
These are answers of Foundations of Quantum Mechanics Coursera Week 6 Quiz
Question 11 This time, suppose the two particles are indistinguishable fermions and calculate ⟨(x1−x2)2⟩, the expectation value of (x1−x2)2, where x1 and x2 are the positions of particle 1 and 2, respectively. Give your answer in unit of L2. Answers within 5% error will be considered correct.
Answer: 0.17
These are answers of Foundations of Quantum Mechanics Coursera Week 6 Quiz
