(a) If you measured the component of spin angular momentum along the x direction, at time t, what is the probability that you would get +h/2?

(b) Same question, but for the ycomponent.

(c) Same, for the z component.

Short Answer

Expert verified

(a) The probability along x direction is 12[1+sinαcos(γB0t)].

(b) The probability along y direction is 12[1-sinαsin(γB0t)].

(c) The probability along y direction is cos2α2.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of Eigen spinors and probability

In quantum physics, eigen spinors are considered basis vectors that represent a particle's general spin state. They are not vectors in the strictest sense, but rather spinors.

The probability formula states that the ratio of the number of favorable outcomes to the total number of alternatives equals the likelihood of an event occurring.

02

(a) Determination of the probability of getting +h/2 along x-direction

Use equations. 4.151 and 4.163 that are mentioned as follows,

χ+x=1212,eigenvalue+2χ+x1212,eigenvalue-2

The generic spinor x (Equation 4.139) can be written as a linear combination since the eigenvectors of a hermitian matrix, they span the space.

x=a+b2x+x+a-b2x-x

Determine the value of x).

x)=cosα2eiγB012sinα2e-iγB012

Find the value of probability,P+x.

localid="1659017003900" P+x=x+x|x2=1211cosα2eiyB012sinα2e-i7yB0f2=12cosα2eiyB0t2+sinα2eiyB0t2×cosα2eiyB0t2+sinα2e-iyB0t2=12cos2α2+sinα2+cosα2sinα2eiyB0+e-iyB0

Evaluate the above expression further.

P+x=121+2sinα2cosα2cosγB0tP+xt=121+sinαcosγB0t

Thus, the probability along -direction is 121+sinαcosγB0t.

03

(b) Determination of the probability of getting +h/2 along y-direction

From part a ofProblem 4.32,

x+y=121i

Substitute the above value in c+y=x+yx.

c+y=x+yx=121-icosα2eiyB0t/2sinα2e-iyB0t/2=12cosα2eiyB0t/2-isinα2e-iyB0t/2

Determine the value of the probability, P+y.

P+x=(x+x|x)2=121-icosα2ei-B012sinα2e-17B012=12cos2α2+sin2α2+isinα2cosα2eiy-B0t-e-i-yB0t=121-2sinα2cosα2sinγB0tP+yt=121-sinαsinγB0t

Thus, the probability along -direction is 121-sinαsinγB0t.

04

(c) Determination of the probability of getting +h/2 along z-direction

The normalized eigen spinors for is as follows,

x+z=10c+z=10cosα2eiyB0t/2sinα2e-iyB0t/2=cosα2e-iyB0t/2

Determine the value of the probability,P+z.

P+zt=c+z2=cos2α2

Hence, the probability along z-direction is cos2α2.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A hydrogen atom starts out in the following linear combination of the stationary states n=2, l=1, m=1 and n=2, l=1, m=-1.

ψ(r,0)=12(ψ211+ψ21-1)

(a) Constructψ(r,t)Simplify it as much as you can.

(b) Find the expectation value of the potential energy,<V>. (Does it depend on t?) Give both the formula and the actual number, in electron volts.

a) Check that the spin matrices (Equations 4.145 and 4.147) obey the fundamental commutation relations for angular momentum, Equation 4.134.

Sz=h2(100-1)(4.145).Sx=h2(0110),sy=h2(0-ii0)(4.147).[Sx,Sy]=ihSz,[Sy,Sz]=ihSx,[Sz,Sx]=ihSy(4.134).(b)ShowthatthePaulispinmatrices(Equation4.148)satisfytheproductruleσx(0110),σy(0-ii0),σz(100-1)(4.148).σjσk=δjk+io'IjklσI,(4.153).

Wheretheindicesstandforx,y,orz,ando'jklistheLevi-Civitasymbol:+1ifjkl=123,231,or2=312;-1ifjkl=132,213,or321;otherwise.

Construct the matrixSrrepresenting the component of spin angular momentum along an arbitrary directionr. Use spherical coordinates, for which

rsinθcosΦı+sinθsinΦø+cosθk [4.154]

Find the eigenvalues and (normalized) eigen spinors ofSr. Answer:

x+(r)=(cosθ/2esinθ/2); x+(r)=(esin(θ/2)-cos(θ/2)) [4.155]

Note: You're always free to multiply by an arbitrary phase factor-say,eiϕ-so your answer may not look exactly the same as mine.

(a) Use the recursion formula (Equation 4.76) to confirm that whenI=n-1 the radial wave function takes the form

Rn(n-1)=Nnrn-1e-r/na and determine the normalization constant by direct integration.

(b) Calculate 200a and <r2> for states of the form ψn(n-1)m·

(c) Show that the "uncertainty" in r(δr) is<r>/2n+1for such states. Note that the fractional spread in decreases, with increasing (in this sense the system "begins to look classical," with identifiable circular "orbits," for large ). Sketch the radial wave functions for several values of, to illustrate this point.

(a) Find the eigenvalues and eigenspinors of Sy .

(b) If you measured Syon a particle in the general state X(Equation 4.139), what values might you get, and what is the probability of each? Check that the probabilities add up to 1 . Note: a and b need not be real!

(c) If you measuredSy2 , what values might you get, and with what probabilities?

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