Suppose two spin -1/2particles are known to be in the singlet configuration (Equation Let Sa(1)be the component of the spin angular momentum of particle number 1 in the direction defined by the unit vectora^ Similarly, letSb(2) be the component of 2’s angular momentum in the directionb^ Show that

Sa(1)Sb(2)=-24cosθ

where θ is the angle between a^ andb^

Short Answer

Expert verified

It is proved that Sa(1)Sb(2)=-24cosθ.

Step by step solution

01

Expression for the Singlet, Triplet and Pauli spin operators

The singlet state of two spin-12particles is defined as follows:

|00>12(-)

The triplet state of two spin role="math" localid="1658204414547" -12 particles is defined as follows:

|11||101/2(|+|)|1-1|

The action of Pauli spin operators on the quantum states is defined as follows:

Sz|=ħ2|Sz|=-ħ/2|Sx|=ħ/2|Sx|=ħ/2|

The previous spin states are orthonrmalized.

That is :

0011=001-1=1-111=0

And

0000=1111=1-11-1=1

02

Determination of the angle between  a^ and  b^

Assume, without loss of generality, that the component of the angular momentum vector of particle numberl,Sa1, is directed in the z direction while the component of the angular momentum vector of particle number2,Sb2, is located in the zx -plane with an angleθbetween the two normalized operators' vectors,a^andb^, respectively.

Sa1=Sz1andSb2=cosθSz2+sinθSx2

Calculate the expectation value ofSa1Sb2in the singlet state of the two spin--12particles,00>.

role="math" localid="1658206640658" Sa1Sb2=00Sa1Sb200=1200Sz1cosθSz2+sinθSx2-=1200Sz1cosθSz2+sinθSx2-1200Sz1cosθSz2+sinθSx2=1200Sz1cosθSz2+sinθSx2+1200Sz1cosθSz2+sinθSx2

Simplify the above expression.

1200Sz1cosθSz2+sinθSx2-1200Sz1cosθSz2+sinθSx2=1200Sz1cosθSz2+1200Sz1sinθSx2-1200Sz1cosθSz2-1200Sz1sinθSx2=cosθ200h2h2+sinθ200h2h2-cosθ200h2h2-sinθ200h2h2=cosθ2.h200-++sinθ2.h200+

Further evaluate the above expression.

-24cosθ0012-+24sinθ0012-=-24cosθ0000+-242sinθ0011+242sinθ001-1=-24cosθ+0+0=-24cosθ

The expectation value of the product of the operators Sa(1) and Sb(2)Sa(1)Sb(2) in the singlet state, |00, of the two spin- -12particles is: -24cosθ.

Thus,role="math" localid="1658204824299" Sa(1)Sb(2)=-24cosθwhereθis the angle betweena^andb^is 0.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

(a) Construct the spatial wave function (ψ)for hydrogen in the state n=3,I=2,m=1.Express your answer as a function of r,θ,ϕ,anda(the Bohr radius) only—no other variables (p,z,etc.) or functions (p,v,etc.), or constants (A,c0,etc.), or derivatives, allowed (π is okay, and e, and 2, etc.).

(b) Check that this wave function is properly normalized, by carrying out the appropriate integrals over, θ,andϕ.

(c) Find the expectation value of rsin this state. For what range of s (positive and negative) is the result finite?

(a) A particle of spin1and a particle of spin 2 are at rest in a configuration such that the total spin is 3, and its z component is . If you measured the z component of the angular momentum of the spin-2particle, what values might you get, and what is the probability of each one?

(b) An electron with spin down is in the stateψ510of the hydrogen atom. If you could measure the total angular momentum squared of the electron alone (not including the proton spin), what values might you get, and what is the probability of each?

Consider the earth–sun system as a gravitational analog to the hydrogen atom.

(a) What is the potential energy function (replacing Equation 4.52)? (Let be the mass of the earth, and M the mass of the sun.)

V(r)=-e24π00,1r

(b) What is the “Bohr radius,”ag,for this system? Work out the actual number.

(c) Write down the gravitational “Bohr formula,” and, by equating Ento the classical energy of a planet in a circular orbit of radius r0, show that n=r0/ag.From this, estimate the quantum number n of the earth.

(d) Suppose the earth made a transition to the next lower level(n-1) . How much energy (in Joules) would be released? What would the wavelength of the emitted photon (or, more likely, gravitation) be? (Express your answer in light years-is the remarkable answer a coincidence?).

a) Check that Arj1(kr)satisfies the radial equation with V(r)=0and I=1.

(b) Determine graphically the allowed energies for the infinite spherical well, when I=1. Show that for large n,En1(h2π2/2ma2)(n+1/2)2. Hint: First show that j1(x)=0x=tanx. Plot xandtanxon the same graph, and locate the points of intersection.

Construct the spin matrices(Sx,Sy andSz) , for a particle of spin 1. Hint: How many eigenstates ofSz are there? Determine the action of Sz, S+, and Son each of these states. Follow the procedure used in the text for spin 1/2.

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