Deduce the condition for minimum uncertainty inSx andSy(that is, equality in the expression role="math" localid="1658378301742" σSxσSy(ħ/2)|<Sz>|, for a particle of spin 1/2 in the generic state (Equation 4.139). Answer: With no loss of generality we can pick to be real; then the condition for minimum uncertainty is that bis either pure real or else pure imaginary.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The condition for minimum uncertainty in Sxand Sy(that is, equality in the expression σSxσSy(ħ/2)|<Sz>| , for a particle of spin 1/2 in the generic state is deduced

Step by step solution

01

Definition of spinor

Spinors are complex vector space elements that may be linked to Euclidean space.Spinors, like geometric vectors and more generic tensors, change linearly when the Euclidean space is rotated slightly.

02

Deduction of the condition for minimum uncertainty inSx andSyfor a particle of spin 1/2 in the generic state

The most generalized spinor is defined as:

X=ab

Normalization of this state gives,

a2+b2=1

The expectation values of Sx, Sy, and Szare:

Sz=ħ2a2-a2Sx=ħReab*

And

Sy=-ħ/mab*

Also,

Sx2=Sy2=ħ24

Write a and b in exponential form as:

a=aeiϕab=beiϕb

Now,

ab*=abeiϕa-ϕb=abeiθ

Where θ=ϕa-ϕbis the phase difference between a and b.

Now consider,

localid="1658379536890" Sx=ħReab*=ħabcosθ

And

Sy=-ħabsinθ

Now,

localid="1658380148912" δSx2=Sx2-Sx2=ħ24-ħ2a2b2cos2θδSy2=Sy2-Sy2==ħ24-ħ2a2b2sin2θ

ForδSx2δS,2=ħ24Sz

ħ241-4a2b2cos2θħ241-4a2b2sin2θħ24ħ24a2-b221-4a2b2cosθ-4a2b2sinθ+16a4b4cos2θsin2a4+b4-2a4b41-4a2b2+16a4b4cos2θsin2θ=a4+b4-2a4b4a4+b4=1+16a4b4cos2θsin2θ-2a2b2a4+b4+2a2b2=1+16a4b4cos2θsin2θa2+b2=1+16a4b4cos2θsin2θ

However,a2+b2=11=1+16a4b4cos2θsin2θa4b4cos2θsin2θ=0

Or

a2b2cosθsinθ=0

If the angle θ=0or π, then a and b are relatively real.

If the θ=±π2, then a and b are relatively imaginary, and a and b being equal to 0 is a trivial case.

Thus, it is proved that σsxσs,ħ2Sz.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

An electron is at rest in an oscillating magnetic field

B=B0cos(ωt)k^

whereB0 andω are constants.

(a) Construct the Hamiltonian matrix for this system.

(b) The electron starts out (at t=0 ) in the spin-up state with respect to the x-axis (that is:χ(0)=χ+(x)). Determine X(t)at any subsequent time. Beware: This is a time-dependent Hamiltonian, so you cannot get in the usual way from stationary states. Fortunately, in this case you can solve the timedependent Schrödinger equation (Equation 4.162) directly.

(c) Find the probability of getting-h/2 , if you measure Sx. Answer:

sin2(γB02ωsin(ωt))

(d) What is the minimum field(B0) required to force a complete flip inSx ?

(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?

(a) Work out the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients for the case s1=1/2,s2=anything. Hint: You're looking for the coefficients A and Bin

|sm=A|1212|s2(m-12)+B|12(-12)|s2(m+12)

such that|sm is an eigenstate of . Use the method of Equations 4.179 through 4.182. If you can't figure out whatSx(2) (for instance) does to|s2m2 , refer back to Equation 4.136 and the line before Equation 4.147. Answer:

;role="math" localid="1658209512756" A=s2+12±m2s2+1;B=±s2+12±m2s2+1

where, the signs are determined bys=s2±1/2 .

(b) Check this general result against three or four entries in Table 4.8.

Work out the radial wave functions R30,R31,andR32using the recursion formula. Don’t bother to normalize them.

(a) Starting with the canonical commutation relations for position and momentum (Equation 4.10), work out the following commutators:

[LZ,X]=ihy,[LZ,y]=-ihx,[LZ,Z]=0[LZ,px]=ihpy,[LZ,py]=-ihpx,[LZ,pz]=0

(b) Use these results to obtain [LZ,LX]=ihLydirectly from Equation 4.96.

(c) Evaluate the commutators [Lz,r2]and[Lz,p2](where, of course, r2=x2+y2+z2andp2=px2+py2+pz2)

(d) Show that the Hamiltonian H=(p2/2m)+Vcommutes with all three components of L, provided that V depends only on r . (Thus H,L2,andLZand are mutually compatible observables.)

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